Mostly whenever there's a TV-movie on television, I turn it off, or switch the channel. I didn't with this one. I guess it was Jennifer Finnigans strangely attractive pale sweetness that kept me watching this flic. This movie was a bit over the top at times, but still, it moved me a great deal. I couldn't help myself, all the time I was yelling in my thoughts:'for crying out loud, somebody help this girl!' But no one helps her, and constantly having to watch this injustice is excruciating. I don't know much about real high school life in the USA, but the struggle for fitting in certainly is universal. Be hip or be square. Be popular or die, would be the tag line in this movie. The heroine is just so sweet and innocent and you don't want anything to happen to her, and you think nothing will, just because she is ... sweet and innocent. Maybe the flash forwards at the beginning were just nightmares of Lauries mother, or one of her friends? But no sirree bob, she dies. Just like that. Lauries mother says something which sums it up: 'There are no laws to control sick people'. Constantly you're scared of this Michelle character, and at the end you're just deeply saddened and angered by her deeds (the beautiful 'amazing grace' which plays in the background can't possibly heal the wounds). There's no room for positive emotions or a fairy tale-ending in this movie, and strange enough, exactly this was what I liked and didn't like about it. Hard to believe this movie is based on facts. What a world... The last time I felt so shocked about the injustice done to an innocent person was while watching 'dancer in the dark' with Bjork. Be warned: watching this movie will make you depressed. And probably, when you go to sleep, and close your eyes, you'll see Jennifer Finnigan, and you'll think: Why? Why? Luckily Jennifer is alive and well, which can't be said of the real Laurie, poor thing.
Review of Rivals
