My Sister's Keeper (film)
My Sister's Keeper | |
---|---|
Scott Goldman Mark Johnson Chuck Pacheco Mendel Tropper | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Caleb Deschanel |
Edited by | Jim Flynn Alan Heim |
Music by | Aaron Zigman |
Production companies | New Line Cinema Curmudgeon Films |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $30 million |
Box office | $92.7 million |
My Sister's Keeper is a 2009 American
Plot
A young girl, Kate Fitzgerald, is diagnosed with
When Kate is fifteen, she goes into
Meanwhile, Kate begins dating fellow cancer patient Taylor. After attending their hospital's prom for teen patients, they have sex for the first (and only) time, only for Taylor to pass away a few days later. A distraught Kate attempts suicide by overdosing on painkillers before Anna stops her.
After Sara is unable to get the suit thrown out, Anna's case proceeds to trial. Shortly before the hearing, Kate requests to go to the beach one last time. Brian obtains permission and discharges her from the hospital for the day. Sara demands that Kate be returned to the hospital, but Brian refuses and threatens to divorce Sara if she does not join them. They all enjoy one final family outing.
At the hearing, Jesse witnesses Sara's aggressive cross-examination of Anna on the stand and forces Anna to confess that she is acting under Kate's wishes, not her own. While Anna had genuinely wanted to donate her kidney, Kate, knowing she would not survive another operation and having endured enough of both her own and her family's suffering, had asked her to refuse. Sara finally acknowledges that Kate is ready to die, and Kate dies in her sleep later that day with her mother by her side.
After Kate's death, Campbell reports that Anna has won the case. Now reconciled, the family moves on with their lives. Sara, who gave up practicing law to look after Kate, returns to work, Brian retires from firefighting and counsels troubled youths, and Jesse enters college. Anna reveals that every year on Kate's birthday, they go to Montana, which was her "most favorite place in the world". She concludes that she was not born merely to save her sister, she was born because she had a sister, and that their relationship continues even in death.
Cast
- Cameron Diaz as Sara Fitzgerald
- Abigail Breslin as Anna Fitzgerald
- Alec Baldwin as Alexander Campbell
- Jason Patric as Brian Fitzgerald
- Sofia Vassilieva as Kate Fitzgerald
- Heather Wahlquist as Aunt Kelly
- Joan Cusack as Judge Joan De Salvo
- Evan Ellingson as Jesse Fitzgerald
- Thomas Dekker as Taylor Ambrose
- David Thornton as Dr. Harrison Chance
- Rick Salomon as Bailiff Bert
- E. G. Daily as Nurse Susan
- Lin Shaye as Nurse Adele
- Ellia English as Nurse Alice
- Emily Deschanel as Dr. Farquad
Production
Upon the original creation of the film adaptation, sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning were cast to play Kate and Anna respectively. 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 in the role of Kate Fitzgerald.[3] Jodi Picoult said in interview she regretted letting Cassavetes direct the film, as he changed its ending from her novel.[4]
Reception
Critical response
My Sister's Keeper received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 47% of reviews for the film were positive, based on 139 reviews, with an average rating of 5.50/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "My Sister's Keeper gets fine performances from its adult and child actors, but the director's heavy-handed approach turns a worthy emotional subject into an overly melodramatic tearjerker."[5] Another aggregator, Metacritic, reported a weighted average score of 51 out of 100, based on 28 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[6] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.[7]
Box office
In its opening weekend, it placed fifth with a total of $12,442,212, behind
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Teen Choice Award
|
Choice Summer Movie Drama | My Sister's Keeper | Won[9] |
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 |
Soundtrack
Trailer:
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"
- Feels Like Home"
- Hana Pestle– "These Two Hands"
References
- ^ Fleming, Michael (February 12, 2008). "Breslin, Vassilieva to star in 'Keeper'. Duo replaces Fanning sisters in New Line film". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ a b "My Sister's Keeper (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ^ "Dakota Fanning Steps Down From 'My Sister's Keeper' Role". Starpulse.com. February 13, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ^ "Jodi Picoult: 'My most treasured possessions are my grandmother's handwritten recipes. They are terrible'". The Guardian. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "My Sister's Keeper". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "Home". CinemaScore. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office Results for June 26–28, 2009". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
- ^ "Teen Choice Awards winners - USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.