Review of One True Thing (1998) by Richard M — 09 May 2010

(from The Watermark, 10/01/98).

Zellweger is an up-and-coming New York writer who is forced to go back home to care for her cancer-stricken mother (Streep). A pretty generic concept, yes, but the film incorporates many intelligent elements that bring it up to big-screen quality. Having been a Daddy's girl all her life, Zellweger has serious problems caring for Mom while her father (Hurt) continues to grow more and more distant. In the process, her perceptions of her parents' roles in their marriage and in her life change dramatically. The most interesting spin is that the film is told in flashback while Zellweger is making a statement to an attorney. Apparently Streep's eventual death comes from a drug overdose and Zellweger may have euthanized her. Now this death-in-the-family drama suddenly becomes a whodunit, too -- a very interesting approach. When Zellweger's statement is complete, the film becomes richer. We've grown to feel for the characters, and we know Zellweger's account doesn't do justice to what we've witnessed. Right up to the film's surprise ending, there is always a question of truth vs. fiction, good vs. evil, and perception vs. reality. Streep is yet again Oscar-worthy as the Supermom who slowly slips away from her family. Zellweger is quite moving, even though she doesn't project the character's distant and hard-as-nails quality as much as the script seems to call for. Hurt is also good making his seemingly jerky character into a sympathetic and heart-broken spouse. It's quite an impressive accomplishment, though in spite of its uplifting message and earlier moments of comedy, the film does have a heaviness about it. You may want to rent Schindler's List afterwards to cheer yourself up a bit.