Sherrybaby

It would seem that films about recovering drug addicts are more prevalent that every. Back in the day a movie like ‘The Man with the Golden Arm’ was groundbreaking and controversial. Dealing with drugs and addiction back in 1955 was something shocking to the general public. For most people at that time addiction was something you read about in the police blotter section of the newspaper. This was something that happened to the lowest social strata not in your own neighborhood or God forbid, in your own family. As addiction grew as a problem cinema brought more and more personalized stories to the screen. As such it takes a lot to really stand out from the pack. The latest in this long list of films, ‘Sherrybaby’, has made such a distinction. This is not a perfect film or even the best in this genre but it has heart and an incredible performance by the lead actress. It most likely can be argued that flaws in a film about flawed people is not only permissible, perhaps they are needed.

Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is facing the onset of the next chapter of her life. Having just been released from prison Sherry is headed back to her home state of New Jersey. She has just finished three years on a drug possession conviction and is now ready to straighten up her life. She has cleaned up her heroin addiction while in prison and now wants to regain custody of her young daughter, Alexis (Ryan Simpkins). During Sherry’s incarceration Alexis has been in the care of Sherry’s brother, Bobby (Brad William Henke) and his wife Lynette (Bridget Barkan). Over the last three years Lynette has become almost overly attached to Alexis. Instead of just being a temporary caregiver she has centered all of her maternal instincts on the girl even to the point of putting her plans for her own children on hold. Lynette’s main concern now is with Sherry’s return can she bare to give up little Alexis. When Sherry comes back she immediately smothers her daughter with affection, desperately trying to make up for lost time. This leaves poor Bobby caught in the middle between his wife and sister.

Although Sherry managed to clean up her act in prison, even to the point of carrying a Bible around with her she is stunted emotionally. Sherry is perpetually stuck in mid-adolescence. She may be on the verge of her twenties physiologically but psychologically and emotionally she is still sixteen, the age that she became hooked on heroine. Like many mid-teenaged girls Sherry is a devote narcissist. When this is combined with the ever popular father issues Sherry is only able to deal with most men through the use of sex. While on parole Sherry is assigned to live in a half way house run by a veteran 12 step programmer Andy Kelly (Rio Hackford). Sherry wants to make sure she has a nice job working in a day care center so she does the only thing she knows how to, she has sex with Andy to clinch the deal. That ‘relationship’ only lasts as long as it takes for Sherry to get her way, a few minutes and then she is off to her next man. In this case it is Dean Walker (Danny Trejo), a Native American that Sherry knew during her days as a teenaged stripper. Sherry also tries her sexual best to cajole Hernandez (Giancarlo Esposito), her parole officer. The child like self view is reinforced when she winds up meeting her father Bob Sr. (Sam Bottoms). He still treats her like he did when she was a child. For Sherry rehabilitation is not much different from addiction. She still has only one card to play, sex, which does not leave much room for personal development.

Laurie Collyer is the writer and director of this film and performed both job admirably. This is the kind of story that many would have played too close to the line. Collyer is able to pull back on the reigns presenting ‘Sherrybaby’ with a more subtle hand. The film is not preachy about the dangers of drugs. We have all heard the just say no public service announcements and know how well they worked. Sherry is just a lost soul, adrift in life completely without any means to cope. The pacing of the piece reflects the way Sherry lives her life, one moment to another, an endless stream of meaningless encounters. The film is beautifully photographed; the use of colors is perfect. The only thing that may be considered a downside here is the movie almost done like a documentary. I found this just added to the realism but others have stated that this took them out of the narrative of the film.

I have been a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal just about since the start of her career. Even in smaller roles such as the ones she had in ‘Cecil B. DeMented’ and along side her brother Jake in ‘Donnie Darko’ she has shown the potential to be one of the great actresses of her generation. Gyllenhaal’s inclination for odd ball roles was evident is her performance in ‘The Secretary’ where everyone had to take notice of her talent. Now she is in the lead role but still taking a chance with her parts. Her creativity and willingness to take a risk professionally shows here as she dives into Sherry. Dressed in a flimsy, overly revealing top, too short skirt and badly dyed blonde hair Gyllenhaal becomes her character. In a role like this it is naturally difficult for the audience to find any emotional connection with the lead. Gyllenhall gives such a wonderful performance that the audience can almost forget that she messed up her own live and care about her. There are other characters in this film but they are only support for this award worthy performance. Having director Stephen Gyllenhaal as a father may have started her in the business but now she is working on her own terms based on a great degree of talent.

Universal has presented this film with a bare bones DVD release. It would have been nice to have a commentary with Gyllenhaal and Collyer but the film is strong enough to stand on its own. The anamorphic 1.78:1 video transfer is excellent. The color palette is subdued but that works with the content. The Dolby 5.1 audio is almost claustrophobic but that also is consistent with the emotional direction of the film. The Golden Globe nomination of Gyllenhaal for best actress is only the beginning. This is a film that deserves recognition and a place in your collection.

Posted 12/28/06