There's a lot going on in this adaptation of the Janet Fitch best seller. Maybe too much. Allison Lohman plays Astrid, a bright young girl who must adjust to a new life after her mother Ingrid (Michele Pfeiffer) commits an unthinkable act. Astrid desperately tries to find her footing as she's bounced from one foster home to the next, all the while trying to fight against the psychological torture spewed by her mother.

White Oleander isn't particularly well written. As I watched the movie, I kept thinking how much more interesting this story would be in novel form. There are so many characters and so much going on, and given that this movie is under two hours long, many situations aren't given a chance to gel. It seemed that Astrid would switch foster homes right as the situation was becoming interesting, and that was very irritating to me. While that abruptness and confusion is central to the Astrid character, it didn't work cinematically. However, things do pick up when Astrid goes to live with an actress with low self esteem (beautifully played by Renee Zellweger).

I also didn't care much for Peter Kosminsky's direction. Aside from being slightly disjointed, this movie doesn't have much rhythm and the shot selection isn't very impressive at all. Much of White Oleander is shot hand held and lacks creativity. Hand held photography doesn't bother me when it serves a purpose, but in White Oleander it feels like it's shot that way out of sheer laziness.

So why the three and a half star rating? That's an easy question to answer. The acting in this picture is so superb, that it takes everything to a higher level. Lohman is fantastic as the confused yet smart Astrid. This gifted actress not only slips into each foster home surrounding with chameleon like ease, but is also able to hold her own against the likes of Pfeiffer, Zellweger, and Robin Wright Penn. Lohman excels with honesty and depth, and I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot more of her in the near future. Pfeiffer is sensational as Ingrid, one of the most malicious female characters I've ever seen on screen.

Yes, this role rivals even Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction. What makes the performance so impressive, is Pfeiffer's ability to humanize the character. Her work never feels over-the-top. She's frighteningly real. And once again, I'd like to mention Zelwegger who seems to get better with each passing performance. This is a heartbreaking portrayal of an insecure woman who hopes that Astrid might fill an emotional void in her life. Zellweger even has a good enough sense of humor to make fun of a role she had early on in her career (pay close attention to the film on TV that she and Lohman watch together). Rounding out a terrific cast is Penn, Patrick Fugit and a handful of others.

White Oleander is depressing and very dark. From it's attacks on the foster care system (do they screen these families before they give them a child?) to its tough depiction of a dysfunctional mother/daughter relationship, it's a film that has far too much going on to be completely effective. Still, it's so well acted that I would sit through it again to marvel at it's expert cast.