White Oleander

In this tense, heartfelt drama, Alison Lohman plays a teen sent into foster care

In this tense, heartfelt drama, Alison Lohman plays a teen sent into foster care. Her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) has been jailed for murder (Billy Connolly, of all people, is the victim!), but Lohman discovers that's only the beginning of her problems.

Her brittle first foster mother (Robin Wright Penn) soon takes a dislike to her, while her second (Renée Zellweger), though kind and gentle on the surface, is an emotional wreck underneath. In what has to be the coldest and most unsympathetic role of her career, Pfeiffer delivers an outstanding performance.

Her pivotal meeting with Zellweger (who's equally impressive) is almost too painful to watch, while Lohman also proves that she's a talent to reckon with in this emotional drama.