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Citizen Ruth (1996)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
13 December 1996 (USA) moreTagline:
Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She's gotta have it. morePlot:
An irresponsible, drug-addicted, recently impregnated woman finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate when both parties attempt to sway her to their respective sides. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
4 wins & 2 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Clooney will likely have Descendants (From Corona's Coming Attractions. 3 November 2009, 7:58 AM, PST)
Tues Top Ten: Pregnancies
(From FilmExperience. 4 August 2009, 8:30 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
shades of "Election", "About Schmidt" and "Sideways" (even of Terri Schiavo) more (40 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Laura Dern | ... | Ruth Stoops | |
| Swoosie Kurtz | ... | Diane Siegler | |
| Kurtwood Smith | ... | Norm Stoney | |
| Mary Kay Place | ... | Gail Stoney | |
| Kelly Preston | ... | Rachel | |
| M.C. Gainey | ... | Harlan | |
| Kenneth Mars | ... | Dr. Charlie Rollins | |
| David Graf | ... | Judge Richter | |
| Kathleen Noone | ... | Nurse Pat | |
| Tippi Hedren | ... | Jessica Weiss | |
| Burt Reynolds | ... | Blaine Gibbons | |
| Lance Rome | ... | Ricky, Ruth's Lover | |
| Jim Kalal | ... | Tony Stoops | |
| Shea Degan | ... | Arresting Officer | |
| Vince Morelli | ... | Dr. George |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Meet Ruth StoopsPrecious (USA) (working title)
The Devil Inside (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for substance abuse, strong language and a sex scene.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
106 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (FotoKem)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyFun Stuff
Trivia:
The "ASK ME" pin worn by Kurtwood Smith in the hardware store shows up again in Alexander Payne's following film, Election (1999). moreGoofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Ruth is going out to party with her host family's daughter, she takes a hit from a bong, but does so incorrectly, not clearing the smoke from the chamber. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (40 total)
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In what has got to be one of Laura Dern's most interesting roles, she plays indigent drug addict Ruth Stoops, ordered to have an abortion at the risk of damaging her unborn fetus. That's when she gets taken in by a fundamentalist Christian, right-to-life family who starts using her as a rallying call. But abortion rights activists also see Ruth as a rallying call.
Like "Thank You for Smoking", "Citizen Ruth" shows the hypocrisy of both sides in a controversial topic, as they both want to use an individual for their own ends. This movie sort of predicted what would happen to Terri Schiavo almost ten years in advance. Moreover, director Alexander Payne shows the twisted sensibility that he would later bring to "Election", "About Schmidt" and "Sideways". You gotta agree with what Ruth does at the end. Definitely one that I recommend.
Also starring Kurtwood Smith, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, Kenneth Mars and Tippi Hedren.