Film Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This review will probably come across as extremely biased. The source material for the film, Stephen Chbosky's novel of the same name, is one of my favourite books of all time. Its beautifully written and a piece I relate too very much.

I was therefore nervous about the film version. Adaptations always have a tendency to waver from the original and therefore spoil that connection you have with the book. On approach I thought back to those well received and well made adaptations, especially Peter Jackson's excellent Lord of The Ring's Trilogy.

The film starts with a well crafted shot of the tunnel. The books centre piece setting, and the location of the book, and now films, famous line "I feel infinite" - the film's redeeming feature is that is both scripted and directed by Chbosky himself. So, as in the opening sequence, everything is wonderfully well crafted and fits perfectly with the music that is used in the novel.

Logan Lerman plays Charlie, our films unreliable protagonist, unbelievably with every awkward movement and well placed monologue - it is easy to follow his though processes even if they are, at times, a tad scatty. Emma Watson banishes the good-two-shoes 'Harry Potter' image as she plays the beautiful Sam, and Ezra Miller - despite at times coming across as OTT- is a brilliant Patrick. The three young stars very much create the characters and mould them, the material may be fantastic, but the performances more than match it.

Without giving too much of the plot away, a stand out moment is Charlie's first Secret Santa, where as he leaves the room, it is revealed that he 'knows' each and every one of them by giving them extremely personal presents leaving everyone and especially Sam very moved.

The audiences reaction was similar, at some heart-wrenching points there was tears amongst audience members, for fans of the novel - you will love it - despite it missing one or two important moments, it skips them with it deteriorating the emotion and plot. For the neutral, it is a horribly moving film in which will leave you questioning your own decision making.