My Sister's Keeper (film)
- This article is about the 2009 film. For the novel of the same name, see My Sister's Keeper
| My Sister's Keeper | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical film poster | |
| Directed by | Nick Cassavetes |
| Written by | Novel: Jodi Picoult Screenplay: Jeremy Leven |
| Produced by | Curmudgeon Films |
| Starring | Cameron Diaz Abigail Breslin Sofia Vassilieva Alec Baldwin Jason Patric Thomas Dekker Emily Deschanel Joan Cusack |
| Cinematography | Caleb Deschanel |
| Edited by | Jim Flynn Alan Heim |
| Music by | Aaron Zigman |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release date | June 26, 2009 |
Running time | 109 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million |
| Box office | $95,714,875 |
My Sister's Keeper is a 2009 American drama film 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.
Plot
Conceived by means of in vitro fertilization, Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was brought into the world to be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia, in order to keep her alive. Her family members are introduced one by one and each tell about how Kate's illness has affected them personally and the family. When Kate turns 15, she goes into renal failure. Anna knows that she will be forced by her parents to donate a kidney. She also believes that, if she does donate a kidney, she will be unable to live the life she wants. She erroneously fears that she will not be able 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 overprotective mother, Sara (Cameron Diaz) is indignant at Anna's decision and even strikes her across the face when she receives the notice of intended prosecution. 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 one's 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 share their first kiss outside Kate's house, with Sara and Brian 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 patients-- there, they slow-dance, then proceed to a vacant hospital room to have intercourse. 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 purely for his own ends, and learns that he has passed away.
To Sara's dismay, the judge (Joan Cusack), Judge de Salvo, refuses to grant summary dismissal, and the case goes to a hearing. During the hearing, Anna and Kate's older brother, Jesse, unable to get Anna to admit it, reveals that Anna is actually acting under Kate's instruction; Kate has no confidence in another operation and would rather be allowed to die peacefully, and since Sara refuses to budge in her desire to keep her alive, she had secretly urged Anna to file for medical emancipation, and refuse to donate a kidney. At around the same time, Kate makes a request to go to the beach one last time, and Brian, her father, obtains permission from her doctor and removes her from the hospital to take her and the kids. Overprotective as ever, Sara is furious when Brian shows up at the house with Kate and demands her to 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. Before the case is settled, Kate dies in her sleep 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, being changed by Kate's death, but every year on Kate's birthday they go to Montana, which was her "most favourite place in the world." Anna also wonders why Kate had to die but she got to live. At the end, Anna says that their relationship continues because she will see Kate again.
Cast
- Cameron Diaz – Sara Fitzgerald
- Alec Baldwin – Campbell Alexander
- Abigail Breslin – Anna Fitzgerald
- Sofia Vassilieva – Katherine "Kate" Fitzgerald
- Jason Patric – Brian Fitzgerald
- Evan Ellingson – Jesse Fitzgerald
- Heather Wahlquist - Aunt Kelly
- Elizabeth Daily – Nurse Susan
- Joan Cusack – Judge De Salvo
- Thomas Dekker – Taylor Ambrose
- Jeffrey Markle - Dr. Wayne
- Emily Deschanel - Dr. Farquad
- Amit Khanduja - Chief Surgeon
- Olivia Hancock - Young Kate Fitzgerald
- Brennan Bailey - Young Jesse Fitzgerald
Reception
Critical response
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 47% of reviews for the film were positive, based on 126 reviews.[2] another aggregate review site Metacritic reported 51% positive reviews based on 28 reviews.[3].
Box office
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).[4] 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 .[5]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Teen Choice Award | Choice Summer Movie Drama | My Sister's Keeper | Won[6] |
| 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 | Won | ||
| Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Actress | Sofia Vassilieva | Won |
Soundtrack
Trailer :
- Vega 4 - Life Is Beautiful
TV Spot :
- James Blunt - Carry You Home
- Plain White T's - 1, 2, 3, 4
- Tyrone Wells - More
Movie:
- Don Ho - Tiny Bubbles
- E.G. Daily - Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
- Priscilla Ahn - Find My Way Back Home
- Jimmy Scott - Heaven
- Regina Spektor - Better
- Jonah Johnson - With You
- Greg Laswell - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
- Pete Yorn - Don’t Wanna Cry
- Phil Xenidis - Kill Me
- Jeff Buckley - We All Fall In Love Sometimes
- Edwina Hayes - Feels Like Home
References
- ^ Fleming, Michael (2008-02-12). "Breslin, Vassilieva to star in 'Keeper'. Duo replaces Fanning sisters in New Line film". Variety. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ^ "My Sister's Keeper". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ^ "My Sister's Keeper (2009): Reviews". Metacritic.
- ^ http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2009&wknd=26&p=.htm
- ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mysisterskeeper.htm
- ^ Teen Choice Awards winners