Director: Peter Kosminsky
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zellweger, Robin Wright Penn, Taryn Manning, Billy Connolly, Patrick Fugit, Alison Lohman, Noah Wyle

- Reviewed by Vickie

I'll preface this review by saying: I didn't read the book.

And I really liked the movie.

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as a fabulously gorgeous and talented artist who, unfortunately, also possesses a bit of a temper. After being mistreated by her beau (Billy Connolly), she exacts revenge which turns out to be of the fatal variety. She's carted off to prison, leaving her teenage daughter Astrid (Alison Lohman) on her own to suffer through years in the care of the state's child-welfare organization.

First up, Astrid is sent to the home of brassy, born-again Christian Starr (Robin Wright Penn in a wonderfully comic turn), a devout Bible thumper who still manages to have loud, out-of-wedlock sex and wear heaps of make-up, a push-up bra and stilettos. To, like, the mall. When things go awry, Astrid is sent to a group home for orphaned teens. Think: Annie meets Oz. There, she encounters a quietly soulful artist (Patrick Fugit), with whom she develops a tender bond. Wealthy actress and foster mother Claire (Renée Zellweger) is next, but Astrid's blissful, beachside home doesn't last long. It's a series of psychological ups and downs, all tempered (or worsened) by sporadic visits to her fiercely protective mother in prison.

Astrid's journey from wide-eyed, frightened girl to independent young woman forms the basis for the entire film (and, I presume, Janet Fitch's best-selling novel), and relative newcomer Astrid Lohman does a solid job of keeping it all together. She's tough, but with a delicate emotional core. Pfeiffer is radiant, even in prison garb, and her character's staunch devotion to her daughter is never in question. She's steely, smart and unrelenting in her pursuit of what's best for Astrid. The supporting players, Wright Penn (who says this role is her best to date) and Zellweger (who's surprisingly subdued), are fantastic.

Yes, it might be considered a "chick flick" and yes, it's the spawn of Oprah's book club, but don't let either label fool (or, worse, deter) you. It's a strong film with a moving story and some terrific performances from a cast of gifted women.

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