9. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Summit EntertainmentThe Perks of Being a Wallflower is based on the cult book of the same name. When released it was heralded as the Catcher in the Rye for the new generation, except the main character isnt as insufferable. Charlie is our adorable wallflower protagonist, who finds it difficult making friends when he begins his freshman year of high school. He gets somewhat adopted by two seniors, and so we follow an ever more depressing road of revelation wherein we realise that each kid has a dark past. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was a cult book for a damn good reason, and will undoubtedly go down in history as Generation Ys definitive coming-of-age novel. Films of books rarely touch the original genius, but the film of The Perks of Being a Wallflower doesnt do a bad job. Charlie becomes introduced to what Emma Watsons character, Sam, and friends called the island of misfit toys, which is essentially a group of proto-hipsters. They listen to The Smiths and talk about Hemingway; they perform the Rocky Horror Picture Show and one of them is a Buddhist punk. Charlie becomes better friends with these misfit toys as his Freshman and their Senior year goes on, and slowly but surely we discover the trials that each teenager has gone through. The story is a tear-jerker without a doubt, so be sure to have some tissues on hand, but its not maudlin in its presentation. Everybody has their problems, and just getting on with it can be the hardest thing a kid can do, but Perks is almost defiant in the belief that it can be done. A great film for feeling infinite.