When I happened upon this film, I couldn't help but compare Natalie Portman's character here with her character in "Heat". Both are struggling with the vagaries of life. The fathers for both are jerks. The mothers pose challenges from the opposite ends of the spectrum. In "Heat", Mom is on her last nerve and not there for the daughter. In "Anywhere But Here", Mom (Susan Sarandon) is all nerves and constantly there for the daughter, much to the daughter's annoyance. Mom leaves small town Bay City Wisconsin for the bright lights of L.A. to pursue the dream of Daughter's acting career of which Daughter wants no part.
The big difference between the two roles in the daughter's level of maturity. Natalie was but a girl in "Heat" while she is a young lady in "Anywhere But Here", more mature than her mother. Ms. Portman does a fine job of portraying a character undergoing changes as she takes on more responsibility.
One surprise for me was this movie came out after Ms. Portman portrayed Padme in the "Star Wars" episode. "Anywhere But Here" seemed that much of a segue for the evolution of Natalie Portman's characters' battle with life.
The big difference between the two roles in the daughter's level of maturity. Natalie was but a girl in "Heat" while she is a young lady in "Anywhere But Here", more mature than her mother. Ms. Portman does a fine job of portraying a character undergoing changes as she takes on more responsibility.
One surprise for me was this movie came out after Ms. Portman portrayed Padme in the "Star Wars" episode. "Anywhere But Here" seemed that much of a segue for the evolution of Natalie Portman's characters' battle with life.