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Sherrybaby [2006]
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Sound a little bit TV movie of the week? Then you’re not counting upon the considerable force of the film’s leading lady. Here, Gyllenhaal gives a career-best performance as Sherry Swanson, dragging the film single-handedly into a feature of real note. It’s an award-worthy turn, and one that casting directors would be well advised to take note of. The rest of Sherrybaby, inevitably, can’t live up to Gyllenhaal’s standards, but it has quite a go. Writer-director Laurie Collyer makes a sound feature film debut (basing it loosely around the experiences of one of her friends), delivering an emotional flick with genuine depth and feeling to it. Layering in the various obstacles that sit in Sherry’s way, her script gives her lead actress plenty to get her teeth into, and the movie gels well as a result. Running to just over an hour and a half, Sherrybaby is wise too not to outstay its welcome. Because as it stands, when the end credits role, you’ll have been treated to one of the best performances by a Hollywood actress in leading times, and a tight, memorable drama too. --Jon Foster
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Giving the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal an all-too-rare leading performance, Sherrybaby is a moving, well told story of a recovering addict who, ultimately, is looking to be reunited with her daughter.
Maggie is good, shame about the film
Review date: 2008-04-16 Rating: 4 out of 10
Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a great addict/loser in this rather depressing and dull film. I kept it on fast forward for most of the film and got what was going on without having to listen to too much of it. Not recommended - not even for Maggie's great body - which you do see quite a lot of.
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Reviews
great performance
Review date: 2008-03-30 Rating: 8 out of 10
Sherrybaby is a film that relies heavily on a single performance. Ok, so maybe the word heavily is a little unfair (the film has some other plus points) but the acting of Maggie Gyllenhaal (previously excellent in films such as Secretary and Donnie Darko) is outstanding and could have easily gained her, if it was not for all the other amazing performances this year, awards' nominations.
As some reviewers have already explained, the film is about a former drug addict who has just been released from prison (for stealing things, as Sherry explains) and is desperate to become reacquainted with her daughter. However, she does not receive too much help from her family: her brother and his wife have become too attached to the daughter (they have been looking after her during Sherry's time in prison); her father appears, at first, to be supportive but he turns out to be into sexual molestation, touching his daughter inappropriately during, what is supposed to be, a moment of comfort. Sherry does not help herself either by insisting that she can look after her daughter on her own, despite the fact that she goes to former addict's meetings, claiming that she finds it difficult not to take heroine. Eventually she has to admit to herself that she needs assistance, explaining this to her brother in the emotionally pleasing final scene of the movie, something I was not expecting. (I was expecting the mother and daughter to be reunited, after some necessary emotional torment, in a flood of tears.)
This is a film that is not, in my opinion, worth buying. It is, however, worth renting, if for no other reason than to see Gyllenhaal's performance which is one of the best of the year.
Decent arthouse film
Review date: 2008-02-07 Rating: 6 out of 10
I won't delve into the plot synopsis as Amazon have already covered that. The first point to make about this film is that Maggie Gylenhall really suprised me in this..I saw her in Mona Lisa Smile and wasn't overwhelmed however this is a tough gritty role she portrays. Although it's difficult to feel any empathy with her character you end up doing towards the end. It was rather shocking to see that the people who are supposed to love her don't treat her like such especially her own father.
I can't see how anyone can say this film has no ending - well erm yes it does! Isn't that clear? Basically she wants more than anything to be a good Mother but in the end she realises how tough this is and even she herself realises that she does need help after all.
It was a very good movie but didn't pull on the heartstrings enough..and it was indie in the sense that it was too indie for its own good - this owes more to the camera work rather than anything else.
I'll give this 61%
Maggie Gyllenhall excellent in a mediocre film
Review date: 2008-02-04 Rating: 6 out of 10
I know this film got many great reviews, and when it comes to Maggie Gyllenhall's performance I agree, it is excellent. She however completely outclasses the film she's in.The main character is fairly stereotypical - hints of the obligatory childhood of sexual abuse then falling into drugs and using sex as weapon/ defence/ comfort depending on the situation.
I can't decide whether it would have been more interesting to not hint at a troubled childhood, after all plenty of people outside the movies use drugs/ go to prison without this, or if you are going to mention it then in this movie it felt unsatisfying as it was not fully explored or explained.
The story arc is also predictable. Bad girl leaves prison tries to make good on her own, falls into old habits, realises she can't go it alone and needs help.
I also had a problem with the character of the sister-in-law who is very one dimensional and exists to cause unreasonable problems for Sherry. For example the part about instructing the child not to call Sherry Mommy came across as unrealistic. She comes across as mean with no redeeming characteristics other than caring for the child. It would have been much more interesting if this character had been more developed, and she didn't need to be nasty to Sherry. This felt like a calculated ploy to place our sympathies squarely with Sherry, when in fact it is the sister-in-law who deserves them (IMHO)- she has loved and raised the child for several years to now face the possibility of losing her.
All in all I finished the film feeling generally unsatisfied and that it could have been better.
MAGGIE DESERVES AN OSCAR FOR THIS PERFORMANCE
Review date: 2008-01-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is undoubtedly a stand out performance from maggie who plays the troubled sherry to perfection. this is not a film where there is an obvious story and does not finalise in any specific way, it is more of a journey through the life a young woman who is surviving in a relentless world in any which way she can. People must watch this film for the brilliant direction and as mentioned the star performance of the main character. As an avid film fan, I am always sceptical about the amount of rubbish films that are produced but this film really does shine through even though it has many vulgar, distressing and raw scenes. this film is worth watching just for acting alone, yet has so much more to offer.
Product Details/Specifications
Artist(s):
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Actor(s):
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Giancarlo Esposito
Kate Burton
Brad Henke
Sam Bottoms
Creators:
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Primary Contributor)
Kate Burton (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Metrodome
Manufacturer: Metrodome
EAN: 5055002553448
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-01-07
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 92 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)