Sherrybaby

I’m having a hard time rating this film because Maggie Gyllenhaal really is magnificent and she is, of course, the heart and soul of the film. For her, perhaps a 4 (or an Oscar nod?). For the film alone, perhaps a 3. It’s glossy verite never really putting a new spin on themes of drug abuse, reentry into society, sexual abuse &c. I appreciate its simplicity and true-to-lifeness; Maggie brings emotional complexity and honesty to many scenes. In the end I don’t feel it does anything beyond its conceit. A film about a woman with these problems, this history, this attitude is always going to be moving; the fact that people actually live lives like this is moving. There’s no art to that. Collyer’s film does nothing beyond it.