Sherrybaby (2006)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Admirable film.

A Major Disappointment

Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a recovering addict after serving prison time. She is placed in a halfway house and desperate to reconnect with her daughter who is living with her brother's family. She is perfectly willing to exchange sex for favors. She befriends Dean Walker (Danny Trejo) from the recovery meeting who recognizes her as a stripper. There is hostilities at the halfway house and she stays at her brother's home. It doesn't go well and she starts using again. Parole Officer Hernandez (Giancarlo Esposito) threatens her with prison time if she doesn't go back to treatment.Maggie Gyllenhaal is great but Sherry is not terribly likable. She's a self-destructive addict who is a danger to her daughter. It's not until the bitter end that her self-obsessed destruction clears up. It would be better for her to build some more sympathy early on. It is still a devastating performance.

Maggie Gyllenhaal has been giving strong work for over a decade, over the years, and has never really been able to rise to the acclaim of her more popular brother. Maybe she hasn't shown as much versatility, but she also hasn't been given nearly as many chances. Here, she's just really fantastic. You'd think it would be a role that calls for melodrama and high theatrics, but it's not, and Maggie plays is so beautifully understated. All of her pain comes across without her resorting to screams and big flashy scenes (although she does get some). The film itself is decent enough, merely a vehicle for Maggie because the issues here have been explored dozens of times before so in terms of that there is nothing new, but it's still really effective.

"Sherrybaby" is a film about a young woman who has just been let out of prison and is attempting to fit back into society. As you might guess, it ain't easy. This story has been around since the first prison was invented (or at least since Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables"), but it's always very interesting because, if done properly, it deals with a lot of complex themes. "Sherrybaby" rises to the challenge and succeeds.I'll warn you, this story comes at you pretty hard & heavy. It pulls no punches, showing us the sleaziest, rudest, most annoying aspects of human society and its prejudices. This is NOT a good date movie, nor will it instill you with a surge of love for your fellow humans, that's for sure. But it does carry some inspiring messages about what it takes to succeed as a human being in an unforgiving world.There are a lot of disturbing clichés, like abusive officers who flaunt their authority to degrade poor Sherry, or like the bitchy family members who are trying to keep Sherry from her daughter, or all the men she meets who treat her like nothing more than a sexual object. There is definitely a cynical vibe that runs through the entire story, and not many characters are likable...in fact you basically hate almost everyone (which is a compliment to the excellent acting). But there are also some unexpected spots of brightness, and that's what kept me interested. At the end of the film, I felt satisfied.I've seen several films that deal with ex-convicts reintegrating themselves back into society. My favourites, which I highly recommend, are "I've Loved You So Long (2008) and a quirky, hilarious little flick called "Buffalo 66" (1998). And of course there's the must-see film "Slingblade" (1996).

Just like Secretary before it, this is provocative independent film with some very sexy moments, and all done by the same leading actress. Basically twenty-something Sherry Swanson (Golden Globe nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal) has served a three year prison sentence for a theft charge, she is also a recovering heroin addict, and eager to change she goes on parole and enters the Genesis House, a halfway house for other female paroled women. She uses sex most of the time to get what she wants, and she does it on house manager Andy Kelly (Rio Hackford), and also oral on her job placement counsellor to get a job working in children day care. Wanting to reunite with her daughter Alexis Parks (Ryan Simpkins), she is fighting the urge to start using again, but fellow AA member Dean Walker (Danny Trejo) knows how she is feeling and tries to help her get through it. Alexis's carers, Sherry's sister Bobby (Brad William Henke) and sister-in-law Lynette (Bridget Barkan) don't believe that Sherry can make any real change, they even insist that Alexis calls her be her real name, and their doubts are proved when Sherry dabbles in some heroin again. She knows this will ruin her chances to see Alexis, and she decides to be honest and admit to it, but her only options to change are becoming inpatient or going back to prison. Sherry manages to get Bobby to agree to spend some time with Alexis, and she takes her to lunch, only to scare her with some shouting, making her wet her pants, and the film ends with Sherry driving away, presumably going to get detox. Also starring Giancarlo Esposito as Parole Officer Hernandez, Sam Bottoms as Bob Swanson Sr., Kate Burton as Marcia Swanson and Michelle Hurst as Dorothy Washington. Gyllenhaal is very naturalist and fantastic in the leading performance, she is the whole reason to watch this very affective drama with some harrowing subjects. Good!