SYNOPSIS:
What keeps a family together? Nick Cassavetes, the director of The Notebook and John Q, again demonstrates his sure hand with tales of deep human emotion in this inspiring film about a loving family challenged — and united – by a child’s illness. Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin and others in an exceptional cast bring sensitivity to the story of 11-year-old Anna Fitzgerald, conceived to be a donor for her leukemia-stricken sister, and who finally demands the right to control her own body. This act of free will may tear the Fitzgeralds apart. Or it may be the first step to a triumphant realization of devotion, dignity and what it means to be a family.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Sometimes
in life, there are times where we are forced to choose between
moral ethics or one’s own duty to overcome certain hurdle.
"My Sister’s Keeper" raises some of these
struggles and thought-provoking issues about medical dilemmas
and the impending loss of a love one based on the best-selling
novel from Jodi Picoult.
11 year old Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin)
is an engineered baby since day one. Her birth was conceived
by her parents Sara (Cameron Diaz) and Brian (Jason Patric)
to keep her elder sis, Kate who suffered from a form of leukemia
alive. Now at the age of 11, Anna decides to call it quits
so she proceeds to hire her own lawyer, Campbell Alexander
(Alec Baldwin), initiating a court case seeking medical emancipation
while Kate on the other end of the rope is quickly losing
her battle with her disease unless she gets a replacement
kidney from Anna.
Would
you as a parent sees your child succumb to the disease or
would you in one way or another defy moral obligation to give
hope to your child? The issue on hand will send any ordinary
close-knit family to chaos and in this screenplay co-written
by director Nick Cassavetes, the story intelligently embark
on issue of death and dilemmas without turning into a massive
weepfest. Cassavetes is no stranger to melodramatics, remember
"John Q" and "The Notebook"? In "My
Sister’s Keeper", Cassavetes tones down on the
tear-jerking element slightly though he must be blamed for
all the unnecessary love songs that appear on the soundtrack
every ten minutes or so.
"My
Sister’s Keeper" is supported by powerhouse performances
from the overall cast members. Cameron Diaz especially shines
as the mother who sacrificed her career or even her own personal
life to devote herself entirely to the care of her daughter.
Diaz who started her career in madcap comedies such as "The
Mask" and "There’s Something About Mary"
proves she is more than mere an airhead in the role of Sara
Fitzgerald. As the dying 16 year old Kate, Sofia Vassilieva
triumphs with her acting chops as she struggled with her disease
and a brief tender romance stint with a fellow cancer patient,
Taylor. Jason Patric, Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack contribute
lasting impression in their limited supporting roles. "Little
Miss Sunshine" Abigail Breslin is as serviceable as ever
in the role of Anna but generally speaking, her role might
not appeal to most brought up in a conventional family.
Many
feel "My Sister’s Keeper" is merely a manipulative
weepy drama out to wring out a few bucket of tears from the
female demographics though I genuinely feels there’s
more to it if you look deeper. As a medical drama, it lacks
a clear definition to all the issues of genetic engineering
or even leukemia. But as a movie that touches on how an ailing
family member can affect a family, "My Sister’s
Keeper" sincerely portrays the ups and downs, the torment
and struggles each and everyone of the household is facing.
Aside
from the role of Kate’s elder brother, Jesse who is
clearly underwritten to warrant much attention, the constant
back and forth voiceovers that distracts the flow of the movie
and a less than satisfying ending, "My Sister’s
Keeper" is a warm emotional drama that warrants at least
a single viewing despite the flaws.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
The
only extra feature here is over 15 minutes of Deleted
Scenes.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Being
dialogue driven for the whole duration, you can’t really
expect anything fancy out of the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
soundtrack. The picture quality in this 2.40:1 anamorphic
widescreen is clear and free of visible artifacts. Images
are at times fuzzy and soft which probably intentional by
the filmmakers.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Linus Tee
Posted
on 4 March 2010
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