Anywhere But Here

The inherent familiarity of this tale of a fractious parent-child dynamic means there are not too many surprises as it plays out, but this works as well as it does thanks to Portman and Sarandon who both score strongly by making their characters distinct and believable, bringing some considerable emotional heft to the soap-opera-ish developments in Sargent’s screenplay (which I understand is a softer, more glossy telling of Simpson’s novel). Wang’s gift for understated observation is also a plus here, tamping down the occasional tendency towards melodrama. Becomes a little too cluttered and ungainly in the final stretch (especially once the conclusion is evident), but well worthwhile for the two fine actresses, and a stacked supporting cast of character actors to be.