The Perks of being a Wallflower

C

Chris Adler

Veteran
Watched it last night in a great theater with digital projection. The cinematography was really distracting! Quite a few of the shots looked like they were shot on something low-end digital like a 5D. Several shots where they cut back and forth between actors looked like they were shot with very different lenses. One shot was tack sharp and the other soft and a bit mushy. I know its an indie film, but it seems they cut too many corners.

I was really surprised when I read it was shot on a Panavision camera on film.
 
Talking about the film itself and not the technical aspects, it seemed very familiar to me. Though I was not in high school at the time this film theoretically takes place, I could almost relate to Charlie, and had friends in high school like that, and was the wallflower, surrounded by theatrical juveniles. However, I did think Charlie, once he "came out of his shell", he was a little too extroverted and seemed less like himself. I know this was based on a novel which the author adapted and directed, but that detail left me a little confused about his character. I think the film did tread on tough grounds and asked questions a slightly mature John Hughes would have asked, and in many ways felt like a "Breakfast Club" John Hughs film, really trying to grasp the life style and philosophy of the modern teenager. The scene where he kisses Emma Watson's character instead of his girlfriend at the time, and it leads to him being cast out of the group, which then leads to the confrontation between Patrick and Brad, made this much more than a coming of age story.

I would definitely recommend someone who grew up in the early 90s to see this, however I think anyone can find a connection.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/

 
I have yet to see the movie, and I don't know if I want to. The book was fantastic and the movie looks horrible. Visually I don't really like the soft glow it has going on, and in my mind there is no way Charlie should be a pretty boy. I highly suggest reading the book before watching the movie.
 
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