On the Big Board |
Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
34/82 |
Kelly Metz |
Wait...Cameron Diaz can act? Yeah, I know, shocker. Alec Baldwin was wasted in his role. If you hate overly sentimental, schmaltzy stuff, skip this movie. |
82/169 |
Max Braden |
Tearjerky and sweet. I didn't mind the voiceover but I think the story might have been just as strong without the courtroom surprise. |
Writer-director Nick Cassavetes struck gold with his adaptation of The Notebook, a romance that pulled at the heartstrings while being exceedingly sad. After branching to a weird, violent film in Alpha Dog, Cassavetes is returning to the weeper-type drama that brought him early success.
My Sister's Keeper centers on a young couple named Sarah and Brian. They have the perfect life, with a wonderful marriage and a delightful son and daughter. But soon, they receive some devastating news, which will force them to make some extremely difficult decisions in order to save their daughter's life. This decision has ethical and moral implications, and also has a very significant impact on Sarah and Brian's relationship in general. Their choices ultimately lead to a court case, which further deepens the complexity of the situation.
At the forefront of the film is Cameron Diaz, who is generally best known for her comedy work. Can she pull off something more serious? Possibly. She was solid in a supporting role in Vanilla Sky, but she hasn't had much else to compare. Featured alongside her are Alec Baldwin, currently tearing it up in 30 Rock, former Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Joan Cusack and Jason Patric.
Will Cassavetes be able to work the same magic that he did with The Notebook? Given that this is a more devastating story even that that movie portrayed, it might be a challenge. It's all going to depend on how Warner Bros. positions it. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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