The Perks of Being a Wallflower Review!

Stories about high schoolers finding themselves through writing/music/poetry/love/life/dancing/drinking/smoking/friendship/raising their arms in triumph as a choice tune plays in the background are quite the dime a dozen now-a-days. It's gotten to the point where the moments that once seemed poignant and moving now come across as forced and cliched. It's hard not to roll one's eyes every time some teen tries to explain how that certain girl is the key to unlocking the meaning to his existence or how he wants to be something special, but feels dead inside. These stories and characters have become so stock and Hollywood-ized that it's difficult to remember just how effective they can be when they are treated with thought and care. So, thank the maker for The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a film which reminds one of the power of the coming-of-age genre when it's done right.

Perks follows the high school trials and tribulations of Charlie (Logan Lerman), an intelligent, socially awkward freshman with the dream of being a writer. (All protagonists want to be writers in these kinds of stories) His life takes a turn for the better when he meets the flamboyant, life-embracing Patrick (Ezra Miller) and his sweet, almost unbearably gorgeous stepsister Sam. (Emma Watson) The film follows their exploits, their loves, their joys, and their pains with an earnestness that is rather refreshing. Sure, there are many stock moments that every coming-of-age story feels necessary to cram within its running time in addition to some rather contrived plot points, (There's a gift giving scene about halfway through the movie that feels particularly phony) and a particularly monumental twist regarding one character's past near the film's end feels tacked on rather than a natural progression of the story. Still, when the talent both in front of and behind the camera is as passionate as what's on display here, it's hard to let such minor thoughts ruin such an affecting picture.

And speaking of which, allow me a moment to talk about the brilliant, brilliant cast. Logan Lerman, who may be best known for his role as the title character in the Percy Jackson film, is wonderful. One can't help but adore his take on Charlie and every moment of his journey feels authentic.  Emma Watson holds her own as well, proving that she has an acting career after Harry Potter, though one could hardly have doubted that much considering how wonderful she was in those movies. She perfectly encapsulates the transcendent girl that confounds and enraptures all young boys seeking out the one. Of course, much praise has been thrown at Ezra Miller who is fantastic as Patrick. I haven't seen him in his breakout role We Need to Talk About Kevin, but I'm very excited to give it a looksee. The supporting cast is also strong, but it's these three principals who carry the movie and they do so with the greatest of gusto. Their incredible performances help the film transcend its genre to become something wholly unique and rather special.

Of course, credit must also be paid to Stephen Chbosky, the writer of the source material the movie is based on as well as the writer/director of the film itself. From the talent on display here, I would never have guessed that this was Mr. Chbosky's big-screen debut. He directs with confidence and expertly adapts his material to best fit its cinematic iteration. His music choices are also spot on and lend every moment with the emotional kick they need - His use of Dexy's Midnight Runners 'Come on Eileen' during the Homecoming Dance scene was particularly inspired and hilarious. I sincerely hope he continues to make films such as this because if Perks proves anything at all, it's that he has a very promising career on the horizon.

I went into Perks feeling hopeful, but skeptical. Lately, it's been hard for me to truly enjoy the 'finding oneself and true love' genre because it seems every movie has to force its phony emotions down my throat. Perks occasionally slides into that territory, but the overall product is moving, genuine, and immensely heartfelt. It's certainly one of the finest films of 2012 and I wouldn't be surprised in the least if in a future age it becomes mentioned in the same breath as other teen classics such as The Breakfast Club.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower may not be perfect, but in this moment I swear it feels infinite.


FINAL RATING: 4/5

Dredd Film Review!

I'm not sure who was begging for a triumphant return of the Judge Dredd character to the silver screen, (And judging from the box office numbers, those crazy kids were too busy exerting justice elsewhere to fill those theater seats) but I'm kind of glad someone listened. Dredd is not particularly smart, nor subtle, nor even all that spectacular. It has a paper thin plot, little to no characterization, and plenty of your standard modern day action movie slow motion shooting sequences. Still, despite its shortcomings, Dredd is undeniably entertaining and ends up being perhaps the guiltiest guilty pleasure of 2012.

So, we're thrown into the mix of this dystopian future with a little exposition courtesy of your obligatory voiceover. We learn that crime has gotten so bad, that the duty of judge, jury, and executioner has been assigned to a law enforcement group known simply as 'Judges.' One of the most esteemed and all-around bad ass of this group is none other than Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) who is assigned to evaluate the latest recruit Judge Anderson. (Portrayed by the ever so lovely Olivia Thirlby) Long story short, they get caught in a lockdown of a large apartment complex run by the villainous Ma-Ma. (Lena Headey) They spend the majority of the movie getting caught up in all kinds of chaos and badass shootouts trying to escape the place. Like I said, simple stuff.

However, this simple stuff has quite a bit of flair to boot. The joy of this film comes in its execution. Pete Travis directs a script by Alex Garland (Of 28 Days Later screenwriting fame) as if it's the B-Movie to end all B-Movies and in some ways he succeeds. The action is top notch and thrilling and the violence is absolutely insane. Make no mistake, this is not fun for the whole family. (As some idiotic parents discovered after bringing in their five year old and removing her about half an hour into the movie) All of this would be for naught though if Karl Urban wasn't so bloody fantastic as the film's title character. Urban is slowly but surely moving through the ranks as one of the finest character actors of this generation and Dredd is no exception. He gets it. He gets the world; he gets the character and every single one-liner is delivered with nothing but purest, delectable perfection.

So, with Dredd we do not have the action movie to end all action movies. Its violence is a bit off-putting at times, but it's enough fun to be at least slightly worth your time. However, if you and your friends are drunk off your asses, you might end up being convinced that Dredd is the best picture of the year and who am I to judge you for that?


FINAL RATING: 3/5

Clips from Thomas Newman's Skyfall Score

So, we've got about four weeks until the release of the eagerly anticipated 23rd James Bond flick Skyfall. While I'm sure everyone out there is currently digging into the spectacular Bond 50 Blu-Ray boxset that was released on 9/25, clips from the Skyfall score composed by Thomas Newman have hit the interweb and they sound spectacular. This marks the first time since Tomorrow Never Dies that a composer other than David Arnold has taken the reigns for a Bond film's soundtrack. Newman is easily one of the finest composers of this day and age (His score for Road to Perdition still gives me shivers) and if these clips indicate anything, it's that we have an incredibly exciting music-listening experience to look forward to.

Check out the score snippets below and I've also included a link to Amazon.com to pre-order the soundtrack just because I love you so much. The Skyfall soundtrack is due for release on Nov. 6. Skyfall is set to release in the US of A on Friday, Nov. 9th.

Pre-Order link: http://www.amazon.com/Skyfall-Various-Artists/dp/B009FBX5M0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349805188&sr=8-1&keywords=skyfall+soundtrack

Cabin in the Woods Review!

In writing a review for the immensely entertaining and rather brilliant Cabin in the Woods, I'm presented with quite the dilemma - How do I critique and explain a film that plays better when the viewer knows less about its content? There are so many spectacular twists and turns here to the point where even mentioning what its main plot is could potentially qualify as a spoiler. Nevertheless, I will do my best to review the film regardless, so try and bear with me; this could be interesting.

With the aid of the wonderful Joss Whedon, writer/director Drew Goddard has crafted an endlessly creative thrill ride. It manages to pack great scares, laughs, and jaw-dropping action sequences into a well-paced and intelligently wrought 95 minutes. It's as much a loving tribute to horror films as it is a thoughtful dissection of the genre. It turns every possible cliche on its head, whilst simultaneously honoring nearly all the beats one comes to expect from a great scary movie, presenting them with a freshness that the genre is sorely lacking in this day and age. Every time you think you know where the movie is headed, it pulls the rug from under you and then points and laughs. It's got an excellent cast featuring the likes of the gorgeous Kristen Connolly as well as the God of Thunder himself Chris Hemsworth.

And, sadly, that's all I feel I can say about the film without beginning to delve into its ingenious plotline. So, with all that said, I'll end this review prematurely by saying Cabin in the Woods is easily one of the most enjoyable films of 2012 and quite very possibly one of the best. It's ceaseless entertainment from start to finish and what's not to love about that! Go see it if you know what's best for you and even if you don't know what's best for you, you should see it anyway.

Or I'll come find you.

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5