The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Follows the story Charlie a freshmen on the outside of High School but ends up being part of a group of friends in their senior year and falls in love with Sam played by Emma Watson. It might seem that you have heard the story before, boy meets girl etc or even seen a million coming of age stories but this is worth making it one million and one. It deals with more then just your average coming of age story and seems more real then most as it deals with problems that not everybody goes through but yet no matter your age or era you went to school you cant help but identify with certain points in the movie. It might not be the big box office smash and earn millions in tickets sales but as with most of these types of films it will find its audience and a loyal one at that, and thats were it will make its money and more so its place in movie history. Some films are fireworks bang and then they are gone and some are slow burners and this one is just being lit. Its nice to see Emma Watson and Paul Rudd do something you don't expect them to but the film belongs to Logan Leman, who plays Charlie. Even if you spent money at the cinema you wouldn’t have seen it as wasted money but you have to be warned its not a light hearted glee fest of high school and deals with the trials of tribulations that can happen in high school these days or even in the nighties where “perks” is set although this is done subtly and isn’t a era cliche laden film like “Hot Tub Time Machine”. It centers on the characters and is done very well it might not be everybody's cup of tea given the serious issues covered but a more relatable coming of age film to most teens then the awful “Twilight” films. Yet at the same time people of an older generation should be able to empathize with the film and enjoy it for what it is.

Verdict: Will be a classic when its found its audience, or to the point when it's audience finds it.

  

I Am Not a Hipster

Where to start, to put it short it’s a good independent film, and gives you what you expect from an independent film, original story and gives you something to think about. Although it might take a little bit of time to really get going it’s worth it. It gives some commentary on what fame means these days even if it is just local fame and the traps that come with it and what you have to deal with from other people, even if it’s unwanted or un-intentional fame. It also deals with the wanna be’s that want to be something. It’s setting of the San Diego Indie Music and Art scene works well, even if you like me know nothing about it and throws up some good questions on real talent vs fame and just because you are famous doesn’t mean you are talented, and one person’s can of baked beans is another’s piece of art. In my opinion the writer/director Destin Cretton does what many film makers have failed to do in the past, and that is to link lots of different elements into a enjoyable film that is ideal if want to chill out and fancy something different.

The lead role is played well by Dominic Bogart Dominic Bogart and is the first film i have seen him in but reminds me of dare i say it Heath Ledger in the sense of looks but also his honest natural acting style and hope i see him in more films. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the style in which it was filmed “shaky cam” I personally don’t like it when people have to shove the fact that it’s not a big budget film down your throat by not holding the camera steady, it just smacks of trying to hard to be “real” the story should do that and does here, that being said it’s not too bad and you soon get used to it and really is a minor point. (from what i'v been told about this film)

In summary I think this film is well worth a watch but might be better suited to watching it on Television or on DVD and is worth having in your collection (when it’s released) rather then going to see it with a load of mates at the cinema.

Verdict: Worth buying on DVD