Anywhere but Here (2000)
67%RT Audience Score: 55%
Awards & Nominations: 4 nominations
The strong chemistry between Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman as a mother and daughter trying to make a fresh start in L.A. helps to elevate Anywhere But Here above its occasional forays into melodrama
Anywhere But Here is a movie about a mother-daughter relationship that’s as complicated as trying to untangle a ball of yarn. Critics have mixed feelings about it, but I think it’s worth watching just to see Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon’s performances. It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s a good reminder that sometimes the people we love the most can also drive us the craziest. Plus, who doesn’t love a good cry-fest every once in a while?
Production Company(ies)
Bryna Productions,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Beverly Hills, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sex-related material
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 54m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2001
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman, Eileen Ryan, Ray Baker, John Diehl, Shawn Hatosy, directed by Wayne Wang, written by Mona Simpson, Alvin Sargent, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Nell Minow, Geoff Andrew, Emanuel Levy, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Jeff Strickler, Laura Clifford, Louis B Hobson, Liz Braun, Jeanne Aufmuth, John R McEwen, Brent Simon, PG-13, single mother, mother-daughter relationship, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Wisconsin, Bay City, California, Ivy League aspirations, impulsive, irresponsible, melodrama, Danny Elfman, Roger Deakins, cinematography, score
Worldwide gross: $23,631,929
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $42,419,971
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,413
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,625,951
US/Canada gross: $18,670,401
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,513,890
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,238
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,607,137
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,064,967
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 956
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $23,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $41,285,641
Production budget ranking: 937
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $22,232,318
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$21,097,988
ROI to date (est.): -33%
ROI ranking: 1,585
Natalie Portman – Ann August
Eileen Ryan – Lillian
Ray Baker – Ted
John Diehl – Jimmy
Shawn Hatosy – Benny
Director(s)
Wayne Wang
Writer(s)
Mona Simpson, Alvin Sargent
Producer(s)
Laurence Mark
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (88) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (32)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: C+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Solid story of independence for teens.
December 22, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Portman is excellent, balancing wisdom and petulance, loyalty and imposition…
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
As a depiction of a loving-turbulent relationship between a single mom (Susan Sarandon) and her rebellious teenage daughter (Natalie Portman), Wang’s meller is nicely crafted but old-fashioned like Hollywood’s weepies of yesteryear.
January 2, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
In its eagerness to give voice to the overshadowed daughter, the film never allows the mother to live.
December 2, 2002
Charlotte O’Sullivan
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The movie drops in on a crucial part of their lives, follows it for a few minutes and then jettisons to another episode. It’s like watching 10 short stories.
November 6, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Director Wayne Wang has delivered a solid entertainment, particularly for women, with Anywhere But Here.
April 9, 2005 | Rating: B-
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Adele and Ann are not easy screen characters to like, but they are easy to believe in — especially in the skins of Sarandon and Portman.
June 7, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Louis B. Hobson
Jam! Movies
A subtle and unexpected pleasure, all nuanced performance and character detail.
June 7, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Liz Braun
Jam! Movies
May 14, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly
Natalie Portman is my new hero.
February 8, 2003 | Rating: 4.5/5
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online
The title might very well be an appropriate description of what more impatient filmgoers may be feeling after sitting through this frustratingly mediocre dramedy.
January 16, 2003 | Rating: C
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today…
Plot
Fed up with her small-town Bay City existence, Adele August leaves her family and second husband and heads for Beverley Hills with her daughter. The teenager resents the move and her mother’s always flamboyant behaviour and in turns plans to get away to university on the east coast. Mum’s plans are different – she wants a movie star for a daughter.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t have anything goofy or funny to say about Anywhere But Here, but they do mention that Natalie Portman gives an excellent performance.
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