Surprisingly brilliant, poetic with a powerful ending.

Rating: 8/10 (13 October 2012)

Having not read the novel & knowing very little about this movie other than the trailers & positive rotten tomatoes rating I took a punt on this movie. At first it appears like a typical coming of age teenage angst college drama. You know about the bullied kid who learnt how to confront his bullies & win the day. Forget it its nothing like that. Its a carefully crafted grown up movie about 3 teenagers, & how their lives have been affected by their different experiences. Its a performance centred movie with affecting performances,comedy that is befitting of the characters & some very touching moments. Its a movie that as you watch are unsure where its leading to or whether it is actually going to lead to anything of any meaning. I have to admit I didn't see the ending coming but when it does all that seemed insignificant & just part of filling the movie preceding the climax becomes of major significance & hits you with an emotional wallop. Without giving the ending away be prepared to be emotionally torn up. Even the peripheral characters in this movie in those final scenes take on greater importance & only add to the emotional climax. There's some wonderfully poetically moving voice-over from the Story's main character which is stirring spine tinglingly memorable stuff. It stirrs you from within & completes the movie in befitting fullfiling way. Surprisingly better than you may expect. Do yourself a favour & go see this movie.