MY SISTER'S KEEPER (REVIEW)
If
there ever was a film designed to make the audience cry, this is it. Based on
a popular heartfelt novel by Jodi Piccoult and directed my Nick Cassavettes, the
man at the helm for the equally tear-jerking, 'The Notebook', this is a very emotional
cinema experience.
A young girl, now 11 years old, has been
genetically engineered in a test tube by her parents in order to have the exact
DNA compounds as her older cancer stricken sister. Fed up being the 'pin cushion',
Anna Fitzgerald takes her parents to court to sue for medical emancipation after
years of donating vital organs. The transfusions and transplants have taken their
toll on Anna which her parents simply overlook. Anna sets off to obtain the help
of an ambulance chasing lawyer who often spruiks his own success rate. His help
is critical in the outcome for both parties.
Everyone however
seems to have their own unfortunate tragedy to deal with, including the judge
controlling proceedings (played by Joan Cusack). Her daughter was recently killed
by a drunk driver and this is her first case back after an absence from the chambers.
Sophie Vassilieva is a revelation as the fragile but ever so endearing leukemic
patient.
The mother, part crazy, part torn, fights for one
child, but ignores the other, while her son may as well be invisible. Cameron
Diaz shows good dramatic pose in this role, teetering on the edge of a breakdown
which her laid back husband (a grown up Jason Patric from 'The Lost Boys') continues
to try and support in every way. Like a fine wine, Alec Baldwin gets better with
age. He commands what little screen time he has as the well dressed lawyer but
has some medical secrets of his own he uses for inspiration on this case.
Finally
of note is little Miss Sunshine herself, adorably talented Abigail Breslin as
Anna. A lynchpin, so to speak, to a truly emotional journey. Other than a trip
to the beach, which seemed like a sideline, but thoughtful moment in proceedings,
the flashbacks tell the fragmented story in various stanzas of the condition which
is being dealt with. Having not read the source material, I am led to believe
the ending has been changed for the screen - this makes me want to check out the
novel at once.
Like looking through a scrapbook, as happens
in a scene from the movie, 'My Sister's Keeper' is a collage of life that I highly
recommend.
Shane A. Bassett
