Many people in the film industry felt sure that Michelle Pfeiffer would receive an Oscar nomination for her turn as the murderous mother, but the film's failure at the box-office coupled with the aggressive marketing campaign for Chicago (2002) actresses Queen Latifah and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the same category, Pfeiffer failed to get a nomination.
In the film, Ingrid is an artist, while in the book she is a writer - showing an artist working was deemed more watchable than showing a writer writing.
Astrid is blonde throughout most of the movie (until she turns Goth and dyes her hair while fostered to the Russian woman), but in some of the scenes at McKinney Hall after Claire's suicide, before and after visiting her mother in prison, her eyebrows are dark and dark roots are showing in her hair.
When Astrid, Starr, and Carolee are driving to go get clothes, Starr refers to the reverend of their church as "Reverend Thomas." However, in every other scene before and after this, the reverend is referred to as "Reverend Daniels." Perhaps his name is Thomas Daniels.
When Uncle Ray and Astrid are outside watching the meteor shower he lights a cigarette but when he takes a puff and pulls it away to blow out the smoke there is no smoke and the cigarette is not lit. When Starr comes out and asks what he is doing the cigarette is lit and smoldering.