No one makes it alone...

Based on a true story, Sherrybaby is an emotional independent film written and directed by Laurie Collyer. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a young strung out single mom who recently just got out of prison named Sherry Swanson. Gyllenhaal really hooks you in with the beaming personality and knock out body yet self-destructive personality. She was put in prison for three years because of her addiction to drugs that lead her to steal anything in order to get a fix. One of her challengers is proving to her parole officer that she can stay clean and keep a stable job. The first thing she wants to do when she gets out is to be re-united with her daughter, Alexis. Sherry starts by moving into a half way house with hopes to start a new and better life. Her readjustment to the real world proves to be anything but smooth. She falls back into her old ways by having sex with a man who runs the recovery program, and telling a man at a job interview, “I’ll suck your dick if you give me the job I want”. Sherry’s five-year-old daughter has been taken care of by her brother, Bobby, and his wife, Lynette, whom are rightfully protective of Alexia because of Sherry being back around. When she sees her daughter for the first time in years, the emotion that Gyllenhaal brings to the scene makes you want to see them be together. Still in the back of your mind you know that this would be a disaster because Sherry can barley take care of herself, let alone another human being. Sherry immediately suffocates her daughter with gifts and affection to make up for lost time. Lynette is extremely attached to Alexis and is very cautious of Sherry being back. This puts Bobby is an awkward position between his wife and his sister. Gyllenhaal does an amazing job at making you believe in her love for her daughter. She has an emotional breakdown because her daughter does not call her “Mommy” anymore, and I felt the pain right along with Sherry. This is a story about how she struggles to earn the right to be in her daughter’s life. Many people try to save Sherry including her amazing brother and a friend she met at a recovery meeting, but no one can save Sherry but herself. Sherrybaby is a riveting tale of personal failings and recovery, which I believe establishes Gyllenhaal as one of the best actresses of her generation. I would recommend this movie to anyone who feels that they can handle the drama and depressiveness the movie portals. I would definitely rate this movie five stars, as I feel it deserves it.