Friday, July 3, 2009

Movie Review: My Sister's Keeper




WARNING: THIS IS A TOTAL CHICK MOVIE; ALL MALE READERS MAY WANT TO SKIP THIS REVIEW



This film is based on a book of the same name by Jodi Picoult. There is currently some outrage in the literary community due to the ending in the film differing from the book. I have not read any of these posts because I didn't want it to ruin the film or book, which I do intend to read. So I am reviewing this based on the merits of the film only.

The film introduces us to the Fitzgerald family--mom Sara (Cameron Diaz), dad Brian (Jason Patric), and their 3 beautiful children--Jesse (Evan Ellingson), Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), and Anna (Abigail Breslin). I am not giving anything away when I tell you that Kate has leukemia, she was diagnosed when she very young. Sara has made it her personal mission, as any mother would, to save her child. In doing so, Anna was created. When I say created, I mean it literally. She was a "test tube" baby, engineered to be a genetic match for her sister. Since Anna's birth she has been subjected to numerous tests and surgeries, all to help her sister. Kate's body has been put through the ringer for years due to her being in out and out of remission. Finally the illness has taken its most severe toll and she starts going into renal failure. We see young Anna worried for her sister but that does not stop her from taking a bus to the offices of shady TV commercial/ambulance chasing lawyer Campbell Alexander (played by the always brilliant Alec Baldwin). Anna would like Mr. Alexander to sue her parents on her behalf for medical emancipation. Of course this infuriates her mother, and drives a wedge into the family.

The movie is perfectly directed by Nick Cassavetes, whom all women know as the director of "The Notebook"(the man can bring the tears out of the most apathetic person in the world). We see this family, who is extremely close and you feel the love they have for each other but you also see how one person's illness affects each of them in different ways and you see the breakdown of all that they hold dear. As a devoted mother, sister, and aunt I was torn apart by this story. I don't know how anyone would know how to navigate through something like that but at the end of the day we all hope that we would make the right decision for our family. The film highlights all the struggles and sacrifices made to keep their family in tact.
I thought that everyone was wonderful in this film but I have to say the person that stood out for me was Cameron Diaz. She completely amazed me with this performance. I have always thought of her as the ditzy sexy girl with the tomboyish flair and was never convinced by her past dramatic roles, but with this film I was blown away. She took what could have been an "agro-bitch mom" role and turned it into a conflicted/determined mother who the audience can sympathize with. There is a line in the film that I think describes her character perfectly-"who are you if you aren't this crazy bitch mom fighting for your kid's life?" I think all moms can identify with her character.
I definitely recommend this film. Go see it with a big box of kleenex!!!!

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