Sherrybaby

last updated 8 January 2015

You've seen some version of Sherrybaby before, said A.O. Scott in The New York Times. You may have seen one of the drug addicts on Lifetime follow exactly this story arc. Or perhaps you're familiar with the Sundance genre, in which 'œthe downbeat and the redemptive are mixed together according to a scientifically precise formula and shot on digital video.' Like so many other movie drug addicts before her, Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) emerges from three years in prison, clean and sober. After sleazy sex with the manager of her halfway house, Sherry sets off for her brother's house, where she hopes to reconnect with her young daughter, Alexis. But since Sherry can hardly take care of herself, how can she possibly take care of a kid? For a movie that revolves around 'œa totally annoying, dim-bulb narcissist,' this one is surprisingly moving, said Owen Glieberman in Entertainment Weekly. Laurie Collyer's brilliant writing and Gyllenhaal's Oscar-worthy performance combine to turn an unsympathetic character into one who'll make your heart bleed. But 'œat a certain point, compassion fatigue sets in,' said Carina Chocano in the Los Angeles Times. It doesn't help that Half Nelson, a much better movie with almost the same plot, preceded this one in theaters. Its star, Ryan Gosling, could beat Gyllenhaal in a junkie fight any day.

Rating: Not Rated