Tumbleweeds (1999)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Gavin O'Connor

Writers:

Angela Shelton (story)
Gavin O'Connor (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 March 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

They ran away from everything but each other.

Plot:

A woman constantly runs from town to town with her 12 year old daughter to escape failed relationships...

Plot Keywords:

Boss | One Word Title | San Diego California | Widower | Truck Driver

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Janet McTeer	...	Mary Jo Walker
Kimberly J. Brown	...	Ava Walker
Jay O. Sanders	...	Dan Miller
Gavin O'Connor	...	Jack Ranson
Laurel Holloman	...	Laurie Pendleton
Lois Smith	...	Ginger
Michael J. Pollard	...	Mr. Cummings
Ashley Buccille	...	Zoe Brussard
Cody McMains	...	Adam Riley
Linda Porter	...	Mrs. Boman
Brian Tahash	...	Winston Jackson
Josh Carmichael	...	Billy Jo
Dennis Ford	...	Check-out Clerk
Sara Downing	...	Rachel Riley
Joel Polis	...	Vice Principal

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sensuality and a scene of domestic discord.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Spanky Pictures

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Despite references to "driving across country" from the East (West Virginia), all shots in the film are obviously from the area around Los Angeles.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

California

A Pleasant Surprise

The premise of a film about a mother and 12 year-old daughter on the road is not necessarily attractive to everyone. But this was a refreshing example of the genre, mainly because the director allowed character development. Mother and daughter have characteristics both endearing and infuriating (like all of us; something that Hollywood so often forgets) and, as a result, we're not forced to take sides with one against the other. Rather we find ourselves looking out for opportunities for them to both lead a more stable existence. Inevitably in a film of this nature there must be a great temptation to play on sentimentality and help boost Kleenex sales. But fortunately that doesn't happen; in fact the only tearful moment comes from one of the male characters recounting the loss of his wife. The two leads react well to each other, something which was essential for the film to work.

An entertaining approach to the genre for which the viewer doesn't have to suspend rationality.