Anywhere but Here

**Anywhere but Here** is a 1999 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Wayne Wang, which was released by 20th Century Fox on November 12, 1999.

It is based on Mona Simpson's 1986 novel of the same name.

## Plot

Single mother Adele August (Susan Sarandon) is bad with money and even worse when it comes to making decisions. Her straight-laced teenage daughter, Ann (Natalie Portman), is a successful high school student with Ivy League aspirations.

When Adele decides to pack up and move the two of them from the Midwest to Beverly Hills, California, to pursue her dreams of Hollywood success, Ann grows frustrated with her mother's irresponsible & impulsive ways.

## Cast

* Susan Sarandon as Adele August
* Natalie Portman as Ann August
* Shawn Hatosy as Benny
* Hart Bochner as Josh Spritzer
* Eileen Ryan as Lillian
* Ray Baker as Ted
* John Diehl as Jimmy
* Bonnie Bedelia as Carol
* Faran Tahir as Hisham Badir
* Caroline Aaron as Gail Letterfine
* Corbin Allred as Peter
* Michael Milhoan as Cop
* John Carroll Lynch as Jack Irwin

## Production

Principal photography for "Anywhere But Here" began on June 29, 1998 and ended on September 17, 1998. Filming took place in Los Angeles, California and Beverly Hills, California. The Red Rock scenes were filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Susan Sarandon informed the producers that she wouldn't be interested in the project if Natalie Portman wasn't cast as her daughter.

The script had to be re-written after Natalie Portman refused to do a nude scene in the film and Susan Sarandon supported her decision.

Barry Levinson was approached to be in the film, but he declined due to a lack of interest and scheduling conflicts with "Liberty Heights."

## Box Office

"Anywhere But Here" opened at #5 at the box office, grossing $5,607,137 during its opening weekend.

Overall, it grossed $23,631,929 on an estimated budget of $23,000,000.

## Critical Reception

"Anywhere But Here" received positive reviews from critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 64% based on 89 reviews with an average rating of 6.30\10. The site's consensus reads: *"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."*

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars, stating: *"The movie's interest is not in the plot, which is episodic and 'colorful,' but in the performances. [Susan] Sarandon bravely makes Adele into a person who is borderline insufferable. Sarandon's role is trickier and more difficult, but [Natalie] Portman's will get the attention."*

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote: *"Susan Sarandon has never been more outrageously appealing. Natalie Portman is simply exquisite."*

Wesley Morris of The San Francisco Examiner called "Anywhere But Here" a *"monumentally graceful union of two extremely dissimilar stars, one inspired cinematographer and an exceptionally patient, curious, independent-minded director."*

Sue Ann Hornaday called it a *"quietly resonant movie about the painful alliance between single mothers and their daughters, and the complicated drama of separation."*

Susan Wloszczyna from USA Today praised the performances of Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman, commenting: *"It's terrific to see such well-matched actresses of opposing generations duke it out."*