I Eat Words posted the first Perks of Being a Wallflower review.
While at ALA last weekend, I had the AMAZING opportunity to attend an advanced screening of THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky. If you attended ALA and showed your badge before entering, you were allowed in. Because I love, love, love this book so hard, I HAD to attend. So I did!
First off, Stephen Chbosky HIMSELF was there in the audience. He talked to us a bit before the movie started and was such a cool, down to earth guy. For those who don’t know, he actually directed this movie. He also told us that we were the first actual audience (that weren’t critics) to be viewing this special showing. How cool is that? I can officially say I was the first!
I got actual chills as the movie began. The entire atmosphere replicated the book in such a powerful, beautiful way. From the typewriter font in the opening credits, to the songs referred to over and over in the book (Asleep by The Smithes As my friend Kelsey said, “watching the movie was like reading the book for the first time.” It really was. Books and cinematic experiences are two different mediums. You experience them in different ways. In this case, I was so thankful Chbosky actually directed his own movie because it mirrored the book in such amazing ways.
Let’s talk characters. Many people are anticipating how Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson) performed as Charlie. I wasn’t sure about the casting choice at first since it’s such a powerful role, but oh my god. Logan KILLED it. Charlie is such a naive, sensitive, awkward, gawky, insecure, and deep character in the book. Logan portrayed all of that and more. He really makes you feel the scenes, whether happy or sad or bad or infinite.
This was Emma Watson’s first major role since Harry Potter (I believe) so I was eager to see how she’d do. On an unrelated note, it was so strange hearing her speak without her British accent! (But she pulled off being American really well!) Sam, in the book, is confident, a little insecure, free, wild, caring, and loving. Emma as Sam was PERFECT, in my opinion. Everything from her facial expressions to her more serious scenes to the part where she was killing it in Rocky Horror was phenomenal. I can’t see anyone else performing her role as well as she did.
Finally, Ezra Miller played Patrick, Sam’s step-brother. I love, love LOVED seeing the bond come to life between the two of them in a very realistic way. Patrick was definitely the comic relief in many scenes, yet Ezra was perfect in the more serious scenes he had to play. The fight scene in the cafeteria . . . oh my god. So intense and perfect. I also loved seeing his relationship grow and form with Charlie.
As with every movie, there are things that are going to be cut out. However, I loved that Chbosky incorporated so much of Charlie’s letter’s to “friend” in the movie. Some of the most vital and well-known letters are read over montage-like scenes, so it’s like we’re back in Charlie’s head as it is throughout so much of the book. Have a favorite PERKS quote? It’s most likely incorporated in the movie. And it will squeeze all the emotion from your heart.
There were two pivotal scenes where I had tears just streaming down my face. If you’ve read the book you can probably guess what they are. I can definitely tell you that they were extremely powerful, emotional, and perfectly well done.
Just thinking about the movie makes me want to laugh and cry and hug something. It was amazing. It was everything I could have imagined from the book. I don’t want anyone else in the entire world to see it because I fear it’ll just get torn to pieces with critiques and because it’s been such a tremendous part of my life and heart, I just don’t think I can handle that. I want to keep it safe in a tender part of my heart where people can just love and enjoy it for the amazing adaptation that it is.
At the end of the premiere, Stephen Chbosky came to the front of the theatre and everyone gave him a standing, well-deserved standing ovation. I did it with tears streaming down my face. Afterward, he did a Q&A with the crowd. Here are some quotes that I hopefully remembered correctly from his Q&A:
“It’s a movie. There are things that are going to be cut out or changed. For example, if you want to know if someone has actually read the book or just seen the movie just ask what Charlie’s sister’s name is. If they say ‘Cadance’ they’re lying, because Charlie’s sister is never named in the book” – Chbosky
“Emma Watson had the part without even auditioning because I just love her.” – Chbosky
“After Logan auditioned, we didn’t have any doubts. He’d really captured the role as Charlie. I knew he’d be a perfect fit.” – Chbosky
“My dad was cut out of the movie and he’s REALLY mad.” – Chbosky
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