My Sister's Keeper
By Marshall Fine
Rating:
Who's in it: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin
What's it about: Anna (Breslin), a girl born to be a donor for her cancer-stricken older sister, decides she doesn't want to give her a kidney.
Whose life is it: Facing the transplant to her sibling, Anna hires a lawyer (Alec Baldwin) to allow her to say no to being an unwilling source of spare parts. Based on a novel by best-seller Jodi Picoult, this film stars Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric as the parents, fighting to keep one daughter alive and the other serving as her savior. But who gets to make those choices? And how much life are they missing by struggling to prevent their daughter's death? It's straightforward soap opera, without much of the hysterics you'd imagine. Instead, director Nick Cassavetes keeps circling back to what's really at stake: this family's survival. While it might make you impatient at times, it can't help but get to you in the end.
Long story short: Bring lots of tissues.
More Reviews
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A pregnant and abused teen finds self-esteem in a literacy class.
A pregnant and abused teen finds self-esteem in a literacy class.
A Christmas Carol
This 3D animated film reworks Charles Dickens' classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey), as he learns the true spirit of Christmas.
This 3D animated film reworks Charles Dickens' classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey), as he learns the true spirit of Christmas.
The Men Who Stare at Goats
This allegedly true story follows a newspaper reporter chasing a scoop about the Army's special squad of warriors with psychic powers.
This allegedly true story follows a newspaper reporter chasing a scoop about the Army's special squad of warriors with psychic powers.
That Evening Sun
An elderly Southerner escapes from a nursing home and tries to reclaim his family farm from the people who are renting it.
An elderly Southerner escapes from a nursing home and tries to reclaim his family farm from the people who are renting it.
How to Seduce Difficult Women
A Frenchman, author of a book about having confidence with women, works with a class of American losers to improve their skills.
A Frenchman, author of a book about having confidence with women, works with a class of American losers to improve their skills.
Gentleman Broncos
A teen with dreams of publishing a fantasy novel discovers his manuscript has been plagiarized by a famous writer.
A teen with dreams of publishing a fantasy novel discovers his manuscript has been plagiarized by a famous writer.
House of the Devil
A college student in the 1980s takes a babysitting job at a remote house - only to discover that there's no baby.
A college student in the 1980s takes a babysitting job at a remote house - only to discover that there's no baby.
Turning Green
James, an American teen forced to live in a small Irish town in 1979, finds he can make money to get back to America by selling porno mags.
James, an American teen forced to live in a small Irish town in 1979, finds he can make money to get back to America by selling porno mags.
Where the Wild Things Are
After a fight with his mother, a boy named Max runs away to become king of an island full of furry monsters.
After a fight with his mother, a boy named Max runs away to become king of an island full of furry monsters.
The Maid
A household is thrown into chaos when its longtime maid starts acting crazy.
A household is thrown into chaos when its longtime maid starts acting crazy.
New York, I Love You
This collection of 10 short films looks at people in love in New York.
This collection of 10 short films looks at people in love in New York.
Good Hair
Chris Rock narrates and stars in a documentary looking at the world of black hair-care products.
Chris Rock narrates and stars in a documentary looking at the world of black hair-care products.
Free Style
A would-be motocross star has to battle financial woes and his own bad temper to achieve stardom.
A would-be motocross star has to battle financial woes and his own bad temper to achieve stardom.
An Education
A teen-age girl in pre-Beatles London falls for a much older man.
A teen-age girl in pre-Beatles London falls for a much older man.
Peter and Vandy
The story of one couple's relationship is told from first meeting to post-breakup, but out of order.
The story of one couple's relationship is told from first meeting to post-breakup, but out of order.
Whip It
A Texas teen (Ellen Page) becomes a star of roller derby without telling her parents.
A Texas teen (Ellen Page) becomes a star of roller derby without telling her parents.
The Invention of Lying
In a world where everyone tells only the truth, one man changes his destiny by making things up for the first time.
In a world where everyone tells only the truth, one man changes his destiny by making things up for the first time.
The Damned United
In early 1970s England, a brash soccer coach takes over the country's best professional team.
In early 1970s England, a brash soccer coach takes over the country's best professional team.
Capitalism: A Love Story
Moore goes in search of the roots of the financial crisis - and finds plenty of people to point a finger at.
Moore goes in search of the roots of the financial crisis - and finds plenty of people to point a finger at.
A Serious Man
In 1967 Minneapolis, a college professor finds his world collapsing around him. Now what?
In 1967 Minneapolis, a college professor finds his world collapsing around him. Now what?
