Newcomer Alison Lohman, in a breakout role, goes toe to toe with seasoned Michelle Pfeiffer in Peter Kosminisky's, "White Oleander". The story follows the life of a young girl, Astrid, as she maneuvers through the oftentimes-heartbreaking world of the foster care system after her mother is incarcerated for murder.

The beginning of the film finds Astrid living with her Mother, Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer, in an uncharacteristically contemptible role). Ingrid has created what appears to be an artistic, freethinking environment for her daughter to flourish in. We soon discover that this is not the case. Through her cold calculation and complete self-absorption, we see that Ingrid cares only about herself.

After Ingrid is sent to prison for murder, she continues to manipulate Astrid's life with disastrous results. With her mother incarcerated, Astrid is thrust into the foster care system where she assumes the identities of the families she stays with. From a bible-thumping, harlot played by Robin Wright Penn, to a has-been, B-movie star played with aching sweetness by Renee Zellweger to a Russian business opportunist, Astrid takes on each women's persona in an attempt to find herself and rid herself of her mother's power.

An unnecessary distraction from the story is Astrid's relationship with Paul, (Patrick Fugit) a fellow foster care youth she meets while staying at a halfway house. This tepid relationship seems only to serve as a conduit for a neat, tidy ending.

The movie comes full circle during a final visit with Astrid and her mother. It is here that Astrid is finally able to break through her mother's cold-hearted exterior to find the insecure woman within. Once this happens a bridge is crossed and Ingrid is finally able to demonstrate the true love for her daughter that she only thought she was giving before.

"White Oleander" is not a perfect film by any means yet it manages to hold our attention with a cast interesting characters and a script that is memorable, if not always realistic.