X
- 2009
- PG-13
- New Line Cinema
- 1 h 49 m
- 2009
- PG-13
- New Line Cinema
- 1 h 49 m
Summary Sara and Brian Fitzgerald's life with their young son and their two-year-old daughter, Kate, is forever altered when they learn that Kate has leukemia. The parents' only hope is to conceive another child, specifically intended to save Kate's life. For some, such genetic engineering would raise both moral and ethical questions; for the Fi...
Directed By: Nick Cassavetes
Written By: Jeremy Leven, Jodi Picoult, Nick Cassavetes
- 2009
- PG-13
- New Line Cinema
- 1 h 49 m
- 2009
- PG-13
- New Line Cinema
- 1 h 49 m
My Sister's Keeper
51
6.8
Where to Watch
Summary Sara and Brian Fitzgerald's life with their young son and their two-year-old daughter, Kate, is forever altered when they learn that Kate has leukemia. The parents' only hope is to conceive another child, specifically intended to save Kate's life. For some, such genetic engineering would raise both moral and ethical questions; for the Fi...
Directed By: Nick Cassavetes
Written By: Jeremy Leven, Jodi Picoult, Nick Cassavetes
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
51
29% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
64% Mixed
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
7% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
51
29% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
64% Mixed
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
7% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
The strength of the acting and the modulation of the screenplay transforms what could have been a run-of-the-mill Lifetime disease-of-the-week movie into something more insightful and intelligent.
The interesting ethical and moral issues of the situation are hashed out in courtroom scenes (with Joan Cusack as the judge!) that devolve into hysteria in jarring contrast to a sensitively handled death scene that soon follows.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 63 User Ratings
6.8
60% Positive
38 Ratings
38 Ratings
32% Mixed
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
8% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 63 User Ratings
6.8
60% Positive
38 Ratings
38 Ratings
32% Mixed
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
8% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
We make choices in life every day, and you should make a choice and see this movie
(Synopsis) Sara (Cameron Diaz) and Brian Fitzgerald (Jason Patric) have just been informed that their young daughter Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) has leukemia, and that she only has a few years to live. The doctor suggests to the parents that they try an unorthodox medical procedure of producing another child in a test-tube that would be a perfect match as a donor for Kate. Sara will try anything to save Kate, and they have a new baby Anna (Abigail Breslin) to be used as a donor for Kate. The first thing they use is blood from the umbilical cord for Kate. As years go on, the doctors must take bone marrow from Anna to give to Kate. At age 11, the next thing Anna must give to her sister is a kidney. Anna has had enough of all of these medical procedures, and she decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation and the right to decide how her body will be used. The whole family is being torn apart by Anna's decision because everyone knows what will happen to Kate if she doesn't get a new kidney.
(My Comment) Everyone knows from the movie trailer that the story is about a young girl who has cancer. You would think that it would be a depressing movie, but you would be wrong. It is a story of some of the choices we make in life. Having a test-tube baby as body parts for another child was a choice made by the parents. Anna wanting to stop giving her body to her sister was a choice. As with all choices, there are consequences. Kate will die without a new kidney. There are many very hard choices in life and in death that we must make, and this is a good movie to show you the way. Diaz as the pragmatic lawyer who was fighting to the very end for her daughter lost focus on life, and the rest of her family. I believe that this is Diaz's best part and performance as an actress. Sofia Vassilieva played Kate, who was in pain for most of her life. Sofia played Kate so well that you could see the helplessness in her eyes as she fights for her life. Anna was also part of this pain, and Abigail Breslin played this part as a professional. Actually, the whole cast was outstanding throughout the film. I loved the collaged scrapbook with voice-over and flashbacks that Kate made to give to her mother. This is a good movie to see with your loved ones. (New Line Cinema, Run Time 1:49, Rated PG-13) (10/10)
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This is a movie that is outside my normal interests. I read about it and thought that it had an interesting idea. I was not disappointed. The base story is about a family whose daughter has leukemia. As everything else fails their only hope is to conceive another child which can donate blood, steam cells and tissues. Years later the kidneys fail and their younger daughter realizes that this has grave impacts for her life and doesn't want to be treated just as doner if not even as human spare part deliverer. She hires a lawyer and want the rights of self-determination. It is a family drama with parts of a courtroom movie. It is based on the book of the same name from Jodi Picoult. I read the book a few months after watching the movie and was surprised. Both media are excellent. The movie makes changes in a meaningful way. Normally I should condemn this but it is fitting and improves the movie because not everything can be adapted from a book to a movie. You can still read the book for more character insights, development, additional side stories and perspective. Remark: The endings are different! The strengths are the great story and of cause the excellent actors. Everyone is believable in their roles, the character development and interactions. The story is never boring and has some good twist or surprises for you. Each character grows or develops within the movie. It is a rare chase were the director make an adaption that is fitting and true to the sources while also making changes. I cant tell you more without spoilers but you should get the idea why I liked the movie. Overall a welcome surprise that I would recommend even to people that don't like movies like this normally. Like I said it is outside my normal interests and I watched it, read the book and give a 10/10.
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Their message (Cassavetes and screenwriter Jeremy Leven) in My Sister's Keeper? Cancer sucks, but there's always the balm of beach scenes and an emo soundtrack.
Finally, it's more a cautionary tale about the dangers of what can happen when a bad movie happens to a popular novelist than a keeper for the ages.
A pall of disaster, in fact, hangs over everyone in this shapeless, hankie-wringing adaptation of the best-selling Jodi Picoult novel.
Unsubtle, uneven and undeniably effective, this take-no-prisoners cancer weepie poses a fascinating moral quandary.
Has a gutsy premise, but no guts.
Screenwriter/Director Nick Cassavetes tries so hard to make Jodi Picoult's tragic,romantic,cancer story into a movie were people fans of romance can be filled with tears he does it very well. Abigail Breslin plays Anna a wonderful caring girl who does not want to give her sister kate a kidney, Breslin is charming i do not find her love able but she is sweet in (Signs and Little Miss Sunshine) and that's what she does in My Sister's keeper. Cameron Diaz play selfish,stupid **** mom who forces Anna to give a kidney to her sister and i found Diaz's character over ratted and plain out Not good also i can't believe that Jason Patric's character is agreeing with the mother. This is the best romance movie that Cassavetes ever done since That "okay" Sparks' disaster The Notebook. From the director of the notebook makes a huge huge huge huge improvement.
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A very moving, touching and emotional story about a girl with life-threatening illness (cancer) A young girl was born, named Kate, whom one day when she was roughly six years old, was told she had early stages of cancer, and the film goes on about how she went through her life with her illness. This made me cry but smile in some scenes, and would definitely be for teenagers. 10/10, a fantastic but emotional film :)
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Is it possible to make a drama too sad and depressing to watch? Quite possibly. My Sister's Keeper might just fit that criteria. Abigail Breslin shows her potential but never quite nails this role.
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Production Company
Curmudgeon Films,
Gran Via Productions,
Mark Johnson Productions
Release Date Jun 26, 2009
Duration 1 h 49 m
Rating PG-13
Awards
Young Artist Awards
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Teen Choice Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Women Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
