Movie Review: My Sister's Keeper

A young couple's life is forever changed when they learn that their 2-year old daughter Kate has leukemia. The parents' only hope is to conceive another child, specifically intended to save Kate's life. So they conceive a perfect match for Kate, which is Anna. Kate and Anna share a bond closer than most sisters: though Kate is older, she relies on her little sister--in fact, her life depends on Anna. Throughout their young lives, the sisters endure various medical procedures and hospital stays--just another part of their close-knit family's otherwise normal life. Sara, a loving wife and mother who left her career as an attorney to care for her daughter, is sometimes lost inside the single-minded caregiver she has become in her efforts to save Kate. Her strong, supportive husband, Brian, is often rendered powerless and passive by his wife's strength and determination. And their only son, Jesse, drifts, at times all but forgotten as Kate and Anna take center stage. Until Anna, now 11, says "no." Seeking medical emancipation, she hires her own lawyer initiating a court case that divides the family and that could leave Kate's rapidly failing body in the hands of fate. The ending of this film disappointed me. I had read the book last year and the changed ending was a surprise to me. I wish they had delved deeper into their brother, Jesse's problems. I wish they had the courage to end the movie as the book ended. The acting in this film was wonderful and I was really impressed (for the first time) by Cameron Diaz's performance. I recommend this film for its subject matter which could lead to some heavy discussions. I give it 3 stars.