White Oleander [WS]

Director: Peter Kosminsky Peter Kosminsky

Overview

"Expected to bring in both big box office and Oscar nominations (it did neither), White Oleander is the kind of film that generally goes further on home video than in the theaters. The DVD is a mix, though, as the image, framed at 1.85:1 and anamorphic (there is a full-frame version also available) lacks good detail. It's soft, but not a horrible distraction, since the actual transfer is nearly perfect. Colors are somewhat muted, though possibly intentional for effect. As for the 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, it's nothing to get to excited about. Surrounds are basically nonexistent, though dialogue is clear and distinguishable. Fortunately, giving it some life, the bass does go into effect at very appropriate times, creating a deep sonic result. Though far from a special edition, Warner has included a number of extras. First off is a scene-specific commentary track from director Peter Kosminsky, producer John Wells, and author Janet Fitch. Next is a standard Hollywood PR piece, entitled ""The Journey of White Oleander,"" which means you get as many scenes from the film as actual interviews. It doesn't amount to a whole lot. In addition to this is another brief featurette, called (excitingly enough) ""The Making of White Oleander."" There's little variation between these two though, and seems odd to need both. Also included are six deleted scenes, along with some cast and crew information, and the theatrical trailer."

Product Details

Release Date:	03/11/2003
UPC:	0085392341429
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	42,095

Special Features

Closed Caption;Feature-length commentary by director Peter Kosminsky, producer John Wells and original novel author Janet Fitch.; Enthralling additional scenes; 2 behind-the-scenes visits with the cast & creators: The Journey of White Oleander and The Making of White Oleander; Interactive menus; Theatrical trailer; Cast/director/writer film highlights; Scene access; Languages: English & Français; Subtitles: English, Français & Español

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alison Lohman	Astrid Magnussen
Michelle Pfeiffer	Ingrid Magnussen
Robin Wright Penn	Starr Thomas
Billy Connolly	Barry
Patrick Fugit	Paul Trout
Cole Hauser	Ray
Noah Wyle	Mark Richards
Stephen Root	Michael
Svetlana Efremova	Rena
Scott Allan Campbell	Bill Greenway
Debra Christofferson	Marlena
Amy Aquino	Miss Martinez
Marc Donato	Davey Thomas
Leila Kenzle	Ann Greenway
James Lashly	Reverend Daniels
Taryn Manning	Niki
Melissa Marsala	Julie
Dallas McKinney	Owen
Allison Munn	Hannah
Kali Rocha	Susan Valeris
Samantha Shelton	Yvonne
Mark Soper	Patrick
Liz Stauber	Carolee
John Billingsley	Paramedic
Elisa Bocanegra	Girl in Fight
Darlene Bohorquez	Prisoner
Solomon Burke Jr.	Guard
Sam Catlin	Teacher
Vernon Haas	Guard
Sean Happy	Dirt Bike Boyfriend
Myra Lamar	Detective
James W. Lee	Prison Visitor
Daniel Mandehr	Dad at Auction Area
DeVonda Manghane	Guard at X-Ray Machine
Melissa McCarthy	Paramedic
Roger McIntyre	Police Officer
Brian Mulligan	Bailiff
Cathy Ladman	Swap Meet Mother
Jennifer Saxon	Swap Meet Daughter
Carl Sundstrom	Police Officer
Kimo Willis	Comic Book Store Clerk
Renée Zellweger	Claire Richards
Biff Yeager	Judge
Drinda Lalumia	Patty

Technical Credits

Mary Agnes Donoghue

Janet Fitch

Peter Kosminsky	Director
Thad Beier	Special Effects
Stacy Cohen	Executive Producer,Producer
Jeff Denes	Special Effects
E.K. Gaylord II	Executive Producer,Producer
Kristin Harms	Executive Producer,Producer
Jay Mark Johnson	Special Effects
Ellen Lewis	Casting
Hunt Lowry	Producer
Patrick Markey	Executive Producer,Producer
Monica Staggs	Stunts
John Wells	Producer
Mary Agnes Donoghue	Screenwriter
Janet Fitch	Screenwriter
Christopher S. Aud	Sound Effects
Steve Bowerman	Sound Effects
David E. Campbell	Sound Effects
Ilyse Reutlinger	Producer
Tracy Underwood	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Adapting Janet Fitch's florid, overwrought, Oprah-endorsed melodrama to the big screen poses a challenge to any director: Stay true to the source novel and make a laughable, pretentious soap opera, or break away from the book and its legions of fans and make a low-key, introspective character study. The result lies somewhere in-between, as British director Peter Kosminsky manages to do away with most of the novel's over-cooked metaphors and ham-fisted soliloquies in an attempt to get at the crux of the material, all the while retaining the ten-hanky grandstanding that made White Oleander such a big hit. The compromise mostly works, and even when it doesn't, the results are still compelling in a home-sick-watching-daytime-television sort of way. Much of the credit belongs to the two leads: newcomer Alison Lohman, who manages to keep audience sympathy admirably at bay as she tangles horns with Michelle Pfeiffer, who in turn is clearly relishing the chance to break free of her earnest-mom roles to play a venomous "Viking" of a woman again (no matter how overwritten the part may be). Melodramas like this go through Shocking Revelations and Big Speeches with all the unpredictability of a precision marksman at target practice, but Kosminsky, thanks in no small part to some judicious editing, manages to keep the film's mood pitched at a languid, ambient hum -- the emphasis here is on the "mellow" more than the drama.