Decoding Annie Parker

Decoding Annie Parker tells the real life story of two women. Toronto housewife Annie Parker, a three time cancer survivor who believes that the cancer she has got and has killed various members of her family was due to more than just bad luck and environmental factors.

Geneticist Mary-Claire King who led a team of researchers for more than twenty years and found the breast cancer BRCA gene mutation which showed that cancer can be hereditary.

Samantha Morton as Annie Parker gets to fast forward her life as she meets and marries rocker and pool man Aaron Paul has a son, loses family members to cancer and fights the disease herself while all the time going through a parade of 1970s and 1980s costumes and wigs.

Helen Hunt gets the less interesting story of her fight for research and trying to prove a genetic link to breast cancer but her story makes for less than enthralling viewing so the focus always remain with Morton's story.

The film is underwhelming and rather becomes a true life movie of the week with its inherent clichés. The film is served by a strong performance from Samantha Morton who rises above a weak script. Helen Hunt is poorly served by the screenplay and the meeting between the two women comes across as laughable and disappointing. The fault lies with the director for not making the best of this story.

Annie Parker (Samantha Morton) suffers many losses. Her mother, father, and older sister all died from cancer. It's the 1970's. She is obsessed with checking for lumps and eventually she also gets breast cancer. Her husband Paul (Aaron Paul) is a pool cleaner. Louise (Alice Eve) is her younger sister. Dr. Gold (Corey Stoll) suspects a genetic cause but he is refuted by more experienced doctor. At UC Berkeley, research genetic scientist Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt) is trying to map the human genome but the task is overwhelming. Her team is on a long, winding search for the cause of breast cancer and the discovery of the responsible gene.

Morton and her side of the story is very compelling with surprising humor and infinite humanity. The Helen Hunt side is less compelling. I can think of several ways to increase the tension but her side is inherently less dramatic. It's more scientific and less humane. It could have enlightened some of the science but that may be asking too much. It leaves me to wonder if concentrating solely on Annie Parker would be more intriguing.

The film was inspired by the real life stories of the two women from the same timeline who had no connections, except theirs involvement with something. That means there are two sets of stories that's told one after another in parts which covered the events from nearly the three decades. So it all begins in the 1960, where two little sisters promise to each other about something, but 10 years later one of their's life changed forever when another one dies of cancer. So this is the story where the other sister begins her fight against the disease that took her family away.

This is a small budget film that shot entirely within a month of time. There are lots of actresses in this, even for the small roles. I thought Helen Hunt would lead the narration, but then there were Maggie Grace, Alice Eve, Aaron Paul and others. Great dedications by all, but this was Samantha Morton's film.

I did not know what this story is about when I decided to watch, but I'm pretty happy for the film. Except the material was more a documentary suitable kind, especially the story of Helen Hunt's character. Moreover feels like it is a short film with a decent story. I think it is worth a watch because of unfolding an important scientific discovery of our time. So a big yes on that perspective, but entertainment wise it is just an average. Now you can decide this on what you're seeking.

7/10

The subject matter is quite heavy but is told with sincerity and real-person humor. The title may seem a trifle misleading since the contact between Annie and the researcher is tangential at best -- they meet only once. The the "decoding" goes beyond finding and sequencing the BRCA1 gene. We witness the unwrapping of emotions and the development of a life-fulfilling spirit in Annie and many of the people to whom she is connected. Some relationships work, other don't, but at its core the film remains true to its belief in Annie's undying spirit. The only negative that keeps my review from being a 10 is that a few of the scenes in which the finding the BRCA1 gene proceeds are stiff and almost formulaic, in stark contrast to the reality of the rest of the film. Go see it and you will be talking about it to many of your friends.

Bravo to Steve Bernstein for making this important film that starts the conversation about hereditary cancer. Bernstein manages to weave the "remarkable" Annie Parker's personality and humor throughout this film of serious subject matter; ultimately providing bursts of laughter just when you are thinking you might need to reach for that huge handkerchief to wipe your tears. "A" rated performances from Samantha Morton (Annie) and Aaron Paul. Rashida Jones shines brightly in her supporting role. Heartfelt, humorous, and honest...you will go home thinking about your family and family history. Knowing it is a true story, you will find yourself thinking about the "real" Annie Parker and her incredible spirit--at the very least, for the rest of your week.