Movie Review: Sherrybaby

I just finished watching Sherrybaby, an indie drama where Maggie Gyllenhaal shows some nudity, and, more importantly, a very raw and powerful performance.

Gyllenhaal, who seems to always be overshadowed by her brother (though just barely), once again shows that she is an extremely talented actress. Here, she plays a young woman recently released from prison after a long stint for stealing and drug use. Looking to get her life back on track, she lands a decent job but discovers that her daughter has been "adopted" by her brother and his wife. As tensions increase within her family, she finds herself struggling to stay clean and avoid breaking parole.

The talented actress is the star of the show, as she shows great range in exploring the positives and negatives of any troubled person. Her performance alone makes Sherrybaby worth it, though the movie itself, written and directed by Laurie Collyer, is surprisingly good as well. A drama that strikes the right chords without much if any melodrama, Sherrybaby is a captivating tale of a woman who hinges on the verge of collapse but who somehow always manages to stay afloat. Will she fold at the end, or will she prevail? Collyer keeps you guessing.

Sherrybaby is a nice little drama with one great performance. The supporting cast isn't anything to scream about, except for the surprisingly different Danny Trejo, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is at her very best here.