![My Sister's Keeper [Blu-ray]](http://cdn.hometheaterforum.com/8/85/50x50px-ZC-856084a4_B001OQCV1U-51FE-4pOAYL.jpg)
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MY SISTER'S KEEPER
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Line CinemaFilm Rating:
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Jason Patric, Sofia Vassilieva
Novel by: Jodi Picoult
Screenplay by: Jeremy Levin & Nick Cassavetes
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
My Sister’s Keeper is a film that makes me think that we’ve certainly caught up with the times. Had this film been released 20 or 30 years ago, it would be a good science-fiction drama with a possible future: a story of a lab-baby, grown to be used as donor parts for a dying human born by natural birth who then becomes of mind to exercise conscience with free will and therefore rejecting its original designed purpose for life. Science fiction? Absolutely – but only once upon a time.
The human brain is a fascinating thing as it’s determined to design, create, and advance life on Earth against the natural flow of nature. For the sake of this discussion, our desire to “play God” by being the creators of life has drawn both equal amounts of support and rejection on the topic. The goals of science and ethics tend not to mix and as our society scientifically advances forward, ethics are always charging forward with another point of view.
My Sister’s Keeper does not focus on the ethics of ‘playing God’, but rather one of the spin off issues playing God creates. Anna Fitzgerald is an 11-year old girl who was born in a lab and has the genetics of both of her parents. The reason for her creation is to provide body parts and fluids for her older sister, Kate, who is dying from leukemia. Her parents were distraught when they learned that Kate was diagnosed with the disease at the age of four and her only chance of survival would be to find an exact donor among the population of the world…unless of course, one could be genetically engineered in the lab.
Anna lives and grows up like every other child in the world. She has the same responsibilities and expectations, and shares the same joys and fears, family and friends. What makes her different than every other child? She’s engineered for a human-made purpose and not of natural birth. Humans are therefore designating a future to other humans, but do we have a right to do this? The argument is if people are created in a lab, are they normal? Do they have rights like the rest of us? Do they have a soul? Are they children of the world/God or just engineered individuals living with a separate set of rules and laws?
Anna Fitzgerald decides to take matters in her own hands. She’s tired of being prodded and cut up to help her sister survive because if her sister survives, she dies. Which is the greater good? Is there a greater good? Who has the right to live and the pathway to die? Anna wants the rights to her life and her own body as she appears to be developing her own conscience on the matter. She hires a lawyer who is willing to take on her case. Her parents again are at odds in terms of what to do. Jason Patric - who plays Anna’s father Brian - gets it. In contrast is Cameron Diaz’s motherly character; she isn’t remotely warm to Anna at all, as if she hasn’t raised a second daughter for the past 11 years. It appears that nothing seems to be morally wrong in taking the life of Anna to save her first born, carried in the womb. Maybe it’s a motive as a man I will never know, but she appears to be determined to save her first born no matter the cost to her lab-designed daughter.
It is questioned if they have acted morally towards Anna all of these years – not giving her a choice because she hasn’t been capable of making choices at such a young age. Has it been moral to inflict pain on this individual all of these years to ease the suffering of someone else? You get the point. As the news of the word discusses advancements in science and different ways of developing and healing humans, we are now facing these questions now that science has caught up with fiction.
PICTURE QUALITY: 4/5
It’s not often that I find New Line messing up an image on a new feature Blu-ray. Again, New Line does not disappoint when bringing My Sister’s Keeper to home video. I found the image to be acceptable in black level reproduction, clean whites, and colours that are very acceptable on home video. If I were to have one slight complaint it would be that the colours were just a bit too warm. It’s an artistic decision of course and it doesn’t detract from the overall excellent image quality of this 2.40:1 image.
SOUND QUALITY: 3/5
This film is dialogue-driven and is centered mostly in the middle front. The music is well recorded as well are the sound effects without sounding overly aggressive and harsh. Surround usage is limited and was expected considering the nature of this film. This is a heartwarming drama with a warm and simple soundtrack.
SPECIAL FEATURES: 1.5/5 
Oh God…like the just recently released "Shorts", My Sister’s Keeper has a host of ads as soon as the disc is loaded in. If the studio is trying to make my home theater experience exactly like the movie theater experience with commercials and all, then they are certainly doing a good job. Eeek.
The disc has three features: My Sister’s Keeper: From Picoult to Screen (HD, 13:34) and eight deleted scenes (SD, 16:22), and a digital copy on a separate disc. The featurette is speedy in presentation with interviews from Picoult, actors, and director. It talks about the author’s transition from novel to film as well as about the characters. It’s a nice addition and worth viewing once. The deleted scenes are always welcomed and show how important editing is for a film. While there are some worthy scenes here, most would slow the film. The audio is rough and 2ch mono.
IN THE END…
My Sister’s Keeper is a great film to watch; it’s touching to the emotions as well as to reality as life can be complicated and heartbreaking. It’s well acted and brought to the screen portraying human emotions on an ethical level in our scientifically advancing world.
Michael Osadciw
09.12.28
Michael Osadciw
09.12.28
