壁花男孩/The perks of being a wallflower

這部片在IMDB和Rotten Tomatoes上評價很高，尤其當我在IMDB上搜尋我喜愛的片時，又經常出現在“喜歡這部片的人也喜歡...”的名單中，順理成章也成為我的候選電影之一。但不知怎地，就一直不是非看不可的片。或許是因為艾瑪．華生的關係？這麼說真是很不公平，不過哈利波特電影第一部，主角們的演技讓我對哈利波特系列完全失去胃口！對於這些演員的其他作品就失去興趣了。然而馬克在看了這部片後非常推薦，還傳了他最喜歡的片段給我，基於我們倆電影喜好相似度高達99%，終於我也看了這部電影。

這是一部關於一群與主流高中生活格格不入的高中生故事。雖然是高中生的故事，但故事主軸處理的議題卻是人生任一階段都會面對的：希望被群體接納找到歸屬感、與好友們互相支持努力前行克服生活中大大小小的憂愁與困難。沒有過多青春的愚蠢與放肆，這樣的電影其實很能引起觀眾的共鳴。而成熟的議題藉由青少年的身份探討與表達，未來的希望顯得更加明亮。

艾瑪．華生的演技讓我大為驚艷。雖然我覺得這部片她演得有點太用力（剛好看這部片前幾天看到《偷穿高跟鞋》演員訪問談演技的部分）—如果情感能夠內斂些，更能讓人回味，但整體來說，我還是很滿意她的表現。

電影的配樂超級對我的味。附上的Youtube影片是「壁花男孩」裡我最喜歡的舞會場景的音樂。珊和派翠克聽到舞會現場播出Dixy's Mindnight Runners的Come On Eileen，盡情忘我的大跳雙人舞。舞會裡的壁花查理，在一旁默默看著他們享受當下時刻，內心深處似乎有個「什麼」被碰觸了。他下定決心鼓起勇氣邁出步伐走向他們，而珊和派翠克也展開雙臂歡迎他的加入。從此，他們的生命有了交集與變化。

而現在，每當聽到這首歌，我也漸漸地覺得充滿勇氣。

This film has quite high ratings on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.  Especially whenever I search the movies that I love on IMDB, it usually shows up in the "People who like this movie also like..." list.  Hence it was added to my watchlist.  But somehow it was never my "must-see".  Probably it was because of Emma Watson.  It is not fair to say that, but after watching the first Harry Potter movie, the acting of the three main characters made me lose my appetite for the series.  But Mark highly recommended me this film, and even sent me his favorite part.  Since we have very similar taste on movies, I decided to give this movie a chance.

This is a movie about a group of high school students who don't fit in the main stream high school life.  Although it is about high school students, the theme of this movie is pretty mature.  The issues being discussed here can be faced in every stage of life: trying to find a group that we belong to, and trying to overcome all sorts of difficulties together with friends.  Without the usual stupidness that you find in any typical high school movies, this movie is easy for audience at all age to relate to.  And the hopefulness, delivered via those teenagers at the end of the movie, becomes more hopeful.

The acting of Emma Watson suprised me.  Still I felt her acting was a bit too much (sorry, few days before watching this movie, I just watched an interview of an actor from In Her Shoes talking about acting), but overall she performed very well in this film.

I love the soundtrack a lot.  The music video above is from my favorite scene.  Sam and Patrick enjoyed the moment when the song Come On Eileen from Dixy's Mindnight Runners was played.  They danced like no one is watching.  Charlie, who was always ignored in situations like this,  stood next to the wall, watching them dancing.  Somewhere in his heart seemed to be touched.  He made up his mind; he had to turn things around this time.  He summoned up his courage, slowly walking toward them.  Sam and Patrick opened their arms, welcomed his joining.  Ever since their lives connected and never be the same.

And now, everytime I hear this song, I am also gradually filled with courage.