SherryBaby (2006)
*** (out of 4)
A woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns home after three years in prison in hopes of starting up a relationship with her young daughter but things aren't as easy as she thought they'd be. Due to my flu my brain is a little cloudy at the moment so I can't remember how many times we've seen a film dealing with someone getting out of prison and trying to make good. I do know we've seen it countless times since the silent era and in most cases the stories aren't anything original and instead we're just treated to an actor's showcase and that's pretty much what this film is. The film is a notch above something you'd see on Lifetime but all the credit has to go to Gyllenhaal and director Laurie Collyer. Collyer's direction is nice and suttle with her screenplay that's not too original but what's there is brought to life by the very good performance from Gyllenhaal. I like the fact that the screenplay allows Gyllenhaal's character to be very weak throughout so that we get to feel as if we're seeing a real character and not some made up fantasy flick. Again, there's nothing new here but the screenplay, direction and acting makes it worth sitting through.
*** (out of 4)
A woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns home after three years in prison in hopes of starting up a relationship with her young daughter but things aren't as easy as she thought they'd be. Due to my flu my brain is a little cloudy at the moment so I can't remember how many times we've seen a film dealing with someone getting out of prison and trying to make good. I do know we've seen it countless times since the silent era and in most cases the stories aren't anything original and instead we're just treated to an actor's showcase and that's pretty much what this film is. The film is a notch above something you'd see on Lifetime but all the credit has to go to Gyllenhaal and director Laurie Collyer. Collyer's direction is nice and suttle with her screenplay that's not too original but what's there is brought to life by the very good performance from Gyllenhaal. I like the fact that the screenplay allows Gyllenhaal's character to be very weak throughout so that we get to feel as if we're seeing a real character and not some made up fantasy flick. Again, there's nothing new here but the screenplay, direction and acting makes it worth sitting through.