January 4, 2000

A Look at... One True Thing - THE COMMENTARY

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER - Along with Brazilian legend Fernanda Montenegro, the brilliant Cate Blanchett, and the regal Emily Watson; two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep was nominated again this past year for an Oscar for her dramatic tour de force in One True Thing. When the film came out in 1998, it was forever linked with the other dramatic tearjerker of the season: Susan Sarandon’s dying mom schtick in Stepmom. In One True Thing, Streep plays a mom who gets cancer. She and her husband, played by the splendidly superb William Hurt, are loving, but they live a strange lifestyle. Their headsmart and confident daughter, played by Renee Zellweger, comes home for the holidays and is around to be told her mother has cancer.

The daughter, who is a professional book editor by profession, and is forced to give it all up and move back home to care for her dying mother. She’s never been close to her, so her being home adds some tension and some character discovery. She learns about her and her father and finds out stuff that leads to a pack of lies, which lends some truth to the title of this film.

Streep is superb. She knows what she’s doing and gives the character redeeming strength and quality. It’s a tearjerker sure, the mom dies, and it breaks your heart. But, in the path from the beginning of the movie to the end, there are surprises. Surprises that’ll move you and will definitely lift your spirits. Perfect for this holiday season, so pick it up at your local video store. One True Thing is one not to miss.

Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca

An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .