Review of Sherrybaby (2006) by Katherine P — 28 Apr 2012
Recently released from prison, a woman tries to reclaim her place as a mother while still hankering for the drugs that put her behind bars.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is exceptional, breathing humanity into a selfish and oftentimes clueless woman with a strong, subtle performance. Her scenes with her daughter are heart-breaking and charming, and her scenes with the various men in her life allow her to play both the victim and the rebel. She simply makes the film worth watching.
However, I thought the plot involving Sherry's relationship with her father came too late in the film and didn't add anything to the audience's struggle to understanding her character. Also, Brad William Henke plays Bobby like a simple schlub, and maybe this is the way the character is written, but it's not a strong choice. Does he judge Sherry? Hate her? Pity her? Who knows? Maybe all of the above. And Giancarlo Esposito's Officer Hernandez is such a prick that we wonder why Sherry would ever trust him.
Overall, Maggie Gyllenhaal is remarkable in Sherrybaby, but the film leaves much to be desired.
This review of Sherrybaby (2006) was written by Katherine P on 28 Apr 2012.
Sherrybaby has generally received positive reviews.
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