Mary "Mouse" Bedford (Mischa Barton) is new to the all girls boarding school. She is befriended by roommates popular Victoria "Tori" Moller (Jessica Paré) and rebellious Pauline "Paulie" Oster (Piper Perabo). She discovers that they are actually in a sexual relationship. Paulie finds an injured hawk and nurses it back to health. When Tori's sister Allison (Emily VanCamp) and her friends find Paulie and Tori naked together, Tori decides to blame it all on Paulie. Paulie is ostracized.
It's greatest asset and worst liability is it's Canadianess. It could have been exploitative but it's not. It's lyrical, dipped in poetry, and coated in adolescent obsession. The ethereal music is more effective than one would expect. The flip side of being Canadian is it's budget. You could see its lower production value through the many prism; the weak boyfriend actor, small post-production problems, and the general lack of polish. Piper Perabo deserves some kind of acting award. She certainly proved she is better than what she showed in Coyote Ugly. Lea Pool really screws up the sword fight. At least kill the wimpy boyfriend. Otherwise, she gives this movie a great moody adolescent feel. Jessica Pare is also terrific in this and Mischa Barton does well being mousy.
It's greatest asset and worst liability is it's Canadianess. It could have been exploitative but it's not. It's lyrical, dipped in poetry, and coated in adolescent obsession. The ethereal music is more effective than one would expect. The flip side of being Canadian is it's budget. You could see its lower production value through the many prism; the weak boyfriend actor, small post-production problems, and the general lack of polish. Piper Perabo deserves some kind of acting award. She certainly proved she is better than what she showed in Coyote Ugly. Lea Pool really screws up the sword fight. At least kill the wimpy boyfriend. Otherwise, she gives this movie a great moody adolescent feel. Jessica Pare is also terrific in this and Mischa Barton does well being mousy.