[BLOG] The Perks of Being a Wallflower

[ejwrank]

I liked the film. I found the acting excellent and the script was good although I thought it was a bit long but that may have been because the Trocadero was so boiling hot -- they never get it right.

By the way a freshman is the 1st year in high school so around 14 years old (I thought that was a bit of a stretch but the actor was so good I could overlook it).
Then it is sophomore (2nd year), Junior (3rd year) and hot shot Senior 4th and final year. It seemed that Patrick had to take Shop (Woodworking) to graduate though it isn't mandatory or wasn't when I went to high school. You did however have to take 2 years of American History/2 years of foreign language/4 years of English and math and science. Still I enjoyed the clock business! In my experience a freshman wouldn't hang around with a bunch of Seniors. A freshman might know a few seniors but more than likely they wouldn't be caught dead socialising with a mere freshman. But this was years ago and it may have all changed. And we never had hazing (humiliating) of Freshmen when I went to school. It simply wasn't allowed. However Seniors were the only ones allowed through the main entrance of the school -- that was considered a great privilege. You are probably all asleep by now reading this.

Many thanks to funthing29 for letting me be her +1 so that three of us could see this. And nice to see the back row full of FMUKers.

[Ms Thrifty]

Thanks to elski and ejwrank for the background info re education - I certainly hadn't realised it was a 4-year process and that that was what high school consisted of in its entirety - despite the signpost references to a fresh start, I had somehow envisaged it being the upper years at a senior school as is the 6th form here. Now I need to read up on what on earth "homecoming" (another familiar yet fuzzy) term means... and I forgot to mention the music, which made less of an impression on me, apart from a negative one as I cannot STAND "Come On Eileen", which sounds so dreary. But I forgot about the Smiths! When the Smiths track came on, I thought "Ah, at last some decent music!" - not to mention very mood-appropriate.

I agree with funthing29 and pxc about it being long and having some false endings. I didn't mind the length but did feel it was a bit ambiguous and could perhaps have had a stronger and clearer narrative drive at that point - but then, I haven't read the book. And Ezra Miller was marvellous.

[funthing29]

1991?!!

No, I'd have said 86 or 87.

Possibly pre-Live Aid (1985) as they hadn't heard of the Bowie?

The first page of the book, in which Charlie is writing a letter to his 'friend', says August 25 1991.

It is supposed to take place 1991-92.

[Beate]

Just caught myself humming "Come on Eileen"...

[ladams888]

Saw this last night in Wandsworth. I must admit I was disappointed and didn't really enjoy it. I found the movie to be aimless; the plot never really got off the ground and I spend most of the evening wondering what the point of it all was. Not my sort of film at all. It was completely unrealistic that a group of seniors wanted to hang out with a freshman. There is a 4-year age difference. Who at the age of 18 would want to hand out with a 14/15 year old? 4/10

[Yinster]

There is a 4-year age difference. Who at the age of 18 would want to hand out with a 14/15 year old? 4/10

All the "lovely" teenagers around where OH lives all hang about. And there is definitely an age gap of about three years. All with one aim. To get drunk and probably do drugs too. So for me it is realistic.

[elski]

I thought the point was that he didn't make friends with his peers and this older group of 'misfits' as they called themselves took him under their wing. I also got the impression he might have missed some school so might have been a little bit older than his year group.

[Octopus]

prettyxcool, were you at Cineworld Shaftesbury??
I arrived around 6, and wondered if it was you that I saw but I was too shy to ask and now I feel stupid...

I didn't see the film. My friend arrived at 6.30, we went upstairs and, oh, surprise, it was full.

[havingascreen]

Just caught myself humming "Come on Eileen"...

....oh i swear oh Eileen at this moment do do do......

[asamaic]

I didn't see the film. My friend arrived at 6.30, we went upstairs and, oh, surprise, it was full.

Oh, that's a shame. I usually try to book 2 singles rather than a pair if I'm bringing someone with time issues. (Not a dig, one of my regular plus ones works in a hospital, so can't help being late sonetimes. I just go in, grab seats and dash out with her ticket when she gets there.)

Given how popular the venue is, I'm surprised they don't use a bigger screen.