One True Thing (1998)

89% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(9,008 ratings)

Carl Franklin directed this family drama adapted from the 1995 novel by former New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen about a young woman who goes back home to take care of her dying mother. In 1987-88, independent Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellweger), a Harvard grad, is working on a New York Magazine… More Carl Franklin directed this family drama adapted from the 1995 novel by former New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen about a young woman who goes back home to take care of her dying mother. In 1987-88, independent Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellweger), a Harvard grad, is working on a New York Magazine investigative article when she hears from her father, George (William Hurt), a literary critic and university professor. He tells Ellen she's needed at home to care for her mother, Kate (Meryl Streep), who's due for surgery. Ellen needs to get away from the problems of her relationship with her boyfriend Jordan (Nicky Katt), but she plans to continue work on the magazine article from home. In truth, Ellen is uncomfortable with her mother's various ladies club lunches, and holiday preparations, and she finds communication with her mother awkward. Once Ellen arrives back home, she's dismayed to find herself caught in the web of her mother's Middle America activities. Ellen's attitude changes when it becomes apparent this probably will be the final Thanksgiving and Christmas with all family members present. But tensions erupt as long-buried family secrets emerge. Locations in New Jersey were used to create the film's Eastern coastal college town. Shown at the 1998 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 8 min.
Directed By: Carl Franklin
Written By: Karen Croner
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 18, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Aug 10, 1999
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
A well-oiled machine manufactured to tap our welled-up ducts.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Even director Carl Franklin...can't prevent One True Thing from descending into chick-movie hell.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
One True Thing demonstrates that the power of simple things, the transcendent nature of the ordinary, can make for riveting filmmaking.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
An emotional drama!
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Meryl Streep is an actress of such transcendent skill and sympathy that she regularly elevates her material, taking it up several notches and giving us feelings, insights, feelings and textures the original writer may have just missed expressing.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It is the craftsmanship that elevates One True Thing above the level of a soaper.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Probably won't appeal to teens.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Carl Franklin's understated direction keeps the tears and life-affirming revelations from congealing into chicken shmaltz for the soul.
, Film4
There isn't one schmaltzy moment in the entire film, and any tears the viewer sobs into their hankies are well-earned.
, Time Out
The script shifts audience sympathies about quite adroitly, though it's a pity all the men had to be such humbugs.
Tom Meek, Film Threat
There's a lot of Oscar timber here...
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Streep, Zellweger, and Hurt are outstanding.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
the movie ultimately belongs to Streep, who illuminates the extraordinary soul inside an everyday woman.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
One of those rare films -- a movie that is genuinely sad and moving without being melodramatic, sentimental or hokey.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Streep's performance will probably secure her another Oscar nomination.
James Rocchi, Netflix
As finely wrought a drama as one could ask for.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Brings extraordinary honesty and keen emotional pitch to the family drama.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Thanks to Carl Franklin's clever direction, which always stays real close to the characters, what could have been a TV movie-of-the-week becomes a thought-provoking and touching film.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A heart-affecting film that challenges us to confront some of the myths and meanings we have constructed about our parents.
David Thomson, Movieline
It recovers William Hurt from years of career waywardness and lets us see again the special grasp he has on chilly, unlikable traits.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

Sad, but very good story about a daughter dealing with the death by cancer of the mother she never really got along with. Surprisingly, this isn't overly sentimental. I found it quite moving. Excellent performances by Meryl Streep and Renee zellweger.
jay n

meryl is very touching if only the rest of the movie matched her strong performance
Leigh R

Pretty good and emotional.
Sunil J

Renee Zellweger's best film role, made before she was a real name. Meryl Streep is also amazing as her dying mother.