Hating Alison Ashley

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!

When i walked into the cinema i was worried, very worried. Here i was walking into a film adaptation of a book that i have read literally over 30 times, Klein's classic Hating Alison Ashley. Luckily i had prepared myself. I was prepared for the 11 year old story turned into a 14 year old story played by 19 year-olds. I was prepared for the more than likely over-hyped, overrated and very average performance of Delta Goodrem. And thats exactly what i got. But there was a little ray of sunshine in the true lead actor, Saskia Burmeister. Her and Jean Kittson (absolute legend, brilliant in this film) were the reason that i managed to walk into the cinema in the first place. Seeing Saskia in Wicked Science, The Pact and Thunderstruck, she hit me as someone who had a real talent, and here her talent really shines. She basically single handedly saves this film, every scene with Goodrem is saved by her. Her portrayal of Yuk is so beautifully accurately done, that in the end it really doesn't matter about the changes made from the book to the film. She was the reason i enjoyed this film as much as i did, which is amazing cause i managed to give it a 7/10 which considering the close to butchering of the book and goodrem it could've been a lot worse. Apart from the brilliant burmeister, there are some great little performances as well. Kittson of course is at her usual brilliant best, Craig Mclaughlin was a crack up in the small amount of screen time he was given, and even the beefed up role of Barry Hollis (Anthony Carpanelli) was although different to the book, worked an absolute treat in the film.

So all in all....Delta stick to what your good at..no wait not even that...go away....

Saskia.... get your AFI award speech ready!

I recently saw Hating Alison Ashley in the cinema and I was blown away by Delta Goodrem and Saskia Burmeister's performances. First of all I would like to say that is appalling no one supported this film, it was brutally honest, as an individual I can empathise with the character Erica Yurken, mainly because I understand her upbringing and her complex behaviour and then there's the character Alison Ashley who everyone thinks is all perfect and has everything, until you get to know her properly. The author Robin Klein has created many characters that people can relate to especially high school students. It was very well done for Australian standards, haven't seen a good Aussie flick like this since "Looking for Alibrandi" or "Strictly Ballroom".

As for the film, just proof that Australians have potential to tell a good story.

Hating Alison Ashley? Nah, she's alright.

As a female year 9 (coincidently 9C), I found Hating Alison Ashley a joy to watch. Erica Yurken, who's played brilliantly by Saskia Burmeister, is a seemingly over-confident outcast, who believes she's superior to everyone else at her extremely dysfunctional school. Everything she's ever worked for is turned upside down when the "perfect" Alison Ashley from the snobby part of town, joins Erica's class, 9C. Delta's performance as the apparently flawless Alison Ashley was stiff at times but certainly adequate. It's Saskia Burmeister's performance that steals the show.

The supposed ages of the leads are very unconvincing. Am I supposed to believe these people are my age? 20 year old physically don't 'look like 14 year old even if they act it.

The best thing about the movie is that it's Australian! It's fantastic the see an Aussie teen flick which my friends and I can relate to so much more than an American equivalent. The 9C students have textbooks that I have, there are Australian products sold at the canteen, Erica eats a meat pie and there's tomato sauce on her kitchen table! In scenes there's the Westgate Bridge and Melbourne city in the background. It's fabulous! None of this would obviously ever happen in an American teen flick. The year nines don't speak with American accents or use American slang, have quarter-backs and cheerleaders and there's not even the American flag blowing in the wind in the background. It's just so refreshing to have an Aussie teen movie.

personally, i found this film to be very meaningful and a great film. Delta Goodrem & Saskia Burmeister both played excellent parts in the movie. The storyline is powerful, it kept me intrigued and after reading the book,noting the similarities and differences between the book and the film came with many surprises.

I deeply enjoyed the film, and I definitely recommend it to anyone. It was truly a great performance by the entire cast. I must say that Hating Alison Ashley is definitely one of the best Australian films I have seen, and I congratulate the cast and crew on a fantastic film. without spoiling anything, there are many wonderful moments in the film that truly show that friendships can be unexpected.