Tumbleweeds

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Tumbleweeds

PG-13

Released Jan 24, 1999

1h 44m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

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68 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Whenever trouble strikes in one of her relationships, single mother Mary Jo Walker (Janet McTeer) and her daughter, Ava (Kimberly J. Brown), pack up and move to another city, a routine Ava is tiring of. This time, they are helped on their move to San Diego by trucker Jack Ranson (Gavin O'Connor). While Ava settles in, getting a leading part in the school play, Jack starts dating Mary Jo but soon reveals himself to be controlling and aggressive. Mary Jo prepares to flee again, angering Ava.

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Critics Consensus

Strong performances add authenticity and depth.

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 22, 2002

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Rated: 4.5/5

May 11, 2001

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Almar Haflidason

BBC.com

Rated: 4/5

Apr 17, 2001

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Wallace Baine

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Given its obviousness, Tumbleweeds is still worthy of attention thanks principally to the queenly Janet McTeer.

Rated: B

Mar 1, 2019

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

The stagnant midsection does the hopelessly tedious atmosphere no favors...

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 18, 2016

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Teresa Talerico

Common Sense Media

Touching look at tough mom-daughter relationship.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2011

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Jackie S

One of my fav movies… underrated… and great actresses

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/23

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Audience Member

Great performances, and O'Connor's sure direction make this a genuine charmer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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steve d

I didn't enjoy the characters or surprisingly even the performances.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Oscar nominee British thespian Janet McTeer spellbindingly portrays a puerile Southern mother coming of age towing along her precocious daughter between abusive relationships with men in this hearteningly heartfelt chick flick.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Delightful! Almost the same story as Anywhere But Here, but this is a ar superior movie. Janet McTeer was great - deserving of Best Actress, although not likely to get it. You'd never guess she's a Brit. Her N. Carolina accent might not have been perfect, but it had no traces of British. Her daughter seemed like a real kid rather than a movie star and their relationship was wonderful to watch unfold.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Janet McTeer is excellent in this and earned her Oscar nomination showing lots of great range of drama and comedy. Kimberly J. Brown, who I have always loved from the Halloweentown movies, is also really great. I wish she did more work these days because she was truly a shining star in this movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Gavin O'Connor

Director

Janet McTeer

Mary Jo Walker

Kimberly J. Brown

Ava Walker

Gavin O'Connor

Jack Ranson

Jay O. Sanders

Dan Miller

Lois Smith

Ginger

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Synopsis

Whenever trouble strikes in one of her relationships, single mother Mary Jo Walker (Janet McTeer) and her daughter, Ava (Kimberly J. Brown), pack up and move to another city, a routine Ava is tiring of. This time, they are helped on their move to San Diego by trucker Jack Ranson (Gavin O'Connor). While Ava settles in, getting a leading part in the school play, Jack starts dating Mary Jo but soon reveals himself to be controlling and aggressive. Mary Jo prepares to flee again, angering Ava.

Director: Gavin O'Connor
Producer: Greg O'Connor
Screenwriter: Gavin O'Connor, Angela Shelton
Distributor: Fine Line Features
Production Co: Spanky Pictures, River One Films, Solaris
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Surround

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