Janet McTeer, Jay O Sanders, Kimberly Brown, Kimberly J. Brown, Laurel Holloman ...( see more  see more... ) , Lois Smith

In its keenly observed account of a woman perched at the crossroads of life and self-realization, Tumbleweeds crystallizes the manifold impressive talents of Gavin O'Connor. Culling his narrative from...( read more  read more... ) the dusty backwaters of the working-class South, O'Connor delivers characters nuanced with frailty and defiance and a tone that ricochets between savagery, humor, and compassion. As in that memorable road movie Thelma and Louise, what results is a beautiful, offbeat romance about two individuals discovering sisterhood and the path to self-definition. Notching up yet-another ex-husband, abuse, and disappointment, Mary Jo grabs her meager possessions; her feisty, foul-mouthed daughter, Ava; and her tattered shards of optimism and hits the road in search of a new love interest and support provider. After a former high-school prospect proves dismal, Ava convinces her mom to take a chance on life in the picture-perfect suburbs of Starlight Beach. But within weeks of settling into independence, Mary Jo reconnects with a truck driver from their travels and moves willfully into what seems like fated co- dependency. With Ava enrolled in school and experiencing for the first time a sense of normalcy and stability, Mary Jo wrestles with the impulse to run again, a decision that this time may devastate the bond between mother and child. Anchoring the film's impassioned naturalism are its breathtaking performances, led by 1997 Tony Award winner Janet McTeer. In this sensitive translation of Angela Shelton's childhood memoirs, O'Connor offers a compelling love story refreshingly devoid of sentimentality, cynicism, or cliche.

Flixster Users

66% liked it

1,221 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

64 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Gavin O'Conner, Gavin O'Connor

Release Date: November 24, 1999

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DVD Release Date: November 24, 2000

Stats: 66 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (66)


  • November 7, 2006
    Great movie, and kudos to Kimberly on her role.
  • September 18, 2007
    It's been a while since I've seen a good movie, and this proudly stept up to the plate. I was hooked by the second scene. The material is a little familiar, but not quite cliche. The acting is so genuine, fresh, and touching that you can't help but root for these two. There'...( read more)s an eerie undercurrent in the scenes with the boyfriend and the film doesn't shy away from Janet McTeer's character's deeply childish flaws I teared up during the motor home scene. Kimberly Brown and Janet McTeer give perfect performances. Aww....what a feel good movie.
  • December 4, 2009
    Outstanding performance by Janet Mc Teer. She deserved her Oscar nomination. Very well written, caringly directed by Gavin O'Connor. A truly great film. Good performances all around. It's the kind of movie that stays with you after watching it.
  • October 4, 2009
    dramatic comedy starring Janet McTeer, Kimberly J. Brown, Jay O. Sanders, Lois Smith and Gavin O'Connor. written by Gavin O'Connor and Angela Shelton directed by Gavin O'Connor.

    always in search of love and happiness, Mary Jo Walker (McTeer) has the habit of hooking up with less...( read more) than perfect men and dragging her young daughter (Brown) across country when things go bad. the mother-daughter duo find themselves in San Diego, California and soon Mary Jo is hooking up with a man (O'Connor) she met while on the road. eventually, things start to go south and the always restless Mary Jo tries to once again run. however, when her daughter, Ava, refuses to leave their latest home and the normalcy she has long desired, Mary Jo is forced to face herself and finally realize that she already has all of the happiness and love she needs.

    I am a sucker for mother-daughter stories and this one was no different. made me laugh. made me cry. I loved it.

    well written tale of finding yourself and being happy in the life you have. good stuff.
  • June 11, 2009
    i loved this movie too! i thought the mom was really kool and i new that one jack dude was fake.... oh well the end is good!!
  • May 17, 2008
    I ABSOLUTLY LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!
  • April 23, 2008
    it was a great movie
  • September 7, 2007
    This was a cute movie....I lked it.
  • August 30, 2007
    THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD MOVIE....I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN BUT I CAN'T FIND IT...DAMN!~!

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The characters have been intriguing to know and easy to care about. full review

January 1, 2000
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

A deeply and disappointingly conventional picture masquerading as a free-spirited one. full review

View more Tumbleweeds reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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