8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Kate WalshRomance | 100% |
Teen | 95% |
Coming of age | 63% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
It’s probably unfair to compare The Perks of Being a Wallflower to Donnie Darko in any way, shape or form. Wallflower doesn’t feature any science fiction or fantasy elements, no alternate reality, no real (onscreen) death and destruction (save for one fleeting image) and most importantly no giant menacing bunny. Still, for reasons which may be more subliminal than rational, I couldn’t help but think of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Donnie and his trials in trying to navigate the wild and wooly world of high school as I watched Logan Lerman’s Charlie undergoing a similar set of tribulations. Perhaps the comparison is at least a little apt since both Donnie and Charlie suffer from certain emotional disturbances, and in both films the boys are on psychotropic drugs that may or may not be ameliorating or exacerbating their inner torment. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is ostensibly the more “realistic” film, but some may feel that its overly sanguine look at a misfit teen finding his own niche in high school society is at least as much a work of fantasy as anything that happens in Donnie Darko. Based on the well received 1999 novel (brought out by MTV Books) by Stephen Chbosky (who adapted and directed this film version), The Perks of Being a Wallflower is probably going to speak most clearly to those who have relatively recently completed their own circuit through the obstacle course of high school. Older viewers may find it overly contrived, too precious for its own good, and potentially hobbled by a wobbly transition from its source as a so- called epistolary novel. The film may ultimately be best remembered for some nicely nuanced performances, including Emma Watson in a role seemingly designed to help erase any lingering image of Hermione Granger that has been firmly imprinted for years in filmgoers’ minds.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. It's actually a little shocking to see that this was a Super 35 shot film, for large swaths of Wallflower look incredibly soft and undefined, almost to 16mm levels. While there isn't the concomitant graininess that 16mm usually offers, this is really one of the least sharp looking contemporary (as opposed to catalog) releases I personally can remember. Adding a bit of insult to injury is wildly inconsistent contrast, which varies from being pushed to the point of milkiness to underperforming in several dimly lit interior scenes to the point where nothing other than general visual information can be discerned. This may sound like The Perks of Being a Wallflower looks horrible, but that's actually not the case. In the brightly lit school scenes (the cafeteria sequences, for example), things pop quite nicely and when we get close-ups in those scenes, fine detail is commendable. But this is overall a weirdly soft and murky looking release.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower features an ingratiating if not overly aggressive lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that springs to life when the source cues are played and in several crowded sequences, where we get a really good recreation of aural depth of field and discrete channelization. The huge majority of the film plays pretty resolutely in the front channels, though, especially with regard to Charlie's narration (which is understandable), but also generally even in sequences where one might expect more "rear guard" action with regard to at least some ambient environmental effects. That said, fidelity is fine and dynamic range has a bit of elasticity due especially to some noisier scenes like the dance and the party.
My hunch is if you're under 30 (and even better, close to 20), you're probably going to love The Perks of Being a Wallflower, warts and all. Those of us who have crossed the dreaded threshold into middle age will probably be less inclined to overlook the film's flaws. The best thing about this outing is the fine acting by Lerman, Watson and a dedicated supporting cast. But Chbonsky might have needed a little "outside help" to more fully realize the transition from printed page to celluloid.
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