My Sister's Keeper (2009)

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.

Director:

Nick Cassavetes

Writers:

Jeremy Leven (screenplay), Nick Cassavetes (screenplay)

Stars:

Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin

4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Abigail Breslin	...	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)
Paul Butler	...	Jesse age 3 (as Paul Christopher Butler)
Olivia Hancock	...	Kate age 2
Jeffrey Markle	...	Dr. Wayne
Emily Deschanel	...	Dr. Farquad
John DeRosa	...	EMT (as John De Rosa)
Marcos A. Ferraez	...	EMT (as Marcos De La Cruz)

Storyline

In Los Angeles, the eleven year old Anna Fitzgerald seeks the successful lawyer Campbell Alexander trying to hire him to earn medical emancipation from her mother Sara that wants Anna to donate her kidney to her sister. She tells the lawyer the story of her family after the discovery that her older sister Kate has had leukemia; how she was conceived by in vitro fertilization to become a donor; and the medical procedures she has been submitted since she was five years old to donate to her sister. Campbell accepts to work pro bono and the obsessed Sara decides to go to court to force Anna to help her sister.

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Plot Keywords:

leukemia | oncology | terminal illness | sick child | hospital | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Filmexport [France] New Line Cinema [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

La decisión más difícil

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,442,212, 28 June 2009, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$49,200,230

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$95,714,875

Company Credits

Production Co:

Curmudgeon Films, Gran Via Productions, Mark Johnson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thomas Dekker shaved his head for the film.

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Goofs

Just after the court case, the lawyer drives to the family's home, yet he had just had an epileptic seizure and was known to have regular seizures - hence the dog. In California, and most of USA, your epilepsy must be controlled for at least 3 months before you are allowed to drive.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald: When I was a kid, my mother told me that I was a little piece of blue sky that came into this world because she and Dad loved me so much. It was only later that I realized that it wasn't exactly true. Most babies are coincidences. I mean, up in space you've got all these souls flying around looking for bodies to live in. Then, down here on Earth, two people have sex or whatever, and bam, coincidence. Sure, you hear all these stories about how everyone plans these perfect families. ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: The Book of Henry (2017)

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Soundtracks

Hyme: Amazing Grace
Arranged by Major Jim Drury
Performed by Pipe Major Jim Drury and Julie McGurk
Courtesy of Gusto Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Handles tough issues with flair.

80/100. This was so much more interesting than I was expecting. It tackles several issues and does so with finesse and without the over the top melodrama movies of this type so often have. It's touching, thought provoking and it is certainly not predictable. Nick Cassavettes deserves a lot of credit for creating a film that faces the issues without getting too maudlin and does so with sensitivity and objectiveness. The performances are good from everyone. The casting of Cameron Diaz isn't perhaps the best, but I admire the effort she put into the role. She did very well. The character development is outstanding, you get to know each character and you understand each of their perspectives. Joan Cusack is particularly affecting in an offbeat role for her. Good score, the subtle cinematography is effective.