A second viewing for Wallflower as I dragged Mrs Blackout along to see what could well be my favourite film of the year. There's not really a lot to add to my first review, but that's not to say it was any less enjoyable. Knowing the backstories of the characters meant I wasn't as overwhelmed with each revelation of a destroyed childhood, but I got more out of the humour and the details because of it. Watching the film again also reinforced my suspicion that the film definitely isn't going to be for everybody, so outside of this blog, I probably won't be recommending it to people who aren't interested anyway.
For the record, Mrs Blackout enjoyed it very much.
But seriously, who doesn't know Heroes by Bowie? It's not a 'new' song at the time the film takes place. "I found the tunnel song!" Sam exclaims excitedly as she hands a cassette to Charlie. "Indeed," Charlie thinks, "and I hope your new friends aren't letting you hear the bloody end of that one, Mrs Eclectic Taste In Music..."
See the film, that'll make sense.
See the film. Today. Go.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
When a movie opens with the titles set in a distressed-typewriter typeface, and an acoustic guitar over the top, you know you're in for a little bit of twee, a little bit of hipster, and… well, a whole lot of Twister™*1...
That pretty much sums the film up, and yet also woefully sells it short. It's everything the trailer makes you expect it to be, but it's so much more engaging than it lets on. All of the central characters are beautifully portrayed*2, and the story embraces emotion without relying on schmaltz to gloss things over. In fact, it's the twisting of the narrative that's the film's greatest strength. You don't love the protagonists in spite of their perceived faults, you love them because of them. It's not always a great idea for the writer of a novel to also pen the screenplay adaptation and direct the film, but in this case you get the impression that no-one else could have pulled it off as well as Chbosky.
As I've said, it's painfully hipster at times, with vinyl records, mix-tapes and Rocky Horror references all upping the kook-factor, but in the context of these characters trying to find themselves, it's part-and-parcel of the proceedings, and part of who you're watching. I had visions of Wallflower being hard work, but I'm very pleased to have been mistaken*3.
If you've ever felt like you can't quite fit in, this film is for you. I'm not sure how it'll stand up to repeated viewings, but I plan to find out.
Interested by the trailer? You'll love the film. If not, avoid.
*1Twister™. That's mine, but you can use it. You're welcome.
*2 Yeah, even Hermione, who failed to act as Hermione.
*3 That said, is it just me or is Joan Cusack slightly terrifying? I honestly had no idea where those scenes were going to go.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
