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

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

At one point in the movie, instead of being called by the fictional name Kate, she is called by her actual name, Sofia.

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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

Don't Wanna Cry
Written and Performed by Pete Yorn
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

User Reviews

Never took my eyes of the screen

It's impossible to write a review without spoilers for this movie so I'll simply say....

Fantastic Cast, Emotional story, Well written but average direction (hence 9/10 not 10)

For me the direction in the first half could have been better but you'll forget about it after a while. The ending could have been better too. The Director has missed a trick here. When you watch it (and love it still) you'll know what I mean and think about the ending you actually wanted.

All that said, you have to see this movie!

Details

Official Sites:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Sister's Keeper

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,442,212, 28 June 2009

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