My Sister's Keeper is a Keeper

‘My Sister’s Keeper’ starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin sits up there with ‘Beaches’ and ‘Steel Magnolias’ as far as tear- jerkers are concerned. Even if you are a cynic, you can’t help but get sucked in to the two hours of pure, unadulterated sadness. You will hear the loud sobs rising from the theater seats, and it will not just be the women. Based on the bestselling book from Jodi Picoult, this is the story of a mother, who desperate to save her terminally ill child, conceives another genetically-engineered child just to have a donor for her sick daughter. Sara, who is played by Cameron Diaz, has to struggle with some moral gray areas in order to keep her daughter alive. She struggles with balancing the will to fight for her daughter and what’s best for her family as a whole. The movie begins when the test-tube child, who is now 11, played by Abigail Breslin, seeks to be medically emancipated from her parents. The movie touches on the typical deep-thought topics – as most stories built around death usually go. The film allows you to see the perspective of every family member as they all share the narration of this tear-filled story. The story will have you visiting thoughts about the basic meaning of life and the whole enjoy- life- to- the- fullest philosophy. What makes this movie different is that it does not seek to answer any of those questions for you; in contrast it immerses you in the experience a family has to endure when dealing with imminent death. Moral grays about commitment, loyalty, selflessness and dedication are all the underlying subject of the film.

As is expected from her previous films Abigail Breslin rises to the occasion. She plays her role with an introspective maturity beyond her years. She’s not overly dramatic as her role could push her to be. The underlying tension, expected from the situation, with her on-screen mom is clearly portrayed without losing natural, loving bond between mother and child. Cameron Diaz’ performance is a little watered down, but she has certainly come a long way from the days of ‘The Mask.’ She plays the role of fighter and protector with ease. Her usual quirky personality is tamed but shines through the role as she displays the complex emotions involved in dealing with a sick child. Her chemistry with her on-screen husband, played by Jason Patric, is natural and provides a needed layer of compassion to the film. Seeing the love of a father for his children through his character is heart-warming. He plays the role of the night in shining armor, balancing strength and sensitivity. Evan Ellingson may be a new face; he’s had roles on CSI: Miami and 24. He plays the role of eldest brother and troubled teenager. Sofia Vassilieva plays the role of the terminally ill child, the center of the plot. Her smile and expressive eyes will win you over in a second. Her on-screen relationship with actor Thomas Dekker -- who you have probably seen on ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Cronicles’ -- will have you rooting for love and life. The cast is complete with award winning names like Joan Cusak and Alec Baldwin.

Although hard to watch, this movie tells one of those stories that need to be told. It can touch you deeply if you allow it. One thing is for certain, after leaving the film no one could ever forget how difficult it must be to watch a loved one wither away with complete impotence to do anything about it. The human spirit can certainly push us to be better, but there’s a threshold. It can also push us beyond all moral boundaries when we are determined to never let go.