Having read the book My Sister’s Keeper I was looking forward to seeing the movie. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes and no.
It certainly works well as a movie and is worth seeing. I’m glad I saw it. It’s a powerful movie that raises lots of questions. Even though I knew the storyline, it involved me totaly in the story of Sara(Cameron Diaz) and Brian Fitzgerald (Jason Patric) and their family.
For those of you who don’t know, Sara and Brian find out their daughter Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) has Leukemia. The only hope of helping her appears to be having another genetically engineered child, with the specific aim of that child providing whatever is necessary from her body to save Kate’s life. And so Anna comes into the world.
From an early age Anna is subjected to a range of medical procedures like bone marrow transplants all designed to keep Kate alive. The other child in the family, Jesse (Evan Ellingson) tends to be ignored in the process with all the focus on Kate and Anna.
The mother, Sara is so focused on saving Kate’s life that she gives up her career as a lawyer to care for Kate. In her attempt to save Kate, she is prepared to go to extreme lengths. At one stage Sara’s sister, Kelly says to her, ‘You’ve gotta give up.’
‘I can’t,’ Sara replies.
The medical procedures continue until 11 year old Anna (Abigail Breslin) finally refuses to participate any more. She hires Campbell Alexander, a lawyer, (Alec Baldwin,) and takes her parents to court for medical emancipation so she does not have to have the operation to donate her kidney. This action produces all sorts of tensions within the family.
My husband came with me to the movie even though he wasn’t initially that keen. Once the movie started he was as engrossed and involved in the character’s lives as I was. At the end he declared it was a really good movie, due to the strong story being told and the caliber of the acting. It was brilliantly acted by all concerned.
The movie has one sex scene between Kate and Taylor (Thomas Dekker) another cancer sufferer. There is also some language. Given the situation and the anger being portrayed with the situation it is not out of place but entirely within context and within character. It’s not there just for the sake of dropping the F or S words as it is in some movies.
Personally I wouldn’t take anyone under teenage to see it, as it could be harrowing since it is very emotional. For a mid to older teen this is a movie that raise lots of issues about family, about rights, about sacrifice, about compromise, about medical advancements and the choices that people are asked to make these days which would never have existed in earlier times. It would provide plenty of talking points within a family. There are some lighter moments of humor which is great but you’ll definitely need to go equipped with a good supply of tissues.
Did I enjoy it? Enjoy is not the word. However, I was totally captivated from start to finish. Like my husband I was amazed how quickly time passed. I’d defy anyone to come out of it without have been emotionally involved and without it having raised lots of issues for discussion.
As a movie it works well, though I do think you miss some of the nuances of the characters that come out in the book. Would I recommend it? Yes without a doubt.
I’m not going to tell you how it ends except to say if you’ve read the book you might be in for surprise.
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