about that "wallflower"

Finished the book in one sitting.

And I have to say that this is one of the few adaptations that the movie is way better than the book. Let the book club whores bat their eyelashes against this statement but it’s true. High fidelity comes in close second.

It also helps that Stephen Chbosky, the writer  directed the film. He successfully gave us a bird’s eye view of what he was envisioning for the story flow and the buildup of the characters. So you know that those purists don’t have the right to bash how the film is overrated and does not live up to the book because in the first place, you are already arguing with the writer. HE WROTE IT AND GAVE US A PEEK ON THE REAL STORY INSIDE HIS HEAD GODDAMIT.

Then there’s the cast.. What can I say? The actors gave out a believable take on the characters. Especially Ezra Miller. Now they have faces when we think of those letters. And what wonderful faces, I might add.

There were a lot of cut-aways that were done unexpectedly, considering that the book was a collection of letters to Charlie’s imaginary friend. Like the emphasis on the importance of the tunnel song. The movie breathed life to that scene, making it the best symbol of being free…or in Chbosky’s words, infinite. I don't mean that as a bad thing though.

Even those simple scenes where Charlie was introduced to Sam in the football game bleachers. Emma Watson asked Patrick; “Patrick, who’s this?” Not on the book, but perfectly placed. The repetition of that famous quote “we accept the love we think we deserve”  as delivered by Charlie to Sam was not in the book, but was strategically used to show us how Charlie is growing up in his own little way. And how Bill or Mr. Anderson in the movie is influencing/inspiring him (though he was not given enough credit except for that scene).

There’s even that dance where the step-siblings strutted coolly to the tune of Come On Eileen where Patrick/Nothing exclaimed “they’re playing good music!”.  What a welcome addition to let us see the dynamics of their relationship. Extremely close, carefree and discriminating when it comes to taste in music. Hipsters in the making, eh?

One will argue the importance of Charlie’s parents’ upbringing style in the book. Then again, there is a big reason why the writer-slash-director did not dwell on it and just let them be like Charlie Brown’s parents = paper cut portrayals of ordinary suburban parents: To shift our focus mainly on Charlie and his new found social life. How they tackle adolescent issues with their own mechanisms. This is a teen movie after all but done right.

Props to the lighthearted delivery that Stephen Chbosky employed in this book. I have never read a book in one sitting. My attention span needs rewiring every now and then and this piece of literature had me roped down to the last page.