Maggie Gyllenhaal Movie:

Editorial Review:
A disturbing film about a recovering drug addict trying to regain control of her life, Sherrybaby succinctly depicts what can happen when want and desire aren't offset by control. In this bleak indie film, Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Stranger Than Fiction, Secretary) has just been released from a three-year stint in prison. Dressed in her inappropriate uniform of a halter top and oh-so-high platform heels, she goes to brother's house to see her 5-year-old daughter, Lexie (Ryan Simpkins). Sherry is determined to be a mother to her child, but without a home, job, or any other form of stability, she grows frustrated and jealous of her brother and sister-in-law's roles in Lexie's life. Tall and willowy, Gyllenhaal brings a sad desperation and simmering sexuality to the role. Sherry's middle-class childhood was a blur of sex and drugs, and she seems incapable of breaking out of that destructive trap. While the script by first-time feature film director Laurie Collyer isn't wholly original, the picture moves at a good pace, giving insight as to why Sherry's resigned to using sex to get what she wants. While the family secret doesn't come as a complete surprise, it is somewhat perplexing that no one addresses it. Ultimately, it's Gyllenhaal who makes you care about a character that most people would've given up on. --Jae-Ha Kim

SherryBaby Reviews:
Sherrybaby Review
2009-12-19 - This is a great indie flick. I've been a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal's work since I first saw her acting in "Secretary." This is a gritty movie that involves some deep circumstances. Maggie portrays Sherry, who basically is damaged goods after serving a prison bid and the impending attempt to piece her life back together after being released, which is where the movie starts. Any person can enjoy this movie if they have a mature head about them. I think it's a great movie.

lame story
2009-11-03 - story's not very interesting... character development very mediocre... not sure what's the purpose of this movie

Great vehicle for Gyllenhaal
2009-10-08 - See this film for a tour de force performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal. She is amazing at getting you to care about a burned out self-destructive, selfish, drug addict.

The script leaves a lot to be desired. Somewhere I read that the writer based the film on the life of friend of hers. So it is a stunning portrait of this person, be she fictional or real. However, as a film, the structure is weak. We see Sherry as she encounters problem after problem and I had the feeling that disaster was around the corner at every moment. And it usually was. There were a few happy moments when she worked with kids at a daycare center, but most of the action was about pain and trouble. Too much of this makes for a one-dimensional film.

At one point, near the end of the film, we see an encounter with her father when his comforting hug turns sexual which I guess is supposed to account for how Sherry became a drug addict in the first place. As much as I appreciate the writer not hitting us over the head with this bit of information, it is glossed over so casually that it left me wondering if that was really it? Surely she seems addicted to sex as well as drugs. Well, the girl really is a mess. And yet I kept pulling for her.

Somehow this seems closer to a documentary of what a person goes through upon emerging from prison, than a piece of fiction. It is hard to watch and I think a lot of people might have a hard time with it. Gyllenhaal's beauty and charm carry the show. She is a fearless actress and for that I give the movie four stars. But it is more than a little disturbing so I can't recommend it to everyone.

Maggie IS sherrybaby
2009-06-17 - This is a movie I had viewed prior to purchasing it. It struck such a chord that I could not get it out of my mind; I knew I had to have it! Maggie G. is superb in her role, much better actress than I knew.

gritty realism and excellent acting
2009-06-10 - (4.5 stars)

SherryBaby features a tour de force performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal as Sherry Swanson, a recovering drug addict just released from prison wanting new chances in life and a real relationship with her five year old daughter. The plot moves along at a good pace and the acting was very convincing; I was never bored and unlike some other reviewers I thought the acting by the principle cast was uniformly well done. The cinematography and the choreography show careful forethought and good judgment; and there's excellent character development, too.

When the film begins, we see Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returning home on a bus after being released from prison for possession of drugs and robbery. Sherry desperately wants to contact her brother Bobby (Brad William Henke) and his wife Lynette (Bridget Barkan) who have been taking care of Sherry's very young daughter Alexis (Ryan Simpkins). However, Sherry first checks into a halfway house and a drug rehab plan, there she meets Andy (Rio Hackford) who doesn't exactly mind some time alone with Sherry even though he's the director of the halfway house! Look also for an excellent performance by Michelle Hurst as Dorothy Washington, the matron of the halfway house who settles fights and organizes things; and this gets important when Sherry fights pretty badly with Desi (Sandra Rodríguez), another resident of the halfway house.

Sherry realizes the halfway house is too rough an environment for her; the stress could cause her to relapse and use drugs. Her brother Bobby and his wife Lynette, who aren't too thrilled to even see her again, decide anyway to let Sherry stay with them a brief while. Sherry also looks for work; she wants to work with kids and she's prepared to do whatever it takes--including romantic favors to a total stranger and countless promises to her parole officer Mr. Hernandez (Giancarlo Esposito) that she'll avoid drugs and be good with the kids.

Unfortunately, however, the tension only mounts and other reviewers are right to note that life on the outside is somewhat like a prison in that there are so many social barriers and law enforcement restrictions that could cause trouble for Sherry. Ultimately, Bobby and Lynette throw Sherry out although they pay for her motel room; they just can't deal with her. They themselves cause part of the trouble by telling Sherry's daughter Alexis to call her Sherry instead of "mommy." Ouch! Sherry's father also does his share of damage, too.

Of course the plot can go anywhere from here. Will Sherry be able to bond with her daughter Alexis and her other family members once again? What about Sherry's job working with kids--how will that play out? Will Sherry be able to stay clean? No plot spoilers here, folks--watch and find out!

The DVD has the theatrical trailer; I wish we had some commentary or an interview or two but we don't get any of that. That's a disappointment. I'll take off half a star for that!

SherryBaby does an excellent job of portraying the struggles of a woman who desperately wants to reenter society after being in jail for drug possession and robbery. The movie shows us that this is far from easy; people in Sherry's position aren't truly free at all even after they are released from jail. They have their personal problems in addition to social barriers and responsibilities to law enforcement officers who may have to monitor them. I highly recommend this film for people interested in these issues. Indeed, anyone who wants a film about life with gritty realism and excellent acting would do well to add this DVD to their collection.