One True Thing

Name: One True Thing
Genre: Drama
Released: September 18, 1998
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt

1998

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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One True Thing

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: September 18, 1998 | R

Starring: Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt

Summary: When crisis confronts Katherine and George Gulden (Streep, Hurt), they turn to their grown daughter, Ellen (Zellweger), for support. An ambitious New York journalist, Ellen at first rejects the idea of returning home. But once there, Ellen embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will change her forever. (Universal Studios)

Director: Carl Franklin

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 127 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Though Mom is ditzy and, at times, irritating, we come to recognize her as the family's most original creative spirit. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

One True Thing demonstrates that the power of simple things, the transcendent nature of the ordinary, can make for riveting filmmaking. Read full review

Roger Ebert

It is the craftsmanship that elevates One True Thing above the level of a soaper. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Bluntly, poignantly believable. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

The framing story is pointless and almost insulting, even though it's part of former New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen's novel. Read full review

Lisa Alspector

The vicarious catharsis offered by this adaptation of Anna Quindlen's novel is as efficient as that of any family-affected-by-illness drama. Read full review

Peter Travers

Even director Carl Franklin, an artful purveyor of sterner stuff in "One False Move" and "Devil in a Blue Dress," can't prevent One True Thing from descending into chick-movie hell. Read full review

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User Reviews

bobmeier

Jun 20, 2016

I recently discovered this on a library DVD. I never heard of it and therefore had no preconcieved ideas about it-how did the critics react, etc. What a shame this one went by my radar because I would have loved to see it on the big screen (and in 1998 it would have been in 35mm). StreepI recently discovered this on a library DVD. I never heard of it and therefore had no preconcieved ideas about it-how did the critics react, etc. What a shame this one went by my radar because I would have loved to see it on the big screen (and in 1998 it would have been in 35mm). Streep plays the mother and housewife that allows her husband Bill Hurt be a selfish academic who is more concerned with his place in the literary world than of his beloved wife's eminent death from cancer. So much so he insists
that his daughter(Zellwiger) simply drop her good job in NYC and come home and take care of her mother-as it turns out-so he can remain in HIS job, feeling the important man of letters and grabbing the occasional young coed for some "private tutoring." I always hear Streep is the actress's actress, one of the best, etc but I really never appreciated why until this movie. She simply embodies this selfless woman who looks the other way while her husband "works late, has a late class". The scene where the poet laureate pays a suprise visit says so much about him-apparently the poet at one time praised his first novel (which meant a lot to Hurt ) only to find that years later the poet didn't even remember the book-quite the slap in the face to the would-be great author that he thought he was.
I thought it was going to be another uninspired library dvd night-what a suprise this delightful film was...maybe someday it will be revivied-at a Streep retrospective in NYC or something-I'd love to see it on a big screen with an audience. Probably won' t happen-and that's too bad.… Expand

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smiyamot

Oct 9, 2016

As with "Two Weeks", another story of a mother with terminal cancer and how the family reacts to it. Meryl Streep portrays the mother, Renee Zellweger the daughter, and William Hurt the father; wow, what a cast. The story centers around the daughter and how she deals with changing her lifeAs with "Two Weeks", another story of a mother with terminal cancer and how the family reacts to it. Meryl Streep portrays the mother, Renee Zellweger the daughter, and William Hurt the father; wow, what a cast. The story centers around the daughter and how she deals with changing her life to take care of her mother, how she comes to terms learning about her father, and how she changes becoming more like her mother, something she swore never to do. "Real dialogue" if you've taken care of a family member who was terminal.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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78	#78 Best Movie of 1998
83	#83 Most Shared Movie of 1998