Review of Sherrybaby (2006) by Ryan B — 03 Jun 2013
A striking lead performance takes, an otherwise questionable film, beyond its capabilities and leaves us with a rare indie character study that is understated yet powerful when it wants to be.
The film overall is every bit as lost and misguided as its title character but its unconvincingly depressing and over-mature themes are simmered down somewhat thanks to a completely convincing performance from Gyllenhaal.
It is too indie though and damages itself in entirely preventable ways leaving us quite annoyed that the good scenes are diamonds in the rough as opposed to commonplace here. There is nothing particularly original here yet it all feels different, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst. The desperation on show takes centre in the end sadly but the glimmers of something really special are memorable.
You will not struggle to find a film that betters this one in every way but this one is still hard to dismiss and eventually becomes worthy of the moderate praise that it requests. It dangles on the ledge and falters often but in the end it stays on its feet.
This review of Sherrybaby (2006) was written by Ryan B on 03 Jun 2013.
Sherrybaby has generally received positive reviews.
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