SherryBaby (2006)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Laurie Collyer

Writer (WGA):

Laurie Collyer (written by)

Release Date:

9 February 2007 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

No one makes it alone.

Plot:

Sherry Swanson returns home to New Jersey after serving a three year prison sentence. Eager to reestablish a relationship with her young daughter...

Plot Keywords:

New Jersey | Male Nudity | Delaware | Swimming Pool | Profanity

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Sherry Swanson
Michelle Hurst	...	Dorothy Washington
Sandra Rodríguez	...	Desi
Anna Simpson	...	Sabrina
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Parole Officer Hernandez
Caroline Clay	...	Parole Officer Murphy
Rio Hackford	...	Andy Kelly
Brad William Henke	...	Bobby Swanson
Bridget Barkan	...	Lynette Swanson
Ryan Simpkins	...	Alexis Parks
Stephen Peabody	...	Mr. Monroe
Danny Trejo	...	Dean Walker
Sam Bottoms	...	Bob Swanson Sr.
Kate Burton	...	Marcia Swanson
Michael Dillon	...	Child at Birthday Party

Also Known As:

Shall Not Want (USA) (working title)
Some Kind of Heaven (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, language and drug content.

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | USA:R | Ireland:16 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Mountainside, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Big Beach Films

Trivia:

Ryan Simpkins lost four teeth on the set of Sherrybaby.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sherry visits her parole officer at the start of the movie she states that her brother lives at 1334 Ridge Street. At the end of the movie, after Sherry drops Lexie off, the number on the post outside her brother's house clearly reads "1642."

Quotes:

[Sherry has just sat down at the beginning of an AA meeting]
Dean Walker: My name is Dean, I'm an alcoholic and an addict
[Entire group says, "Hi Dean."]
Dean Walker: Genesis Recovery is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that may solve their common problems and help others to recover from alcoholism and drug addiction. Is their anyone here tonight who feels the need to drink or use?
[Sherry raises her hand as she bites her nails]
Dean Walker: Go ahead little sister. Don't be shy.
Sherry Swanson: Ahm, I'm Sherry, I'm a addict.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Santitos (1999)

Soundtrack:

When I Find My Life

Raw, painful character study

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays recently-paroled addict Sherry Swanson, an East Coast single mom struggling to stay clean and get to know her estranged pre-teen daughter whose been living with Sherry's brother. Gyllenhaal runs the risk of being completely unlikable playing this hard-shelled woman, one with a short fuse and no concept of how to live a straight life (to get her way, she uses her body); however, the role is a dream for a dramatic actress, and Gyllenhaal goes way out on a limb with her characterization. It is a brave, blistering acting turn, with nary a false note, and while the plot elements don't quite bloom and some sequences feel disappointingly aimless, Maggie Gyllenhaal is remarkably consistent, scary, ridiculously tough and straightforward, and so honest that her thoughts come out unedited--she's a human cliffhanger. The movie is really about dealing with your anger and your shame, and it's directed toward a very satisfying finish, but that doesn't make many painful scenes any easier to watch. When some people screw up, they tend to do it in full view of the world; this is Sherry Swanson--and while she's angry and hurt and frustrated, writer-director Laurie Collyer is careful not to alienate us from Sherry's feelings. We share in them--without sentimentality--and the returns are worthy but tough to shake off. **1/2 from ****