The Perks of Being a Wallflower - 2nd April 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night is doing the rounds of the genres, this week we try a "coming of age" movie. Will it be a failure or will we learn;

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up.

Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope and the unforgettable friends that help us through life. (This product description was stolen from Amazon).

Down to the nitty-griity. Logan Lerman plays Charlie a shy, retiring and somewhat troubled teenager, starting his "freshman" year in high school. The nature of his internal turmoil becomes apparent, the further into the movie you get. Via flashbacks, we learn as to why he suffers from the occasional blackout and the disturbing mental imagary that floats about in his head, from time to time.

And it's not just the down to untimely death of a close friend. There's more. You really need to see the film to fully appreciate the issues that the young Charlie is suffering from, just merely describing them here, will not do justice to the fantastic acting of Lerman, as he portrays the fragile wallflower that is Charlie.

However, although he is subject to some bullying, it's not all bad for Charlie and he soon falls into a clique of older students, who take him under their collective wings and nurture his talents.

Emma Watson, who is really sublimely gorgeous as the caring (and occasionally sultry) Sam, who Charlie falls for in a big way, but who is herself, troubled by a trail of hapless relationships.

Along with the extremely camp and very gay Patrick (Ezra Miller), they bond together in a relationship that sees our wallflower blossom and mature.

It is a heartening film, where the underdog, battered by life's pressures and torments, finally gets through to the other side. Although Charlie does not make this journey with ease or unscathed and the mental torture that gets him through is evident, shocking and upsetting.

It is not then, a feelgood movie. Although the outcomes are inevitably favourable, the journey is arduous. There are casualties along the way. And although Charlie "comes good" in the end, it is not in the same vein as a true feelgood movie, you cannot feel good about the mental anguish that is suffered along his journey.

I maybe skirting around the issues, but you can only truly appreciate the outcome, when you see the details. It is a gripping movie, it is a sad movie, it is a happy movie, above all it is a brilliant movie. Underpinned by the fantastic screenplay of Stephen Chbosky. Each twist and turn takes you to another place and not necessarily where you think it will go. It's a gritty drama, but is lighthearted in places. And throughout, a ridiculously good soundtrack fills the spaces, when the dialogue ceases.

I cannot praise this film enough, if I could sit and watch it again now, I would. It seemed to have everything in it that I like about a movie and that is reflected in the TNiFN score of 9 out of 10.

A must see film. In fact the DVD cover boasts that the film is; "The best film of the year"!

It is not wrong.