One True Thing is a film about a husband and wife dying of cancer. She is dying of inoperable cancer, while he is living with a kind of cancer of the soul. George and Kate Gulden (William Hurt and Meryl Streep, respectively) have two grown children--Brian (played by Tom Everett Scott of That Thing You Do) is a struggling university student and Ellen (played by Renee Zellwegger of Jerry McGuire fame) is a driven journalist on her way up the career ladder.George Gulden is a literary critic and university professor. His wife, Kate, derives her meaning from holding the family together and from her investments in personal relationships. As the story begins, the whole family is together to celebrate George's birthday with a surprise literary birthday party in which each person is to come dressed as their favorite literary figure. It is during this time that the family discovers Kate's cancer, and Ellen is asked to move back home to care for her mother.As our central character, Ellen is struggling to win the acceptance of her somewhat distant father, and to come to terms with her controlling mother. Each of these characters is struggling with their own private sense of failure. Through small flashback sequences, Franklin connects the childhood of years gone by with the struggles that Ellen faces even today. On the surface, the film appears to be a fairly run-of-the mill two-hanky "weepie". Director Carl Franklin manages to take these cliches and weave them into something a bit more complex, something that is ultimately a bit more satisfying. We discover, for example, that Ellen is being interrogated by the police because her mother died from an overdose of morphine. This subplot adds some distinctive twists to the film (and makes it a timely film considering SAC's upcoming Focus Series). Beneath it all, this film is about failure, sorrow, and loss for each of its main characters. But it is also about forgiveness, compassion, and grace.To fans of Meryl Streep and William Hurt it should come as no surprise that there is some excellent acting in this film. Hurt's character is not unlike past characters Hurt has played in The Big Chill and The Accidental Tourist. There is a complexity to his performance here, however, that goes beyond what he has done before. George Gulden is a man of ambiguous feelings and mixed motives. Hurt depicts this rather well, sometimes through facial expression alone. Meryl Streep is outstanding as always, and Renee Zellwegger's role provides new challenges that she handles quite well.One True Thing doesn't have a lot of gunfire, heroics, or sinking ships. What is does offer is a poignant story that feels real, that rings true. All in all, an engaging story very capably told.

One True Thing (1998): Dir: Carl Franklin / Cast: Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, William Hurt, Tom Everett Scott, Lauren Graham: Drama about sacrifice and hanging on even when your last breath hangs in balance. Meryl Streep plays an ambitious housewife busy preparing her husband's birthday. Renee Zellweger plays her daughter who arrives home to discover that her brother flunked out of college. When it is learned that Streep has cancer Zellweger reluctantly puts her job on hold. William Hurt plays Streep's husband, a university professor who acts as if nothing has changed. Zellweger distances herself when she catches him in the midst of an affair. Plot bares too many similarities to another Streep film Marvin's Room and it follows too many predictable developments. Fine directing by Carl Franklin who also made One False Move. Strong performances by Streep who focuses on family as oppose to her illness. Zellweger is excellent as the frustrated daughter trying to maintain emotions and sanity. Hurt is well cast as a husband fleeing from his emotions. Tom Everett Scott as the son who flunked out of college provides comic relief. Aside from the family, other roles are less interesting and limited at best. We all know where this is all going to end up but it examines trauma and the important things we often take for granted. Score: 7 ½ / 10

this is one very good movie.it's all about love and loss,two pretty heavy themes.it's not at all depressing,but there's a lot of depth her,bot to the story and to the performance of Meryl Streep.there are good supporting performances,such as Renee Zellwegger,and William Hurt.James Ekhouse(The dad from the Original Bevery hills 90210)who i really like as an actor,has a small role,as does Tom Everett Scott.but the movie belongs to Streep,who who is brilliant here.also the makeup artists did brilliant work here,as well.this is no lite drama.it's pretty thought provoking.it's pretty intense,so it's not for everyone.but if heavy drama is your thing,you might want to check out this movie.

Written by someone who has been there, you can tell, but only if you've been there. Excellent performances by Meryl Streep (of course!), Renee Zellweger and William Hurt.Many people have said that it is about a dysfunctional family, I think every family is dysfunctional when they are facing this kind of torment. To NOT be dysfunctional would be dysfunctional! You are losing your family as you know it, can anything be worse? People need to see this movie so when they are faced with this nightmare maybe they will change how they do it. Maybe they will see that the father is denying himself valuable time he'll never get a chance at again. Maybe they will realize how hard it is to die, or to watch someone you love die. They didn't miss much of the nightmare, it's hard to forget.