Little Miss Perfect

OK, this film maybe a depiction of a TINY fraction of one or two people people but its very overused and generic, and nowhere near gives the disorder the complexity it deserves. I'm sorry but this is another cliché film - that doesn't go deep enough to raise real awareness - I mean please you don't see thinspo twice and suddenly put down your pop tart, two, these parents are over dramatised cliché of neglectful/self-important, like the other 8 or so ed films I've seen. There is way more going on in a sufferers head than the superficial stuff shown here. I really really don't know how this got nominated and won stuff - other than because it was judged by people who know little about the reality of the disorder. If I wanted someone to understand an eating disorder I would tell them to run from this film. My short maybe small budget and not as large scale but its done a hell of a better job than this in it's feedback - no wonder mental health awareness is all wonky. Either make the awareness film accurately and properly or not at all.

The acting was awful, but that could have been excused considering the low budget if the movie was actually good. It wasn't. It was filled with all the tired old clichés, such as:

• Upper-class white girl with distant parents and a perfectionist nature. - Looks at thinspo once and suddenly becomes anorexic. - Barely eats for weeks and never binges. - Hallucinates 'ana', the personification of her eating disorder. - Is anorexic for just a few months then recovers.

It's just not realistic. The use of those clichés only further skews society's view of eating disorders, which is harmful to those who actually suffer.

I give it two stars for being kind of entertaining.

When I first viewed the trailer, I pictured this movie as an amateur take on something very serious, that would gloss over the harsh truth of give a 'feel-good' 'this couldn't happen to you' idea to the viewer. I was very wrong.

This movie, that not only contains beautiful acting from everyone, amazingly crafted dialogue and realistic characters, touches very deeply on a matter that affects so many young girls today.

The movie deeply analyses what might push someone over the edge and that might send them down the rabbit hole, surprisingly gown trying to gain control. The movie not only highlights the dangers, socially, mentally and physically of getting involved with 'thinspiration' posts and 'pro-ana', but also creates a dark atmosphere that creates the question 'could that be me?' or 'could that happen to someone I love?'

It's an overall must watch for anyone any age, but especially for young girls.

Because of the subject matter, I was expecting an artless 'Made for TV' cautionary tale on the subject of anorexia. But this is actually a beautifully filmed, completely involving story about a 14 year old girl who discovers an online site that promotes anorexia. Sadly there are such sites on the internet, where anorexics and bulimics can chat with each other, and "support" each others addictions. Annabelle starts to unravel under the pressure of being class President, while maintaining perfect grades. In fact, the girl seems to be obsessed with perfection, and when her mother leaves her and her dad, who seems to have little time for his daughter, Annabelle begins a dark and dangerous online friendship with a girl named Aly. This girl runs a website that promotes the slogan "Thinner is the Winner." Pushing such ideas as "only empty is pure," and "not happy, not sad, just perfect," Annabelle sees this as an alternate way to reach "perfection."

So what makes this movie miles better than some run-of-the-mill Lifetime TV movie? First off, the main actress, Karlee Roberts is mesmerizing as Belle; she has these huge, expressive eyes, and facial expressions that so perfectly translate all the terror and confusion in this girl's life. It's hard to take your eyes off her. She seems so frail that she might just break at any moment, but she continues her charade bravely, with this smile on her face that shows all the fear and confusion behind the mask. Also, the supporting cast is perfect as well; her friends and her boyfriend are all utterly believable as typical 14 year old kids. For once we have actors the same age as the roles they are playing, and not 18 year old's playing 14 year old's. For a film like this, using actors this young makes it so much more intense, and disturbing. Finally I have to mention the technical aspects. This movie is GORGEOUS. Shot in 2;35 widescreen, which is almost unheard of for a film like this, the director somehow achieves this amazing ethereal "glow" throughout the film. It looks like they used this 'vaseline-covered lens' technique that they used in movies from the 30's and 40's. Everything looks dreamy and has a gold tint. The wardrobe department even deserves a mention for the pretty clothes the girls are always wearing.

"Little Miss Perfect" at times borders on horror, when Belle begins to see herself as a kind of monster when she looks in the mirror. For some reason it reminds me of the film "Black Swan." There is even a shocking twist towards the conclusion that had my jaw on the floor. Anyway I'm so happy to have stumbled upon this powerful film, purely by accident. I absolutely recommend this for kids and parents of kids this age. I can't recall a better film on the subject of eating disorders.

"I'm not dumb enough to starve myself and think that's going to bring my mommy back, or something!"

Eating disorders are controversial. A plot about good girl choosing not to eat than talk about her feelings disappoints in raising the stereotype of eating disorders, but succeeds to show the frustration of someone without an eating disorder who must bear to watch a loved one (or peer) who does. Compelling cinematography, given that our main character is a young, bright, and well-off girl enduring her creeping doom.