A Thousand Acres (1997) **

If Tennessee Williams had written "King Lear" (and added scenes from "The Bridges Of Madison County" and "Twister" for no apparent reasons), the result would strongly resemble Jane Smiley's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, adapted here into an emotionally overwhelming, but hopelessly conventional film. Jessica Lange and Michelle Pfeiffer play two older sisters who share a horrible secret about their father. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays their younger sibling who has no clue about her sisters' sacrifices. This is a film about hate, self-loathing, hypocrisy and other edifying family values.