ravmeltt I didn't know what to expect from this movie. I wanted something light, something emotional and dramatic, but not too sad. I got everything I wanted and more, including the sadness which I didn't want. But it was worth it. Benning's character came across as very harsh early on, but we later saw her morphed into a more likable character, which I felt transformed easily, because she was now in a more happier place in her life. She was made to give up her daughter when she was 14 and pregnant, and I believe that made her bitter initially in life. Naomi Watts' character was an adopted child who also seemed bitter, having never known her parents, and was on her own from 17. Kerry Washington was a married woman who couldn't have children, and therefore looking to adopt. How all these characters came together was worth the watch. It was beautifully done. Kerry was sublime in her acting skills, and you felt her anxiety, her pain and every emotion she portrayed. Benning as usual was wonderful, and Naomi was manipulative and often unlikable, which I believe she was meant to portray and therefore did it well. The role of the Sister in the agency was well played by Cherry Jones, and all the supporting actors, including Samuel Jackson and Jimmy Smits, brought a realness to each part. I don't want to give anything away, but the sadness in one of the scenes with Naomi really came as a surprise, as I was not expecting that. I felt like there was not enough closure, but then again the producer brought it all full circle to make you embrace the ending, after all, not everything in life ends with roses and a box of chocolates. Sometimes it ends with a lot of Kleenex. I think this is a movie worth watching, and embracing.

dgefroh This movie was a complete surprise to me, I really wasn't sure what to expect when picking this film to view, but with it's all-star cast line-up it looked on the surface like it could be a winner and a winner it was. The storyline is detailed and compelling, 5 minutes into this movie you will be hooked. There are several different elements and segments in this movie that will draw the viewer into the story and make this life journey story a meaningful and appreciated view. For the record, if you read any of my reviews you'll find I do not get into what the movie or story line is about, what I try to relay to you the reader is my opinion of a movie and whether it is worth your time, effort, and money to view, in my humble opinion "Mother and child" is definitely a keeper.

phd_travel There is some excellent acting and very realistic dialog from this interesting and involving movie about mothers and daughters and adoption. The dividing lines between race and blood ties are explored here. This is an intense and human drama.Annette Benning delivers a great performance. She really got a bitter caustic expression perfectly. It is interesting to see the lovely Naomi Watts playing a damaged character.After all the depressing things earlier I wish Naomi's character had lived and there could have been a reunion between mother and daughter.Overall worth a watch for the great performances but feels a bit sad.

andystart While the acting is of the highest quality, this is a story about how people use and abuse each other. In some way most of the characters use one or more others. Naomi Watts uses men for sex and power. Annette Bening uses Jimmy Smits as a stooge for her failure to overcome her own obsession with the daughter she gave up for adoption. Her mother uses Annette as a personal slave for whom she has nothing but disdain. Rather than list all the other user characters, let me congratulate the writer for one role that is not a user. Jimmy Smits is a quiet, supportive man who shows unasked for kindness, even when he's abused by Annette Bening. This movie was a disturbing portrayal of the characters' self obsession and added little to our knowledge of the real issues surrounding adoption. The most real moment for me was when Naomi Watts' character screamed at her gynecologist for assuming she'd want an abortion. Gynecologists and geneticists do this all the time much to their shame. This is a movie you will enjoy only for the quality of the character portrayals and definitely not for the excruciating way they are written.