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Amazon.co.uk Review
Giving the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal an all-too-rare leading performance, Sherrybaby is a moving, well told story of a recovering addict who, ultimately, is looking to be reunited with her daughter.
Sound a little bit TV movie of the week? Then you’re not counting upon the considerable force of the film’s leading lady. Here, Gyllenhaal gives a career-best performance as Sherry Swanson, dragging the film single-handedly into a feature of real note. It’s an award-worthy turn, and one that casting directors would be well advised to take note of.
The rest of Sherrybaby, inevitably, can’t live up to Gyllenhaal’s standards, but it has quite a go. Writer-director Laurie Collyer makes a sound feature film debut (basing it loosely around the experiences of one of her friends), delivering an emotional flick with genuine depth and feeling to it. Layering in the various obstacles that sit in Sherry’s way, her script gives her lead actress plenty to get her teeth into, and the movie gels well as a result.
Running to just over an hour and a half, Sherrybaby is wise too not to outstay its welcome. Because as it stands, when the end credits role, you’ll have been treated to one of the best performances by a Hollywood actress in leading times, and a tight, memorable drama too. --Jon Foster
Synopsis
Maggie Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing as a recovering addict in writer-director Laurie Collyer's feature-length fiction-film debut, SHERRYBABY. Gyllenhaal stars as Sherry Swanson, a troubled woman who has just been released from prison, where she spent three years for robbery to support her heroin addiction. Determined to regain control of her life, she moves into a halfway house and starts looking for a job, being carefully watched by her tough parole officer (Giancarlo Esposito). At an AA meeting, she is drawn to Dean Walker (Danny Trejo), a gritty older man who befriends her--but his ties to her dangerous past life threaten to pull her back in. Sherry's main desire is to re-establish a relationship with her young daughter, Alexis (Ryan Simpkins), who is being raised by Sherry's brother, Bobby (Brad William Henke), and his wife, Lynnette (Bridget Barkan)--but Lynnette doesn't trust Sherry, wanting to keep Alexis for her own. As Sherry struggles to get back on track, she plays by her own rules, with drugs and a return to prison waiting just around the corner. Gyllenhaal gives a raw, bare, powerful performance as the embattled and desperate Sherry, who will do almost anything to regain her daughter's love. Loosely based on the story of one of Collyer's closest childhood friends, SHERRYBABY, which got its start in the Sundance Filmmaker's Lab, is an emotional rollercoaster of a movie, with realistic characters, an excellent cast, and plenty of surprising turns.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is undoubtedly a stand out performance from maggie who plays the troubled sherry to perfection. this is not a film where there is an obvious story and does not finalise in any specific way, it is more of a journey through the life a young woman who is surviving in a relentless world in any which way she can. People must watch this film for the brilliant direction and as mentioned the star performance of the main character. As an avid film fan, I am always sceptical about the amount of rubbish films that are produced but this film really does shine through even though it has many vulgar, distressing and raw scenes. this film is worth watching just for acting alone, yet has so much more to offer.
Format:DVD
Sherry Swanson returns home to New Jersey after serving a three year prison sentence for theft to feed her drug habits. Wishing to go straight and be a proper mother to her young daughter, Sherry soon finds that it's going to be harder than she had initially hoped.
I honestly in no way want to be detrimental to the story on offer here, these are realistic problems that are handled adroitly and given care and attention by all involved. Whilst the lead performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal is right from the top draw, providing evidence that a fine actress is there if she wants to keep challenging herself. I just felt so flat after watching it, what has it achieved come the finale? What makes this stand out from the ream of similar pictures that have dealt with these kind of topics over the years? The answer, sadly, is nothing, perhaps we are at such a desensitised stage in cinema that sex for favours, drugs are hell and destitute ex cons fail to engage us? Even the curve ball thrown in here is very much expected, we feel angry and sickened, yes, but it ultimately comes off as being a shock tactic, no matter how real it is.
I fully understand that there are people who will appreciate the subtle slow burn of the piece, not every one likes the sledge hammer approach that we get in something like Requiem For A Dream for example. Yet in spite of its competent and poignant approach work, Sherrybaby falls way way short of making the impact that I'm sure director/writer Laurie Collyer would have aimed for, and that's as much a shame as Sherry Swanson's life is in the film. 6/10
I honestly in no way want to be detrimental to the story on offer here, these are realistic problems that are handled adroitly and given care and attention by all involved. Whilst the lead performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal is right from the top draw, providing evidence that a fine actress is there if she wants to keep challenging herself. I just felt so flat after watching it, what has it achieved come the finale? What makes this stand out from the ream of similar pictures that have dealt with these kind of topics over the years? The answer, sadly, is nothing, perhaps we are at such a desensitised stage in cinema that sex for favours, drugs are hell and destitute ex cons fail to engage us? Even the curve ball thrown in here is very much expected, we feel angry and sickened, yes, but it ultimately comes off as being a shock tactic, no matter how real it is.
I fully understand that there are people who will appreciate the subtle slow burn of the piece, not every one likes the sledge hammer approach that we get in something like Requiem For A Dream for example. Yet in spite of its competent and poignant approach work, Sherrybaby falls way way short of making the impact that I'm sure director/writer Laurie Collyer would have aimed for, and that's as much a shame as Sherry Swanson's life is in the film. 6/10
Format:DVD
A worthy film expanding the limited genre exploring the role of the working class woman in America, unfortunately there is an awful smugness about the whole affair and an overall feel of a little girl attracting daddy by wearing mummy's high heels.
It was badly in need of a rewrite, the director needed to delegate and not keep all the best cards to herself.
The central performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent; she works really hard to make Sherry a credible anti heroine, its just a shame she is trapped by the predicability of the script.
It was badly in need of a rewrite, the director needed to delegate and not keep all the best cards to herself.
The central performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent; she works really hard to make Sherry a credible anti heroine, its just a shame she is trapped by the predicability of the script.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sherrybaby
Delivered on time and in good condition.
The film is ok I have seen much better. The reason for purchase was because it was reccomended to me.
The film is ok I have seen much better. The reason for purchase was because it was reccomended to me.
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Graham Scott
Very good but difficult subject matter
I'm surprised by some of the reviews I've read here - I think Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent in "Sherrybaby", but so is everything else. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Blik Snyman
Maggie Gyllenhaal..... Brilliant!
Maggie Gyllenhaal gives one of the most intense performances I have ever seen. She is absolutely breathtaking in her fearless portrayal of Sherry Swanson, ex-con, drug addict, and... Read more
Published on 17 May 2009 by oooo Candy Davis
Sherrybaby
A very sad and slow movie, very well acted and produced but just slow and boring, I recommend that you see it before you buy, I read alot of review on the film and it sounded like... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by D. A. George
Maggie is good, shame about the film
Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a great addict/loser in this rather depressing and dull film. I kept it on fast forward for most of the film and got what was going on without having to... Read more
Published on 16 April 2008 by Charles Gosling
Decent arthouse film
I won't delve into the plot synopsis as Amazon have already covered that. The first point to make about this film is that Maggie Gylenhall really suprised me in this.. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2008 by Mr. L. C. Rothery
Maggie Gyllenhall excellent in a mediocre film
I know this film got many great reviews, and when it comes to Maggie Gyllenhall's performance I agree, it is excellent. She however completely outclasses the film she's in. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2008 by A. Newman
meh
Writing an unbiased review is, at best, difficult. Ultimately, if you love a film, you want to scream it from the rooftops. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2008 by P. Davie
Sherrybaby
This was an excellent film and Maggie Gyllenhal's performance was faultless. It was is very moving and emotionally raw - you find yourself totally immersed in the character of... Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2008 by Mrs. L. O'Shaughnessy
what a waste of time!
I can't believe that I didn't switch off halfway through, I had convinced myself that there would be an unmissable climax to this movie, but alas no! Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by M. jeffrey
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