Perfect Sisters

Missed this title when released, but glad I found it.

Abigail Breslin was always a favorite child ctress of mine, and this performance shows that she has progressed to a very dynamic adullt actress.

Inseparable sisters, Sandra and Beth Anderson (Abigail Breslin and Georgie Henley) have had a hard life. Their mother (Mira Sorvino) is a hopeless alcoholic, dragging her kids through her world of blackouts and chronic unemployment.

Mum is a truly maddening individual, especially when it comes to her disregard for the welfare of her children, leading to violence and sexual abuse by her idiot boyfriends.

When things finally reach a breaking point, Sandra and Beth decide to take drastic, irreversible measures to remedy the situation.

PERFECT SISTERS is a mostly grim, sometimes humorous movie, loosely based on true events. It goes to great lengths to show not only their mother's outrageous behavior and inability to control / live her own life, but also the cold, heartless attitude of the sisters themselves. Their friends are equally disengaged from humanity, choosing to help with the scheme for "fun".

Picture the girls from HEAVENLY CREATURES, merged with the sisters from GINGER SNAPS, hanging out with the kids from RIVER'S EDGE, and that comes close to this film's overall atmosphere.

The ironic ending will probably pi$$ off many viewers! Others will be moved by it...

This is based on a true story and on real life people. That might raise some red flags with some. But if you don't mind that, there is quite the drama unfolding. Not easy to watch at all, but really good performances. Also not really characters in this one that you should be able to identify with much (at least not if you are stable generally speaking).

Having said, there are some horrific things happening (if you've read what it's about you already know what I'm hinting at, if not I won't tell/spoil) ... so not for the faint hearted or easily offended. But life can be hard and we are not all the same. While I would not condone many of the things happening, the structure of the movie makes it easy to understand how everything build up ...

Inspired by a real case. it is the basic support for a film who has potential to be interesting but remains expression of good intentions. because Mena Suvari is reduced in the cage of cliches. because the universe of teenagers is just a sketch. because it could be a real good drama but the director has not the courage to explore in deep sense the Andersen sisters drama. something missing. this is the word after its end.

Sandra Anderson (Abigail Breslin) has her older sister Beth (Georgie Henley) as her best friend. Their alcoholic partying mother Linda (Mira Sorvino) moves the family once again into another lower class neighborhood. Linda loses her job and can't keep her sobriety. Her mother's boyfriend is abusive. Nobody is willing or able to help. So the sisters and their friends plan to kill the mother for the insurance money. It's loosely based on a true story in Toronto.

It's an amateurish attempt from producer turn director Stanley M. Brooks. The girls are reasonable but it doesn't rise any higher than a TV melodrama. The story gets a little bit interesting as the kids plan the murder. The dialog is pretty bland bordering on awkward with some weak narration from Breslin at the start. Another problem is the lack of interesting style from the movie. Obviously they're using Breslin's star power to sell this but she can't save this project.