"My Sister's Keeper" 3.0***

MY SISTER”S KEEPER 3.0*** This is a deeply moving story that will stir your heart and cause the tears to flow. While it is definitely a “tear jerker”, it is much more than that. And all that it is will have a profound effect on most people…of sadness, of course, but even more so of the power and wonder of love…love of family and friends and love of life… every precious minute of it. I cried during this fine emotional film as well as on the way home…and, you know, I have found that a good cry is often as good for you and your well-being as a good laugh.

This movie is adapted by director Nick Cassavetes from Jodi Picoult's bestselling novel of the same name. As with his previous films (including the “The Notebook”), Cassavetes allows this latest work to speak plainly, relating the story of a young girl, Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin), whose parents (Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric) created her specifically so they would have “spare parts” (bone marrow, kidney, etc.) to help prolong the life of their cancer-stricken daughter Kate (Sofia Vassilieva). After 11 years of this sacrifice, Anna finally objects to her second-class status and sues her parents for “medical emancipation”.

Watching it unfold, I was quite moved -- not by mere pity, or by the simple device of pitting one young woman's life and happiness against another's -- but, rather by the portrait of a family that loves each other as best they can, of people trying to do small, good things in the face of big, bad things like death. And “My Sister's Keeper” isn't shy about the medical reality of the situation -- here we see Kate wracked by pain, bleeding at times, suffering from the side-effects of chemo and scared and shivering. But we also see Kate laugh, and love; we see her deal with her sister’s desire to be freed from the painful, risky medical procedures and operations. We see her prepare for death and try to prepare those whom she loves. Simply put,” My Sister's Keeper” is not shy about how much pain there is in the world -- how much random agony and wasteful death there is. But it also isn't shy about how much love there is in the world, as well -- how simple kindness, graciousness, sympathy and true simple love abounds all around us.
The cast is all strong. Breslin is that rare child actor who doesn't seem plastic or too-sweet precious when she plays wise beyond her years. Vassilieva tackles some tough stuff and does a remarkable job; Diaz is more engaging, and more engaged, than she's been on-screen in a long time. And the supporting cast is great; Jason Patric plays Diaz's husband/father with a flinty, quiet strength; Joan Cusack is the presiding judge who always seems human; Alec Baldwin is the lawyer Breslin hires.
There are many memorable moments but the scene at the beach with the blue sky on a windy, sunny day with the ocean swirling as it begins to turn towards darkness was special. I wasn't just thinking about how those things were beautifully shot (which they were) but also about how they were simply beautiful. “My Sister's Keeper” doesn't pull any punches, and it doesn't tell any lies, and it earns every feeling and thought and memory it brings to the audience….and in today’s cynical world, that's not such a bad thing to have.
So, I urge you go if you can handle the emotional nature of the story and for you ladies (and maybe a few of the guys) take several Kleenex or perhaps a couple of big paper towels..you will need them.

Clark