Hating Alison Ashley (2005)

That was an excellent one.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is a poor adaption of Robin Klein's bestselling book. Delta Goodrem is fatally cast as Alison Ashley. The producers were told they could not make the movie unless Delta was cast. Her being cast, they had to sacrifice the basic style of the book. The kids were were Primary school age are all now seniors in high school and it ruins the movie. Its almost a different movie. I'm sorry, Delta may be a pretty face, but she CAN'T ACT (she hardly says or does anything in the movie, despite her name in the title). Nor could she act when she was on neighbors (not that it takes a lot of acting to get a part on that). She really ruins the movie (and did her wig have to be so fake-looking?) I mean if she was 8 years younger she would have looked the part, but still her lack of acting ability here and her age and the fact that everyone else in the book had to be made older to accommodate Delta's age really stuffed up what could have been a great adaption. A whole movie should not be re-written to suit one actress' age (all the girl's have large breasts and you even see them in their bras and naked with towels on in two scenes). She's given first billing, but the main character is clearly Saskia. Delta is much clearly a supporting role. She doesn't say much and Saskia is on camera for almost every frame of the movie. Having said, Saskia Burmeister (one of the few Jewish Australian actors) does a brilliant job as Erica. Her plain-looking (but not ugly) looks and stroopy sulky face make her a wonderful fit for Erica (the only character that stays true to the book description). If not for her age, she would have been almost exactly as I envisioned Erica in the book. She has the right frowns and sooky expression that makes her perfect. If she was cast when she was 10, she would have been the ultimate Erica Yurken. I hope this movie is remade again, without the need for a "name" star (Delta) and done with kids who are the right ages (pre-high school). In said it was not a success, despite being based on a best-selling book. The hopes to attract more people with a "star" (Delta) backfired and actually destroyed the film's appeal. In the novel Lennie was blissfully aware of Erica's rudeness to him, here's he gets hurt and it looses the comedic effect and makes Erica unlikeable. Barry Hollis is not funny and is actually a romantic interest for Erica?! Also she dips the salad bowl on his head rather than Alison's. Is Delta Goodrem to petite that we can't even show that happening to her? In the novel they reference "Prisoner", here it's "Buffy" (does everything in this country have to be completely Americanised?) Margeart Collins (who was so hilarious to the book and gave it good comedy relief) is hardly seen at all, while Mr Kennard's role is ridiculously expanded. Mrs Belmont and Mr Kennard are having a sexual relationship. In fact sex is implied a lot in what is supposed to be a children's film. The library teacher is male and American. I mean honestly, how many Americans do you see in Australia? 1 out of 10,000. There are several fantasy scene which seem to serve little purpose than to show off the actress' breasts in sleeveless, tight, revealing clothing. But praise must be given for Saskia's wonderful performance (she was nominated for an AFI award and deserved it). I'm sure she will recover from this flop and go on to bigger and better things. As for Delta (who went on to other things such as breaking up marriages and selling out to America), STAY AWAY FROM ACTING. You tried but it didn't work. Give up.

I did love the book by the same name, and was very much looking forward to seeing the movie, a bonus that is starred Delta Goodrem who i recently met! YAY However the first major problem i had was the fact that in the book, the characters are in year 6, about 12 years old. But in the movie, they're in year 9, supposedly about 15 (my year) but then the actors look about 18! What on earth? But movies cant't be exactly as the book, or the true story. I think the acting in this movie was pretty good, Saskia was great as Erica Yurken who is obsessed with the sick bay and drama! And Delta was alright too, but in every scene her hair bugs me. It's a wig, but it looks too 'wiggy'. Anyway 7/10 cos i liked it, love ya!

A excellent film for a budding TV man. The fact of Delta Goodrum and Saskia Burmeister (both over 20 years of age) can play out he roles of 14 year old's is an astonishing work of art thanks to the make-up artists. An excellent storyline that followed the novel it was based on. Most movies these days follow another plot and don't contribute to the base of the storyline. Hating Alison Ashley also has an excellent plot. Meaning, a student treasure by a teacher is soon replaced by a more beautiful and noble character. With a perfect place at a school camp Erica Yurkin (Saskia Burmeister)can show up Alison Ashley (Delta Goodrum). Children of all ages should enjoy this film. To like this film you have to concentrate on the plot, not the female impact. I regard this film as an excellent director's work of art. A film that is plotted through a based on children's novel the people have enjoyed from Robin Klein's collection for many years

I just attended a special preview of the movie, 'Hating Alison Ashley' and I was interested in seeing the performance of Delta Goodrem. Not reading the book, I am purely basing my comments on the movie I saw. In short, Delta Goodrem's performance is stiff and she doesn't play a very convincing 'Alison Ashley'. Firstly, she is supposed to be a Year 9 student, but she looks way older than the rest of the students. She also physically looks bigger than the rest of the students, making it hard to suspend disbelief that she actually is a troubled Year 9 aged between 14-15 years old. Most Year 9 students are aged between 14-15 years old, so I guess setting the story at Year 12 would have changed the whole narrative. Therefore, the makers of this movie clearly wanted Delta Goodrem at all cost to be in this movie. Apart from these setbacks, it's actually a very entertaining and funny movie. It holds your interest for most part of the film, but it slows down when the students head to camp and prepare for the play. The early high school scenes look very lifelike and give you an impression of just how bad some State schools are. Jean Kittson was superb in her role, as was Craig McLachlan playing the simple minded P.E teacher. Tracey Mann should have put a little bit more effort into her role as the single mother. However, it's Saskia Burmeister that really steals the spotlight with her wonderful performance. She was believable, passionate and understanding of the role of the confused Year 9 student. Delta Goodrem on the other hand was not. Delta came across as rigid and excessive in her role of the girl from the 'right side of the tracks'. Just look out for the scene when she is talking to her mother from the camp's kitchen, she manages to hang the phone, while she is still talking on the phone. I guess she can only learn from her mistakes, but why do we have to see them on a good film like this? On the whole, I enjoyed the film!