 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
My Sister's Keeper
- Review Date: June 25, 2009
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Sad drama has heavy themes about illness, family.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this tearjerking drama explores some heavy themes that
younger audiences may find difficult to process without guidance.
A teenager is terminally ill, and her march to the end is painful: She vomits after chemo, her hair and
eyebrows fall out, and more. The effects of her illness on her family are are similarly heartbreaking to watch. The film also touches on
teenage sexuality and drinking and has some fairly infrequent swearing, including "f--k" and "s--t."
What's the story?
Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was a wanted baby -- wanted more than
anything in the world, because she was meant to save the life of her sister, Kate
(Sofia Vassilieva), who's been battling leukemia since she was 2. The girls' mother, Sara (Cameron
Diaz), vows to fend off death at all costs, even if it means using Anna
as Kate’s lifeline; their father, Brian (Jason Patric), supports her but has to tamp down some doubts. And their son, Jesse (Evan
Ellingson), struggles to be relevant in a household where cancer -- and
any potential cure -- reigns above all else. Then, one day, Anna declares
she’s had enough and, with the help of lawyer Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin), fights to be medically
emancipated -- a move that could eliminate Kate’s last hope of survival.
Is it any good?
Based on Jodi Picoult’s same-named novel, MY SISTER’S KEEPER is a
bona fide tearjerker. Given the subject matter, how could it not be?
Director Nick Cassavetes has coaxed amazing performances from his first-rate cast,
including Diaz, who surprises with the strength of her rage and
melancholy as a mother determined not to see her child die. And the film
does well what many other dramas about illness don’t: examine the
toll that a prolonged sickness takes on everyone, not just the patient.
The sibling relationships are especially nuanced; power imbalances are
believably rendered right alongside deep familial love.
What keeps the
film from achieving greatness is largely due to its structure. Characters tell their
stories one at a time; it moves the plot along, but sometimes a little
coercively. (There's a courtroom case embedded in the plotline, so the voiceovers do seem to make sense here. Nevertheless, they drain some of the power.) The movie tells you how to feel instead of taking you there.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how a serious illness can change a family's dynamics. Does the movie accurately portray a family in distress? Does it find any bright side in a very sad story? How do movies generally depict terminal illnesses? Is this one any different?
Families can also discuss the consequences of teenage drinking, which the movie touches on briefly.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
A GOOD MOVIE BUT A BIT EXTREME FOR ME. WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HUGE SPOILERS!
Hi i'm 12 years old and this movie was really scary and sad for me. (and most people think i am a very mature viewer for my age.) Here is why this movie was a bit to much for me: VILONCE: A mother slaps her 11 year daughter anna (which caught me by surprise) Family members yell at one another, and annas mom tries to block her husbands car by hitting the car and yelling in order to get Kate to the hospital. SEX: Kate when she is about 15 years old falls in love with another guy who has lukemia (cancer) They are shown under covers holding eachother, and they kiss. (but tragicly he dies shortly afterward because of his condition) LANGUAGE: Lots of constint swearing. DRINKING,SMOKING, AND DRUGS: Kate (annas sister who has lukemia) is upset when her boyfriend dies and is in so much pain because of that and her cancer that she tries to kill herself by getting drunk. (this was one of the most scaryiest parts in the whole film) So before you take your kids to see this remeber there is lots of death, and talk about dying. also there are MANY disturbing images through out the film like: Kate starts throwing up blood, Because of her constant fevers she looks very pale and bleeds through her nose a lot, And well i know this is a HUGE SPOILER but right before Kates death she looke like a corpse which can scare some younger viewers. The message of the story is even though it's hard sometimes you have to let go of those who you love for the good of others. This movie is amazing! I knew about cancer before seeing this movie but i didnt exspect to see what i saw. In my school there was a girl in the first grade who had cancer and had to wear a wig to school and had to go to the hospital a lot.... But she is better now. Why i told you that is because her surviving was nothing more than a merecule! I forgot for a long time that merucules did happen but this movie made me remeber again.
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AGE
GREAT FOR 11 and up!!!!
my 11 year old watched this at her friends house and when she came home she said "that movie was amazing really enjoyed watching it with my friend!" So i watched it and it was a spectactular movie that wasnt that bad. The sex wasnt that bad either. But what i was slightly concerned about was the images my daughter was seeing of a child suffering cancer... But i decided that she was mature enough to handle it
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AGE
Are you in the mood for a sad movie?
This is a heartwarming but sad movie.It makes you realize what people with cancer good through. I recommend it.
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AGE
great movie
the movie is very good and very well derected. When i watched this movie with my 10 year old daughter she cried at parts and 1 of the images in the movie i thought was bit much but still great movie.
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AGE
it makes you think
It was a VERY sad movie, and to tell you the thruth, i wasnt excited to see it because it might be too intense for me. but i was glad i saw it, and things like these you've just gotta watch and be like "wow, thank god im healthy and im life is good, thank god"
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AGE
Bring tissues
its so SAD!!!!!!but it was an amazing movie.it gave me chills the whole time!
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AGE
Bad movie if you read the book, otherwise just OK
no i didn't like the movie because if you have read the book, it is completely different from the movie. One character from the book isn't even in the movie. The ending was changed in the movie, which destroyed the original message. Also there were many scenes in the movie that weren't in the book, and many that were added.
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Kid, 11 years old
February 7, 2011
AGE
Um, k, dont bring lil sis into room! ;D xD
WOW! amazing! I luv it! Ya, who cares if i'm 9, but i've seen the ''Elizabeth Smart story'' and, '' Lovley Bones''. xD, but i think its not to appropiate for tweens, and teens that are sensitive. And, well, my mom got bored halfway through when she watched it a year ago but to me it is AMAZING, but i read u guys's comments and some were asking if there were any blood in it besides the girl throwing up. YES, A LOT! The girl with cancer gets purple lips, at the beggining she throws up blood.......u get the point. But it's defintly not a horror movie, i'll tell u tht. I actually think it is quite a heartwarming movie, but if you are going to watch it, make sure ur little sis isn't in the room. ;D Haha. Pretty good advice from a little sis, dont ya think?
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AGE
My Sister's Keeper
This film gave me a whole new definition of the word "beautiful."
Don't make the mistake of missing it.
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| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Nick Cassavetes |
| Cast: | Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz, Jason Patric |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 109 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 26, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | November 17, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking |
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