Citizen Ruth

Alexander Payne left calling cards on the indie movie circuit in 1996 with his debut movie, Citizen Ruth. The satirical overview of the abortion argument looked at each side with a blend of good-natured affection and cynicism, leaving the audience to cheer or despise the pregnant woman in the middle.

Her role is a tough acting burden for Laura Dern. Her character has to seem dim-witted, irresponsible, egocentric, incurably amoral and addicted to "huffing" chemicals, swigging booze and unplanned pregnancies (five of them). That's a tall order for an actress whose eyes and body language can't help being clear beacons of sharp intelligence.

Her supporting cast are an amusing collection of stereotypical pro-lifers ("Baby Savers") and pro-choicers held apart by the supposedly objective legal system. None of them over-emote and I suspect Christopher Guest would have let them do so to greater effect. Some cameo appearances add well-coiffed old-star names and little extra quality -- Burt Reynolds plays the suave politico running the anti-abortion team and Tippi Hendren arrives on the abortionists' scene in a helicopter.

Greek-American Payne progressed to greater glory and fortune with Election, Chuck and Larry, and Oscar-winning Sideways. Citizen Ruth was a good starting point for him. It's neither laugh-out-loud comical nor bitingly satirical, just a tale of an unpleasant woman who never has an admirable adult thought.