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MOVIES
Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric play the parents of Kate (Sophia Vassilieva), the stricken child.
Thus her sister Amy (Abigail Breslin) is called upon many times to provide blood, bone marrow and go through many procedures to keep Kate alive.
Kate's cancer has reached the end stage, and now the mother insists on a kidney transplant. Amy, now eleven finally has had enough. She wants her own life and refuses, and herein lies the story.
Joyce: Mom's emotions become hysterical in her frantic efforts to keep save her daughter- at any cost. Yes, even at great risk to her other daughter's health. Diaz plays the frantic Sara with a terrific intensity. Her best role yet. And Patric is very effective as the frustrated but terrified father.
Rico: Amy sues for medical emancipation in order to prevent this operation.
She finds Alec Baldwin, an attorney who agrees to help the little sister, who I thought carried the film.
She is quite believable in this sad, sad tale.
Joyce: Though there are some lovely normal family moments and humorous ones as well, we have to be grateful for Alec Baldwin's character who provides some needed moments of comedy. And though he is very funny, it all fits well into the story.
Rico: The film consists of many flashbacks detailing the advancement of the cancer. It starts with Kate already in treatment, totally bald and certainly not the charming little girl we are accustomed to seeing on TV's "Medium".
Unfortunately, The pace really doesn't build, but starts with Kate already very sick. The audience is just thrown into the situation with little room to breath.
I found that too off-putting. I thought being plunged into the situation denied the audience of the experience of a three hanky tear jerker.
THe experience is definitely agonizing.
Joyce: Actually, I personally liked that approach. This desperate situation raises a lot of ethical and moral questions? What is love and what is loyalty? How far does one go to save someone; when to let go? I did find it a three-hanky tear jerker. Most will. I gave it ***1/2
Rico: I give the film *** and a yellow light.
PG-13 mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking
FILM: My Sister's Keeper
DIRECTOR: Nick Cassavetes
CAST INCLUDES: Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin, Abigail Breslin, Jason Patric, Thomas Dekker, Sofia Vassilieva, Joan Cusack
GENRE: Drama
RUNNING TIME: 1:46
RATED: PG-13
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