My Sister's Keeper (film)

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My Sisters's Keeper
My sisters keeper poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Nick Cassavetes
Produced by Stephen Furst
Scott Goldman
Mark Johnson
Chuck Pacheco
Mendel Tropper
Screenplay by Jeremy Leven
Nick Cassavetes
Based on My Sister's Keeper 
by Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Alec Baldwin
Starring Cameron Diaz
Abigail Breslin
Alec Baldwin
Jason Patric
Sofia Vassilieva
David Thornton
Emily Deschanel
and Joan Cusack
Music by Aaron Zigman
Cinematography Caleb Deschanel
Editing by Jim Flynn
Alan Heim
Studio Curmudgeon Films
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Release date(s)
  • June 26, 2009 (2009-06-26)
Running time 109 minutes
Country USA
Language English
Budget $30 million
Box office $95,714,875

My Sisters's Keeper is a 2009 drama directed by Nick Cassavetes and starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, and Alec Baldwin. Based on Jodi Picoult's novel of the same name,[1] My Sister's Keeper was released in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom on June 26, 2009.

Contents

Plot [edit]

Conceived by means of in vitro fertilization, Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was brought into the world as a savior sister at the informal suggestion of Kate's doctor, Dr. Chance (David Thornton) (a formal suggestion from the doctor would have been a violation of legal and medical ethics). Anna is conceived to be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia, to donate compatible organs, blood and tissue in order to keep her sister alive. Her family members are introduced one by one and each tells about how Kate's illness has affected them personally. When Kate turns 15, she goes into renal failure. Eleven-year-old Anna knows that she will be forced by her parents to donate one of her kidneys. She also realizes that she may not be able to live the life she will want to lead - she may be unable to cheer-lead, play soccer, or be a mother. Anna tells her parents that she does not want any of this, and proceeds to sue them for medical emancipation and the rights to her own body. Her extremely overprotective mother, Sara (Cameron Diaz), who leads an obsessive campaign to keep Kate alive, is indignant at Anna's decision and even strikes her across the face when she receives the notice of court proceedings. Attorney Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin) agrees to work for Anna as her guardian ad litem, suing for partial termination of parental rights. It is later learned he agreed to take the case not for the notoriety, but because he has epilepsy and understands her predicament of not having control over her own body.

The film is interlaced with flashbacks that detail Kate and Anna's closeness, as well as how Kate's illness has affected her siblings' lives and their relationships. In a flashback, Kate also meets a fellow cancer patient, Taylor Ambrose (Thomas Dekker), whom she begins dating. After a date, they kiss outside Kate's house, with Anna and Kate's father Brian (Jason Patric) watching from their bedroom window. After this, he becomes her boyfriend in and out of hospital and supports her as she undergoes treatment. He then asks her to the hospital's "prom" for teen patients; there, they slow-dance, then proceed to a vacant hospital room to make love. A few days later, Kate is crying because Taylor hasn't called her for several days. Her mother Sara is furious when Kate mentions they did "stuff" after the prom and storms out to ask the nurse where Taylor is, evidently believing that he had dated her daughter merely to sleep with her, and learns that he has died.

Kate makes a request to go to the beach one last time, and Brian obtains permission, and compassionate encouragement, from Dr. Chance to do so. Brian removes her from the hospital for the day and takes her and the kids to the beach, encountering an overprotective as ever Sara at a brief stop at their house who is furious when Brian shows up with Kate and demands that she be returned to the hospital. Brian angrily refuses and drives off, threatening Sara with a divorce if she does not join them. Sara later shows up at the beach, where they enjoy one final family outing. To Sara's dismay, the judge (Joan Cusack) refuses to grant summary dismissal, and the case goes to a hearing. During the hearing, Anna and Kate's older brother, Jesse, reveals that Anna's actions are actually under Kate's instruction; Kate, not wanting to live any longer, and knowing Sara refuses to hear any option other than her desired one to keep her alive, had gently persuaded Anna to refuse to donate her kidney - it is also revealed that Anna, due to her own reluctance to see Kate die, had initially been quite upset at Kate's decision. Sara is indignant at this discovery, but is finally forced by both Jesse and Brian to realize that Kate had been trying to tell her this for some time. Before the case is decided, Kate dies while sleeping at the hospital with her mother by her side. After Kate's death, Campbell brings the court decision: Anna won the case. The family moves on with their lives, but every year on Kate's birthday they go to Montana, which was her "most favorite place in the world." At the end, Anna says that she will see Kate again and that, in the meantime, their relationship continues.

Production and cast changes [edit]

Upon the original creation of the film adaption, Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning were cast to play Kate and Anna respectively. The girls closely resembled each other and were used to working together. However, when Dakota heard that she would be required to shave her head for the role, she dropped out of the film as then did Elle. The two sisters were replaced, with Abigail Breslin taking on the lead role as Anna Fitzgerald and Sofia Vassilieva on the role of Kate Fitzgerald.[2]

Cast [edit]

Reception [edit]

Critical response [edit]

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 47% of reviews for the film were positive, based on 126 reviews.[3] Another aggregate review site Metacritic reported 51% positive reviews based on 28 reviews.[4]

Box office [edit]

In its opening weekend it placed 5th with a total of $12,442,212, behind Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Proposal (second weekend), The Hangover (fourth weekend), and Up (fifth weekend).[5] The film left theatres on October 8, 2009 with a domestic total of $49,200,230 with a further $46,459,927 from foreign markets. It has grossed $95,660,157 worldwide.[6]

Awards [edit]

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2009 Teen Choice Award Choice Summer Movie Drama My Sister's Keeper Won[7]
2009 ALMA Awards Outstanding Actress in Motion Picture Cameron Diaz Won
2010 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Abigail Breslin Won
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Actor Brennan Bailey Nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Actress Sofia Vassilieva Won

Changes from book [edit]

The most notable difference involves the ending, which the director decided to change against Picoult's wishes. In the novel, Anna dies after being left brain dead from a car accident, and her usable organs are recovered with Campbell's permission, including the vital kidney for Kate, who goes into remission. In the film, Kate dies peacefully from her cancer and Anna does not donate her kidney.

Other story threads were altered:

  • The book is set in the state of Rhode Island; the film is set in the state of California.
  • Julia Romano is completely omitted. In the book she is an adviser to Anna and Campbell Alexander's love interest.
  • Jesse commits numerous arson attacks in the novel before eventually being confronted by Brian.
  • The relationship between Anna and Campbell is not explored as deeply in the film, and Campbell is a more central character in the book.
  • The history of Campbell and Judge is explained towards the end of the book, during a conversation Campbell and Julia have.
  • In the book, Sara is a brunette whereas in the movie, she is blonde.
  • In the film, it is revealed that Kate, whilst picking out a dress for the hospital prom, has a massive tantrum and storms off, soon coming across a beautiful wig that she wants to wear to the event. In the novel, Anna makes Kate feel better by making a couple of jokes to the hairdresser on how to style Kate's head for the hospital prom.
  • In the film, Kate and Taylor sneak into a hospital room and make love to each other. In the book, it's just a kiss.
  • In the book, Anna is thirteen, in the film, she's eleven.

Soundtrack [edit]

Trailer :

TV Spot :

Movie:

References [edit]

  1. ^ Fleming, Michael (2008-02-12). "Breslin, Vassilieva to star in 'Keeper'. Duo replaces Fanning sisters in New Line film". Variety. Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
  2. ^ "Dakota Fanning Steps Down From 'My Sister's Keeper' Role". Starpulse.com. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2012. 
  3. ^ "My Sister's Keeper". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2009-12-07. 
  4. ^ "My Sister's Keeper (2009): Reviews". Metacritic. 
  5. ^ "Weekend Box Office Results for June 26–28, 2009". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 12 January 2012. 
  6. ^ "My Sister's Keeper (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 12 January 2012. 
  7. ^ Teen Choice Awards winners

External links [edit]

Films directed by Nick Cassavetes
1990s
2000s
2010s
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