Adaptation of Anna Quindlen's bestselling novel, with Meryl Streep as the mum of a grown-up family who develops cancer. With her college professor husband (William Hurt) steadfastly adhering to routine, and her son conveniently fading into the background, it's left to her daughter to shoulder the burden. And so stroppy New York journalist Ellen (Renee Zellweger) is forced to put both career and boyfriend on hold and return to the family homestead for mom's dying days, during which unfinished business past and present are brought out for an airing. Not exactly uplifting, but thought-provoking and well-played.