A Season for Miracles
A Season for Miracles ★★½ 1999
Because their drugaddict mother, Berry (Dern), is in jail, Alanna (Whitman) and younger brother J.T. (Sabara) are about to be placed in foster care. Instead, they go on the lam with their devoted Aunt Emilie (Gugino), whose car breaks down in the quaint community of Bethlehem (hey, it's a Christmas movie!). The family are taken under the eccentric wing of a diner waitress (Duke) and the trio warily settle in—with Emilie even drawing the romantic interest of handsome cop Nathan (Conrad). Of course, trouble comes calling when their secret is exposed. (It's Christmas—there's a happy ending.) Adapted from the book by Marilyn Papano. 90m/C VHS . Carla Gugino, David Conrad, Kathy Baker, Laura Dern, Patty Duke, Lynn Redgrave, Mae Whitman, Evan Sabara, Faith Prince, Mary Louise Wilson; D: Michael Pressman; W: Maria Nation; C: Shelly Johnson; M: Craig Safan. TV