Anywhere But Here (1999)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Wayne Wang

Writers (WGA):

Mona Simpson (book)
Alvin Sargent (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A story of a mother who knows best... and a daughter who knows better.

Plot:

A mother and daughter search for success in Beverly Hills.

Plot Keywords:

Beverly Hills California | Hollywood | Dream | Coming Of Age | High School

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Susan Sarandon	...	Adele August
Natalie Portman	...	Ann August
Hart Bochner	...	Josh Spritzer
Eileen Ryan	...	Lillian
Ray Baker	...	Ted
John Diehl	...	Jimmy
Shawn Hatosy	...	Benny
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Carol
Faran Tahir	...	Hisham Badir
Shishir Kurup	...	Hisham Badir (voice)
Samantha Goldstein	...	4 Year Old Ann
Scott Burkholder	...	Man with Mercedes
Yvonna Kopacz Wright	...	Assistant Hotel Manager (as Yvonna Kopacz)
Eva Amurri	...	Girl on T.V.
Kieren van den Blink	...	Girl on T.V.

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related material.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Malaysia:U | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:L | Mexico:B | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36651) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills High School - 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Susan Sarandon informed the movie's producers that she would not be interested in the project if Natalie Portman was not cast as her daughter.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the movie, when saying goodbye at the airport, we can see a mother with her baby at the background who walks out the scene in the middle of the conversation between Adele and Ann. Some seconds later she is again in the same point. It occurs between 1:42 and 1:43 time of the film.

Quotes:

Ann: You don't have a job in the Los Angeles school district.
Adele: I have an interview, and a great outfit.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Dancing with You All by Myself

Excellent performance by two stellar actresses

"Anywhere But Here" is the story of a mother who is a bit flighty and adventurous, and her daughter who is more down to earth and practical.

First off, I'd like to say that Natalie Portman gets better and better every movie I see her in. She is an enormous talent, and continues to get better as the years go on. She really held her own and managed to shine brightly, even against a talent as large as Susan Sarandon.

Ms. Sarandon is still no slouch either. She portrays Adelle August, a mother who desires more for her daughter than small town life in Wisconsin. She suddenly packs up one day and leaves it all behind, dragging her unwilling daughter (Ann) with her to Beverly Hills. She plays this role with a pure passion, making you believe that she is indeed, in spite of all her flaws and errors in judgement (the electric is repeatedly turned off due to forgotten bills) that she really is trying the best she can for her daughter.

Natalie Portman, as I stated earlier, is phenomenal. Her character of Ann is believable, even though we first meet her at 14 (Ms. Portman is 17) She plays the uprooted, resentful, but loving and loyal child to the fullest extent, without ever feeling forced.

While there is a good supporting cast, they are overshadowed by the presence of Susan and Natalie, and while they are all good, well crafted characters, the focus is clearly on the two stars. Notice a role put in by Ashley Johnson, as Ann's friend in California. Those of you who remember the show "Growing Pains" will remember her as the youngest Seaver child before that show was (mercifully) cancelled.

If I have to have one complaint about this movie, it's that it was a bit too long. At 113 minutes, it tends to drag a bit and has a couple scenes that are either overlong or could have been edited out. But those really are few and far between.

"Anywhere But Here" is a very strong, believable look at mothers and daughters, as well as the complexity of all family relationships. It is a skillful and subtile tearjerker (as evidenced by my friend and an entire theater full of teen girls and adult women crying during two pivital scenes). It avoids the trap of coming off heavy handed. To loosly quote the old saying, you will laugh, you will cry. Often in the same scene.

4 out of 5