The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Film Review by Imogene

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Directed: Stephan Chbosky

Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma, Watson, Paul Rudd, Johnny Simmons, Ezra Miller, Dylan McDermott, Kate Walsh, Nina Dobrev

Genre: Drama, Romance

Stars: 5/5

(Contains Spoilers)

I have to say for this actual film, I was never particularly bothered about seeing it upon its release, but after hearing it’s “film of the year” for 2012 and was highly rated by many sites and reviews – I decided to add it to my LoveFilm list. When it came through the post I was eager to watch it, to simply understand the hype for it. I have to say I was not at all disappointed. From the moment it started, till it finished, I was hooked!

The film starts with showing us Charlie (Logan Lerman) at a desk in his room on the eve of attending high school. He’s writing a letter to an unknown pen pal sharing his worries for the days and term ahead. Feeling like he’s not going to make friends, he just attends lessons and keeps his head down for the best part. He befriends his teacher Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) who picks up on his great abilities on English Language and starts giving him added assignments.

Charlie attends a school football game alone one evening and sits near the flamboyant Patrick (Ezra Miller). As they start to enjoy the game Sam (Emma Watson) joins with them and at that moment Charlie is hit by Sam’s beauty. He becomes acquainted to the pair and heads home in high spirits, only to arrive home to witness his sister Candance being attacked by her boyfriend. Charlie is nerved by this as his Aunt got abused by her partners before she died so he goes to help her only for her to swear him to secrecy from their parents.

At a homecoming party Charlie is stood alone around the edge of the hall, seeing his sister with her boyfriend he goes joins Patrick and Sam. After the homecoming he goes with them to a house party, there he meets Mary Elizabeth, Alice and Bob. He also gets to meet Sam’s boyfriend Craig and is instantly jealous. Bob encourages Charlie to eat a pot brownie (which he had no idea was one) and as he gets high all the party members are amused by the stuff he says. Sam saves his from total embarrassment as he says he want a strawberry milkshake and takes him to the kitchen where he compliments her on her eyes and then tells her about the death of his best friend. He then leaves the kitchen to go upstairs to the toilet and accidentally walks in on Patrick with Brad (Johnny Simmons) kissing. Patrick is panicked as Brad doesn’t want their relationship to get out (as his father doesn’t approve) and makes him promise he’ll never repeat what he saw. He agrees not to say anything. Sam meanwhile is left shocked and goes speaks to Patrick saying she doesn’t think he has any friends – they both welcome him with open arms into the group.

 

(Sam through the Tunnel)

Whilst they both drive Charlie home, an unknown song comes up on the radio and tells Patrick to drive through the tunnel, where she gets in the back of the pick up truck and waves her arms around. Charlie again is completely stunned by her natural beauty.

Sam doesn’t do too well in tests so in the coming months up to Christmas, Charlie says he would help her revise. At Christmas all the friends participate in a “Secret Santa” gift exchange. On the last night of the exchange Sam takes Charlie up to her room to show him, her gift – A typewriter. Charlie is wowed by this present. They start talking about first kisses and she shared that her first kiss was by her father’s boss who molested her in her younger years. He tells Sam that he’s never kissed anyone before and she says she want his first kiss to be by someone who loves him and the pair end up kissing.

On Charlie’s birthday he has flashbacks of his Aunt Helen who died in a car accident that same night after getting him a present. At a new years party he takes a LSD and has many flashbacks of the things that happened surrounding Aunt Helen's death and their relationship together, he gets found passed out by the police.

After being dismissed he attended a party with the gang and had Mary Elizabeth as a partner to the dance, they end up going back to her house and making out – she then announces he’s her boyfriend now. Charlie doesn’t really like her like that and ends up going along with it because he doesn’t know how to break up with M-E without hurting her feelings, but has no interest in her neediness. Whilst at a party with the gang they play truth or dare, Patrick on Charlies turn dares him to kiss the prettiest girl in the room, and everyone assumes he’d go for Mary Elizabeth but he jumps out at Sam. The pair is angry with what he did and Patrick tells him to give it time before approaching the group again.

 

(Charlie kisses Sam in the Dare)

Being back to being alone again, Charlie starts to isolate himself and the memories of Aunt Helen worsen. After meeting with Bob, Charlie finds out that Brads father found out about Brad and Patrick's relationship. He tries to talk to Patrick only for him to tell him to leave him alone for the moment. Brad is seen with a massive bruise on his face and tells people a wrong tale as to why he got the mark. Patrick walks by Brads table at lunch and he calls him a faggot – then the pair end up fighting on the cafeteria floor. Charlie intervenes and tells them to back off his friends.

Patrick is heartbroken that he and Brad had to end their relationship and ends up getting closer to Charlie. After they've been spending a lot of time together Patrick one night tries to kiss Charlie. With no reaction Patrick bursts into tears and apologises. Sam ends her relationship with Craig as she finds out he cheated on her 3 times.

Sam gets through to Graduation and is off to Penn State. After her leaving party, Charlie helps Sam pack her items up. Wondering why he never asked her out as she’s liked him, and talked of Craig and the relationship there she asked why does she always fall for people that aren’t good for her and Charlie replies “We accept the love we think we deserve”, after some more confessions the pair end up kissing and is stopped when she rubs the inner thigh, but resumes after he mentioned that it wasn’t anything that made him stop.

The next day he watches Sam leave for college and is feeling upset. Going home he receives more flashbacks of his repressed memories of Aunt Helen who used to abuse him as a young boy and ends up calling Cadence saying it was his fault she’s dead. Getting the police to the house so that Charlie couldn’t harm himself, before he could they got to him and he blacked out.

We then see him in a hospital confused as to why he’s there. The Doctor tells his parents of the damage that his Aunt did and that the reasons for his breakdowns were because of repressed memories. On being discharged Sam and Patrick meet with Charlie and go to a restaurant. On leaving Sam says she found out the name of the song that was playing when they first went through the tunnel together. Charlie gets in the back of the truck this time and screams on his way out of the tunnel.

I adored this film and like I said at the start I was hooked from the moment I turned it on to the moment the credits rolled. I’m glad it was a long film as I don’t think I would’ve been satisfied with it only being an hour long. The plot had plenty of room to develop and it did develop in an even pace which was perfect for this genre. There were no moments that I felt it was rushed – I got everything I wanted from the storyline.

I really liked Charlie’s character and loved the way he was portrayed as shy and nervous, it brought real depth to the film and the character. It also was lovely to see him grow more confident throughout the film. It was his story and it was well documented – I want to read the book now.

The whole crew was fantastic, it was especially nice to see not all well recognised cast members as it allowed there to be interest in how the character shall be played. I have to say it’s now one of my favourite films and shall enjoy watching once again someday!

I have given it a 5/5 because I felt it was very mysterious and gripping film, it was very interesting all round, there was never a moment where I felt like I was loosing interest or wondering what was going on – fabulous film!

Hope Springs: A Film Review by Imogene

Hope Springs

Directed: David Frankel

Starring: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carrell, Jean Smart, Mimi Rogers

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stars: 4.7/5

I really wanted to see this film as soon as it appeared in cinema but I never ended up going –  this happens too much! But I was awfully excited when it came through my letterbox. I couldn’t wait to see it, especially as Meryl Streep is in the cast, and after reading that it’s very good, I wanted to form my own opinion.

The film starts by showing us the lives of a middle age couple. They love and care for one another, but have forgotten how to show these feelings to each other. Sleeping in separate beds and living virtually individual lives, it shows that they barely speak, let alone show any affection, or share any intimacy together.

Kay (Meryl Streep) decides one day that she’s had enough of living in that way and goes to find some help to bring back the spark. She arrives at a bookstore and finds a book that she finds  has some helpful tips, it’s written by Dr. Feld (Steve Carrell). Kay tells Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) that she’s done with the past and wants them both to attend marriage counselling to get their marriage back to where it should be.

At first Arnold is reluctant to go as he doesn’t see why they need to go; as far as he sees it they’ve been perfectly fine for the last 31 years. Kay books a week intensive course for them to attend with Dr. Feld in a remote town in Maine, Great Hope Springs. Arnold isn’t best pleased as he has no mobile reception, and simply finds faults in everything that’s surrounding them. Kay tries to stay upbeat and positive, trying to encourage him to see things for what they really are.

They attend daily sessions at the centre with Dr. Feld, where he would try and get them to talk about how they felt, their sexual experiences and ultimately show them why they fell in love with each other. The sessions are extremely intense as Arnold finds it hard to talk to Kay and Dr. Feld about their intimate details. He is very defensive about his life and their relationship together.

(The Counselling Sessions)

Dr. Feld asked and put up very blunt questions so that they couldn’t deny or talk their way out of answering them and this angered Arnold as he didn’t understand why she felt the need to bring him to such sessions. Kay feels very upset and heartbroken at the lack of Arnolds willingness to change anything and goes running off, feeling as if everything is over for good. She goes to a pub and starts talking to the barmaid, who shows her that she’s not the only person not to be having sex with their partner. Arnold goes to a museum alone, instead.

Getting back together in their motel room they both try and be closer together as Dr Feld gave them a task of holding one another. They spend the night in the same bed, the first time in years and as Kay wakes from her sleep she finds Arnold has his arm around her. They tell Dr Feld of this amazing breakthrough and both feeling more encouraged that things are getting better; Dr Feld urges that they try bigger gestures.

Feeling confident that things are only going to get better both Arnold and Kay try and do more spontaneous things together to make attempts of being able to get intimate. Many of them fail and they don’t get very far on their mission. Dr. Feld tries telling Arnold of how hurt Kay is and that if he doesn’t wish to loose her forever he best take some initiative and arrange something pretty special to get things on the right track. He books a meal at a grand hotel and Kay is very impressed, they talk and laugh together throughout the meal, something that they’ve been wishing on for a long time! Attempting again to try and make love, it ends horribly and are both left leaving upset and confused.

(The meal at the Hotel)

After ending their sessions with Dr. Feld he says that they should continue their counselling back at home. Getting back home, their usual habits of living separately start again. Kay realises that there’s no change and gets ready to pack her bag so that she can cat-sit her friends’ cat, whilst she gets ready to move on permanently.

Both Arnold and Kay lay awake and are restless on that night. Arnold makes the move as he gets out of bed, gets his dressing gown on and sits with Kay on her bed. They both fall into each others arms and make sweet, passionate love to one another. The next morning its clear that everything is much different and that they’re naturally happy to be in one another’s company.

As the credits roll we see a homemade video of Kay and Arnold having an intimate ceremony with their children and grandchild and Dr. Feld is present. They exchange all the things that they promise they will do from now on.

(Back home after things are better) 

I really enjoyed this film so much. I was also pleased that it was as good as the trailer looked. I had perhaps expected there to be more humorous parts, (probably because Steve Carrell was in it?) but despite that it was rather well done. Watching this film there were many cringe parts where you sighed in desperation, because it was so obvious they wanted one another badly. The one thing that stood out for me was that it wasn’t the typical plot of a film of this genre. There was so much hope and disaster that at times you didn’t know what would be best for the characters. Many people who watched this film will see some part of their relationship in Arnolds and Kays. It was a film that we all learnt a couple of tips to bring to our own and it showed that it’s hard work to stay together in a marriage. But it showed that as long as it’s what the couple wants, it’s workable and that things can work, there’s a sign of hope no matter what stage of the relationship.

I’ve never seen Tommy Lee Jones play a part like this before, to be honest I’ve only really known him in the Men and Black films but I loved how stubborn his character Arnold was. I loved how he was so blind to the faults of what’s happened, but it’s only because he hid behind his wall of not wanting to accept things weren’t the same. But he pulled through and went a step further in trying to make things right. The whole film as a whole was thoughtful, and provided some smiles and ‘aww’s throughout. A mature look at an everyday issue.

I gave this film a 4.7 because I really loved watching the film and the way it was filmed showed that there is many up and downs – but it gave hope and was very well done in all ways. There wasn’t many faults apart from I had hoped there would be more funny sections.

Pitch Perfect - A Film Review by Imogene

Pitch Perfect

Directed: Jason Moore

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Adam Devine, Elizabeth Banks

Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance

Stars: 4/5

(Spoilers!)

My friend really wanted to see this movie in the cinema, but we couldn’t find a time that was suitable for us both to go and see it. So as soon as it was available on DVD, she went and brought it pretty much straight away.

I was looking forward to watching this film as the trailer seemed hilarious and it’s got one of my favourite new actresses, Rebel Wilson (plays Fat Amy). She’s a star that has seemed to come from no-where to being one of the funniest and well- known quite quick. So, on a whole the film was brought to life by her.

The film is about a college student Beca, (Anna Kendrick) who moves to Barten University. She has no interest in following tradition or making friendship groups when first appearing at the Uni, all she wants to do is DJ. Her father who also works at the University doesn’t approve of her wanting to become a ‘DJ’ and want her to throw herself into the world of being a normal teenager. Beca fails to attend lesson so her father comes and makes a deal, where she has to join a club at the Uni. She promises she will make an effort, as he says he will help her with her dream of moving to LA to make music if she does, still want to move after a year. She agrees.

Beca takes on an internship at the local radio station, where she meets Jesse, (Skylar Astin) another student at the University.

We see Beca look round stalls looking for a club to join, she looks at a table which says DJ – which meant ‘Deaf Jews’ safe to say she was disappointed as she wanted to do some DJing! On one of the stalls there are two ladies who are desperate for singers in their group – and we see them literally giving flyers to everyone. Beca takes a look, but she doesn’t have much interest for singing (even though she could and they desperately wanted her!).

(Fat Amy introducing herself)

I found this part of the movie really funny because we get to see Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) introduce herself. She really lifted the film in the comedy sections that she’s in. I enjoyed the film very much as it was easy watching and even though there weren’t as many funny scenes as I thought there would be, it was still very entertaining. All the characters in their own way added to the comedy factor. There were many funny members that joined the group, one girl who was obsessed with sex and another who was a lesbian, and we see her try and attempt to grab the lady parts throughout the film in a bid to ‘protect them’, a quiet one who’s voice sounded like a normal persons whisper and a few others.

Due to the promise she made to her dad, Beca reluctantly joins the Barden Bellas. In the beginning of the film we see clips of the Barden Bellas the year before and they weren’t successful in competition against the Treblemakers (another singing group at the same University).

The group doesn’t get off to a good start as the leader of Barden Bellas, Chloe (Brittany Snow) is very controlling over the songs, layout and dance moves, which start to annoy all members of the group, but especially Beca. There are very strict rules for the ladies as they’re not allowed to mix with the Treblemakers as it threatens the competition and anyone found doing so, lose their place in the group. Beca doesn't abide by the rules as she has an on-going friendship with Jesse which whom she works with, outside the University. The only problem is Jesse joins the Treblemakers – so their friendship in the eyes of the singing leaders is unspeakable. We figure out very early on that Jesse has a crush on Beca, and it blossoms throughout their time together. Beca tells Jesse that she doesn’t enjoy films, who himself is a massive fan – so he takes it on himself to show her exactly how much fun a film is. He shows her ‘The Breakfast Club’ which she finds is the first film she hasn’t slept her way through!

I found Jesse’s and Beca’s friendship really sweet because they both care about each other a lot but they know they shouldn’t.  It was obvious in the start that they’d both fall for one another. The genre suggests that this will naturally happen, as in Romantic Comedy – they always do. But however, it’s always nice to see them intertwine!

They do their rehearsals up until the regional competition and surprisingly even with their tiresome set list of songs they manage to make second after the Treblemakes, this saves them a spot in semi-finals. After the show, Beca gets in a fight and is arrested by police. Jesse calls her father so that she can get released and is angry with Jesse for interfering, which affects their friendship.

At the semi-finals, the group start out doing the same routine, different song charade and Beca notices that the audience is getting bored, so she starts putting some backing music behind the lyrics and the audience start enjoying it more. Aubrey didn’t agree and it all leads to a huge argument over Beca trying “to ruin” the Barden Bellas. Beca tries to explain through the film that they need to liven the set up, but Aubrey won’t hear it. They come third in the competition, meaning they loose out. After a complication from another group the Footnotes, they have been banished from the competition, resulting in the Barden Bellas being able to take their place. After the argument Beca says she quit the group, only to leave them in a muddle. The Bellas continue rehearsing for the finals whilst Beca starts working on the radio overnight and starts distancing herself from the Bella Members and Jesse. After finding a copy of the Breakfast Club, we see Beca feeling sad and lonely, she realises that she misses them all.

It’s nice to see that Beca has realised that she has some attachments to the people around her. Proving she wasn’t the same girl who was more than happy being on her own at the start of the film and she also notices her feelings towards Jesse. It was all very ‘the wake up call before everyone kisses, makes up and lives happily ever after’ but it’s a little of what you expect! (It’s terribly predictable, but every now and then, we all like a comfortable film!)

After being convinced by her father to rejoin the Bellas, she walks in to see the rehearsals falling apart and proposes that they call and open up about themselves. A hilarious part of the film, where we see each of the characters personality. It’s a group of mismatches, yet all bond well over their love of music and performing! We find out that Fat Amy’s name is actually Fat Patricia, which was pretty funny. Several members of the group gave a personal confession to the group, which helped solved their differences. After Beca telling them her ideas the group appoint her as their group leader. She helped changed pretty much everything about the Barden Bellas – giving it the modern lift it needed to win the Nationals.

(The Bellas at National Finals)

At the A Cappella National competition, the Bellas start with there usual routine, only to break out into a new song and set, which helped them change their reputation and win the Nationals! After the set we see Jesse and Beca make up, sealed with a kiss. (At long last!)

We see a 6 month later, where members of the Bellas and Treblemakers are in auditions with new students for their groups, where the Bellas have their trophy sitting behind them.

I did enjoy this film as it was easy to listen to, and even though it had a high school musical/glee feeling to it, it was pretty decent! I was slightly disappointed by the lack of comedy laughs there was, but despite that it did end up being a good film. I’d watch it again, and if there happens to be a sequel, I shall watch that too (as it’s not right to watch one and not the others!). I liked the fact I knew a lot of the songs in the film, which helped it flow. However, it was pretty predictable and we all knew as soon as it started pretty much that Jesse and Beca would get together. It wasn’t particularly new or original, but enjoyed it non-the-less. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson stole the show with their amazing work! It’s a 4/5 for all the reasons in the last paragraph!