Anywhere But Here

Essentially a roller-coaster of been there-done that emotional peaks and valleys between a neurotic, ego-battered mother and the frustrated teenage daughter on whom she projects all her unfulfilled ambitions, Anywhere But Here might have been little more than fodder for another Lifetime Channel movie had lesser actresses than Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman been cast in the lead roles. But director Wayne Wang's ability to extract such effortlessly natural and intricate performances from his stars assures this seemingly pedestrian story will ring true for anyone who is now or has ever been a teenage girl embarrassed and imposed upon by her mother. Recommended. (R. Blackwelder)