A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.
Acting
Streep's quiet dignity vs Zellweger's brittle intelligence.
Writing
The novel's nuance survives adaptation surprisingly intact.
Direction
Franklin lets silences scream louder than dialogue.
Director
Carl Franklin
Meryl Streep
Kate Gulden
Renée Zellweger
Ellen Gulden
William Hurt
George Gulden
Tom Everett Scott
Brian Gulden
Lauren Graham
Jules
Nicky Katt
Jordan Belzer
James Eckhouse
District Attorney
Patrick Breen
G.A. Tweedy
Gerrit Graham
Oliver Most
Stephen Peabody
Harold
Lizbeth MacKay
Dr. Cohen
Sloane Shelton
Evelyn Best
Michele Shay
June
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Anna Quindlen's autobiographical novel; she famously said Streep was the only actress who could play Kate without making her seem pathetic.
The film bombed theatrically but became a stealth hit on cable—predating the 'prestige TV drama' era it actually resembles.
US
