The movie brings us in at this pivotal moment in the life cycle of this family. Kate is getting sicker, Anna no longer wishes to be used for her parts, Sara is becoming increasingly cut off from reality as she is blinded by the thought of saving her daughter, and meanwhile Brian and forgotten son Jesse attempt to process the changes that are swirling around them.
This is a family in an active state of disarray. The Fitzgeralds are falling apart, eaten away from the inside just like Kate and her cancer. The movie gives us a ringside seat to a family's implosion. At first it is easy to sit there and watch as they get mad at each other and come together again more than once. You even find yourself siding with Anna as she takes on her family while still being an important part of it. Before very long, you begin to feel as if you are part of the family. It then becomes difficult — perhaps even impossible -- to divorce yourself from the deep feelings and emotions that bubble up to the surface.
The film is directed and co-written by Nick Cassavetes who does a fine job of keeping the story moving, never giving you a moment to catch your breathe and easily dragging you through the full range of emotions generated by the family. Cassavetes collaborated with Jeremy Leven to adapt Jodi Picoult's novel, and does a fine job of telling the story, although I would have liked a little more on the genetically engineered child and said child suing her family for medical emancipation fronts. Fortunately, there is enough to tickle the mind with while still focusing on the strong emotional aspect inherent to the subject.
Bottomline. Is it a great film? No, not by a long shot. However, it is the rare film whose success is based on its ability to manipulate the audience and which both succeeds and actually has a sense of realism. That may be a reason to celebrate it just a little.
Recommended.
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