I wanted to read The Nanny Diaries book as soon as it came out in 2001, but I ended up reading it just last year. I enjoyed it. It’s a very standard story of a modern day heroine in the Manhattan jungle, but it shows you the sterile side of some upper class families. It can be funny, but it also makes you feel a void inside, or at least that was the effect it had on me.

The movie? Well, what can I say? It didn’t exactly suck, but I went to the theatre psychologically prepared to be disappointed. I know no movie is like the book, but I was so curious about this one, I drove John crazy for days because I wanted to see it, and I couldn’t recruit enough “chicks” to go with me. We ended up going with one of his co-workers and his wife, and I was surprised the guys didn’t hate it. But that was because we gave them their action fix afterwards.

I like Scarlett Johansson, but she was too average in this movie. Come to think of it, no character really deserves to be highlighted, not even the kid. But then again, he’s portraying a neglected child whose mother is more worried about living the life in NY than in taking care of him, and whose father is a money-making machine. He was that depressing.

My rating:

Technorati Tags: The Nanny Diaries, Manhattan, Scarlett Johansson, NY

The first time I saw Maggie Gyllenhaal was in her role of in Secretary. I think she is brilliant, and Sherrybaby is yet another proof of that. It’s a compelling story about struggle and love, which tagline goes like this: “No one makes it alone.” So true.

While it may seem like the rehab issue has been portrayed in movies again and again, Sherrybaby goes at a slow pace and will shock you from time to time, but at the end you will be left with hope and the conviction that people who really loves us, will help us no matter how messed up we are.

Beautiful, touching. Highly recommended.

Technorati Tags: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sherrybaby