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

Colour:

Colour

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:

When Ann is auditioning for a movie role, the casting assistant calls for a "Karen Scarborough". Karen Scarborough is the payroll accountant for the film.

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: Are those initials on your underwear?
Peter: Yeah... My mom has it done. She's an initial freak.
Ann: Take them off and bring them to me.
Peter: I want to kiss you.
Ann: ...Okay.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

I Will Remember You

Good movie takes you on journey of discovery for a mother and daughter...

This film was a new direction for Natalie Portman. A much more adult role, though she comes to it from the traces of a child in the movie itself. Ann,(Portman) and Susan Sarandon, who plays her newly divorced mother, Adele, travel from a small town in the middle of nowhere to Beverly Hills. There these tortured souls try to come to terms with their new life and their new relationship as Portman's character grows up. Unknowingly at first to Adele, she grows up and becomes a better mother for it.

Ann sees her mother telling her she wants to be an actress, or so she thinks. Adele uses that crutch every time there are problems in their lives. We see their struggle as mother and daughter come to terms between themselves and with being alone, having left their old lives behind.

The acting is top notch from both of them. They seemingly become mother and daughter before your eyes. You can almost feel there is a bond there beyond the actual movie.

Though this movie really doesn't take us to any new ground in these types of films, the fact that the acting is well done, and the story isn't too flawed, let's me recommend it.

I will say however, it will probably go away soon, I don't believe it can have the staying power needed for a huge Christmas season of movies starting in a week or so. See it now before this happens if you like either of these actresses.