My Sister's Keeper (2009)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Nick Cassavetes

Writers (WGA):

Jeremy Leven (screenplay) and
Nick Cassavetes (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 June 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Anna Fitzgerald looks to earn medical emancipation from her parents who until now have relied on their youngest child to help their leukemia-stricken daughter Kate remain alive. |

Plot Keywords:

Apostrophe In Title | Punctuation In Title | Based On Novel

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Abigail Breslin	...	Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald
Walter Raney	...	Pawn Shop Proprietor
Sofia Vassilieva	...	Kate Fitzgerald
Cameron Diaz	...	Sara Fitzgerald
Heather Wahlquist	...	Aunt Kelly
Jason Patric	...	Brian Fitzgerald
Evan Ellingson	...	Jesse Fitzgerald
Alec Baldwin	...	Campbell Alexander
Nicole Marie Lenz	...	Gloria (as Nicole Lenz)
Brennan Bailey	...	Jesse Fitzgerald - Age 10
Olivia Hancock	...	Kate (Age 2)
Jeffrey Markle	...	Dr. Wayne
Emily Deschanel	...	Dr. Farquad
John DeRosa	...	EMT #1
Marcos A. Ferraez	...	EMT #2 (as Marcos De La Cruz)
Noni Tulk-Perna	...	Ellen
Matthew Barry	...	Uncle Tommy (as Matt Barry)
Annie Wood	...	Uncle Tommy's Wife
Mark Johnson	...	Uncle Pervis (as Mark M. Johnson)
Chris Kinkade	...	Dr. Nguyen
David Thornton	...	Dr. Chance
Elizabeth Daily	...	Nurse Susan (as E.G. Daily)
Rico Simonini	...	Process Server
Frank Cassavetes	...	Gus
David Bortolucci	...	Harry
Olivia Jade Fine	...	Anna (Age 6)
Andrew Schaff	...	Nurse Stephen
Paul Butler	...	Jesse (Age 3) (as Paul Christopher Butler)
Andrew Shack	...	Lawyer for Previous Case
Angel Garcia	...	Gangbanger's Mom
Joan Cusack	...	Judge De Salvo
Frank Peluso	...	Bailiff #2
Daniel Guzman	...	Gangbanger's Lawyer
Paul Anthony Olguin	...	Gangbanger
Al Quinn	...	Bailiff Bert (as Big Al)
Mimi Fletcher	...	De Salvo's Secretary
Lin Shaye	...	Nurse Adele
Eric Cueto	...	Street Hustler #1
Lexi Kiana Ryan	...	Street Hustler #2 (as Lexi Ryan)
Nina Barry	...	Miss Swearingen
Thomas Dekker	...	Taylor Ambrose
Ellia English	...	Nurse Alice
Mary Jo Deschanel	...	Saleswoman
Jonah Johnson	...	Lead Prom Singer
Rob Giles	...	Prom Guitarist
Kaiulani Kimbrell	...	Backup Prom Singer
Dylan Showalter	...	Prom Bass Player
Jarred Tibbetts	...	Prom Drummer
Precious Hanley	...	Mandy
Michael Chow	...	Dr. Chow
Jonathan Moonves	...	Percy Smith, Esquire (as Jon Moonves)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roy Allen III	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Gilley Grey	...	EMT #3 (uncredited)
Ryan Preimesberger	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Retson Ross	...	School Classmate (uncredited)

Directed by
Nick Cassavetes

Writing credits (WGA)
Jeremy Leven		(screenplay) and
Nick Cassavetes		(screenplay)
Jodi Picoult		(novel)

Produced by
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Merideth Finn	....	executive producer
Stephen Furst	....	producer
Scott Goldman	....	producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Chuck Pacheco	....	producer
Diana Pokorny	....	executive producer
Steven Posen	....	co-producer
Hillary Sherman	....	co-producer
Mendel Tropper	....	executive producer
Mendel Tropper	....	producer

Original Music by
Aaron Zigman

Cinematography by
Caleb Deschanel

Film Editing by
Jim Flynn
Alan Heim

Casting by
Matthew Barry
Nancy Green-Keyes

Production Design by
Jon Hutman

Set Decoration by
Maggie Martin

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Robin Fredriksz	....	makeup artist: Cameron Diaz
Erin Hicks	....	key hair stylist: new york
Suzanne Kontonickas	....	hair stylist
Eryn Krueger Mekash	....	makeup department head (as Eryn Krueger)
Natasha Ladek	....	wig maker: Sofia Vassileva
Kelley Mitchell	....	makeup artist
Bunny Parker	....	hair department head
Tena Parker	....	assistant department head hair stylist
Amy Spiegel	....	key makeup artist: New York
Alicia M. Tripi	....	hair stylist
Lona Vigi	....	hair stylist: Ms. Cameron Diaz
Jay Wejebe	....	key makeup artist
Judy Staats	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production
Michelle Morrissey	....	production manager
Diana Pokorny	....	unit production manager
Rick Reynolds	....	post production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rich Ceraulo	....	segment director
Bac DeLorme	....	key second assistant director
Kathleen E. Kearney	....	second assistant director: New York
Jonathan McGarry	....	first assistant director
Taylor Phillips	....	second second assistant director
Paul Schmitz	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Claudia Bonfe	....	set dressing buyer
Jason T. Clark	....	art department assistant
James M. Davis	....	general forman
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Gregory P. Fuller	....	toolman
Adam Goodnoff-Cernese	....	key props/set dressing: New York b-unit
Greg Knapp	....	construction medic
David R. Lawson	....	construction medic
Ronnie Lombard	....	greensman
Jeff Passanante	....	construction coordinator
Charlotte Raybourn	....	art department coordinator
Graham Robertson	....	set dresser
Scott Schutzki	....	set dresser
Richard Blake Wester	....	set dressing gang boss

Sound Department
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Kelly Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Cantamessa	....	sound mixer
Melissa A. Corns	....	sound effects editor
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Eric Flickinger	....	digital sound mix technician
David Jobe	....	foley mixer
Elizabeth Kenton	....	adr editor
Scott La Rue	....	boom operator
Travis MacKay	....	adr recordist
Nancy MacLeod	....	sound editor
Mark Messick	....	sound effects editor
Jason Oliver	....	adr recordist
Aynee Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Gary Thomas	....	boom operator
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Frank Verderosa	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Charles Cooley	....	special effects technician
Robert Garrigus	....	pyrotechnician
Tom Seymour	....	special effects technician
Sandra Stewart	....	special effects technician
J.D. Streett	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Daphne Apellanes-Ackerson	....	compositor: Matte World Digital
Mandy Arnold	....	digital restoration artist
Heather Dennis	....	titles coordinator
Jaymie Lam	....	compositor: Matte World Digital
Josh Mossotti	....	visual effects artist
Michael S. Pryor	....	visual effects producer: Laser Pacific
Jason Wilson	....	visual effects artist

Stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunt coordinator
Dan Brown	....	stunts
Sean Graham	....	stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt performer
Pat Romano	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Michael S. Beckman	....	lighting technician
Erik Bernstein	....	best boy electric
Robin Bursey	....	film loader
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer
Jerry C. Deats	....	key grip
Alan R. Disler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Lauren Fitton	....	rigging electrician
Brandon Flohr	....	grip
Matt Floyd	....	rigging grip
J.P. Gabriel	....	gaffer: Montana
Christopher Glasgow	....	a dolly grip
Brian Heller	....	aerial cinematographer
Gembala James	....	rigging electrician
Lee Jordan	....	camera "b" second assistant
Jacques Jouffret	....	Steadicam operator
Kris Krosskove	....	camera operator
Beau Lambert	....	electrician
Dustin Penrod	....	set lighting technician
Giorgio Scali	....	director of photography: second unit
Jay Sheveck	....	libra technician
Sean Smith	....	lighting technician
Tommy Tieche	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Judy Cook	....	casting associate
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting
David Kramer	....	extras casting
David Zahedian	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yulia Gershenzon	....	costumer: Cameron Diaz
Alyssa Kim	....	set costumer
Jason M. Moore	....	set costumer
Katie Saunders	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Nic Angell	....	digital intermediate producer
Mike Brosius	....	digital intermediate producer
Kevin Lefler	....	first assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Katie Pastore	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Sowa	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Emily H. Cummins	....	assistant music editor
Steve Juliani	....	music preparation
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Erin Scully	....	music executive
Michael Stern	....	music recording engineer: additional score mixer

Transportation Department
Myleen Chapin	....	transportation office coordinator
Michael Coady	....	transportation co-captain
Christopher DiMarco	....	transportation
Timothy 'Toes' Erwin	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Gaskill	....	driver
Brett Miller	....	transportation captain
Jim Oge Jr.	....	driver
Mike Painter	....	transportation
Frank Porras	....	transportation co-captain
Allen Strockbine	....	driver: production van
Jon White	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Ahmet Ahmet	....	head titles designer
Laura Bagano	....	key craft service
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout
Dana Belcastro	....	production executive
Ben Betts	....	video/computer playback operator
Michael Betz	....	key assistant location manager: second unit
Josh Burns	....	key assistant location manager
David Chiu	....	production assistant
Stephen Clarke	....	set production assistant
Paddy Connor	....	production assistant
Stephenson Crossley	....	key assistant location manager
Alissa Dean	....	segment producer
Terry Edinger	....	production accountant
Mark A. Freid	....	key assistant location manager
Kevin Funston	....	location scout
Jeremy Gilbreath	....	production assistant
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Casey Green	....	video/computer playback operator
Ali Griffith	....	assistant production coordinator: additional
Lindsay Heller	....	production assistant
Courtney Hess	....	production assistant
Meredith Humbracht	....	production coordinator
Spencer Jambor	....	stand in: Thomas Dekker
Spencer Jambor	....	stand-in: Evan Ellingson
Grant Kirkpatrick	....	production assistant
David R. Lawson	....	medic
Alex Lee	....	additional production assistant
Cary Sato Lee	....	craft service
Teresa Jolene Lee	....	set production assistant
Hiromi Marder	....	payroll accountant
Marybeth Martin-Eck	....	first assistant accountant
Kim Meredith	....	nurse advisor
Keri Moorhouse	....	assistant production coordinator
Rusty Nye	....	assistant: cast
Carrie A. Oyer	....	assistant production coordinator: travel
Vicky Pezza	....	additional set production assistant
Amanda J. Powderly	....	accounting clerk
Mark Romanelli	....	key set production assistant
Brandon Schiffman	....	set production assistant
Shawn Schminke	....	office production assistant
Romy Schneider	....	contract administrator
Rony Shino	....	key assistant location manager
Gene Starzenski	....	medic
Julian Tyler	....	production assistant
Jamie Vermilye	....	location assistant
Kristan Wagner	....	location manager
Jen Willis	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Curmudgeon Films
• Gran Via Productions
• Mark Johnson Productions

Distributors

• Village Films (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Entertainment (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2009) (Taiwan) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (all media)
• New Line Cinema (2009) (USA) (all media)
• PlayArte Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Scandinavia) (all media)
• TriPictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Switzerland) (all media)

Special Effects

• Matte World Digital (visual effects)
• Tinsley Transfers (prosthetic make-up & hair: 'Sara' shaved head effect & baldcap)

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Casting Associates  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Film Art  artwork
• Framepool  stock footage supplier
• Hollywood-DI  HD screening services
• Imaginary Forces  main titles
• LCW Props  set equipment
• Laser Pacific Media  digital intermediate
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  star trailers
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Reel Security  production security
• Rockbottom Rentals  Nextel cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  cellular fax rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Soundtrack  adr facility
• Star Waggons  studio pumping
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45058) | Ireland:15A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Iceland:12 | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Curmudgeon Films

Trivia:

Elle and Dakota Fanning were originally set to play Anna and Kate Fitzgerald, but bowed out after Dakota reportedly refused to shave her head, as required for the part.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the flashback Kate has where she says she was taking the attention away from Jesse, Sara and Brian make comments about Jesse's Dyslexia and it is said that his numbers get mixed up. Dyslexia is a learning disability where the brain mixes up letters and words, whereas Dyscalculia is the learning disability with numbers. Jesse would have had Dyscalculia if his numbers were getting mixed up, not Dyslexia.

Quotes:

Kate Fitzgerald: Want to hear our routine?
Sara Fitzgerald: What routine?
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald: [lowers voice, imitating a male] Hey baby, what's your sign?
Kate Fitzgerald: Cancer.
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald: You're a cancer?
Kate Fitzgerald: No, I'm a Leo.
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald, Kate Fitzgerald: But I have cancer.

Movie Connections:

Features Pleasantville (1998)

Heartwarming adaptation

One of the most interesting movie going experiences came when toward the end of this film, the noise of someone blowing their nose filled the theater. A soft giggle then filled the theater. I hate to say that this is one of "those movies," where you know there's a chance that you might end up in tears by the end, but I'm afraid it's true. The struggle between life and death, not only for middle child Kate, but also for the whole family, is heartwarming. Cameron Diaz, takes a serious turn, somehow she seems very comfortable in this role. And Sofia Vassilieva shows both sides of cancer. The heartache and the pain, but also the beauty in how tragedy can bring families together.