Last weekend I had an eye opening experience at the movies. I went to go see the Perks of Being a Wallflower. The movie is about the experience of a brilliant student entering high school and trying to fit. After a very disappointing first day, Charlie, Logan Lerman, made two good friends in Sam and Patrick. (Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, respectively) The three of them push each other, and support each other in their own personal wars. Sam must make her way into Penn State, Charlie past his childhood, lack of friends, and Patrick must work out his secret love affair with Brad. This movie had all the components of a cheesy teenage wishy-washy movie, needless to say I wasn't too excited to see it, but at the end of the hour and forty minute movie I was completely and utterly blown away.
Probably the biggest reason the movie was so heart warming is that it touched on so many different issues, it spoke about Friendship, drugs, sexuality, family, love, and sadness. Everyone watching has at least something to relate to. Charlie's friendships are a beautiful thing, when he is most down, with no one therefore him, Sam and Patrick reach out, and when Sam needs help Charlie returns the favor. As Charlie Wither sung, "Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on", this rang strong in this movie. When Patrick is down, eschewed by Brad, Charlie steps in and the two of them grow close in the process of restoring Patrick to his normal self.
Logan Lerman had a career creating performance. He portrays Charlie as an introvert person. When they, Charlie, Sam and Patrick, are at a party towards the beginning of their friendship charlie sits in a corner, but its not simply the action its how that portrays his performance. He looks so awkward, his limbs scrunched together and yet the look on his face shows complete bliss. This really gives life to Charlies character, who although is incredibly awkward around other people, because of his old lack of friends, is okay with it because at least now he has friends. Lerman draws the viewer almost tying you to him, and when he pains, you pain making the themes all so much more powerful.
Emma Watson and Ezra Miller both had incredible performances. Emma Watson played Charlie's love. She was the bad girl, the one that goes to all the parties, gets really wasted, high, and laid, but she is such a lovable character. Partially because of the pretty face; that always helps, but also because she had such a lively personality. Her character is trying to redeem herself, trying to get away from this bad life and at this she is pitch perfect. Miller brings the most life to the movie. His character is always the happy one, the lively one, and the one that makes you smile. He brings his own energy and flair to the movie. In the scene after he gets shut out by Brad, Patrick and Charlie go out and drive about town, on the spur of the moment. Scenes like this, where no matter how hard it is Patrick still is happy and lively make his performance and character great because it brings hope to the movie.
There are many movies were the only reason the movie is at all worth watching is the cinematography. For example Hanna, which had an unoriginal story line and okayish acting but some of the best camera work of the year making it visually appealing. In Perks of Being a Wallflower, the Cinematography took back seat to the acting and story line, but even then the director, Stephen Chbosky, managed to slipped in interesting scenes. For example in the tunnel scene, the camera follows the truck up and over the bridge, revealing all of town with Sam standing on the back of the truck. It is an amazing shot because it shows all of them together can take on the world.
A point Chbosky brought up a lot through out the movie were the letters that charlie wrote to an anonymous friend, who I took to be Charlie's dead best friend because Charlie says at the beginning that felt he abandoned by Michael, his best friend, because Michael shot himself with out even writing so Charlie writes to him as a way of remembrance. The letters represent Charlies emotional status. Towards the beginning they are common, but as the movie progresses and he makes friends they become infrequent. Finally at the end, in honor of his recovery, the letters come to an end.
I would recommend this movie to just about anyone, admittedly it would be more touching for a high schooler, but because it ranges so many different topics it can be enjoyed by anyone. After watching this movie it left me in awe, I felt completely cleared and open to the world, and for me, that feeling made it incredible. Go see it.
There are many movies were the only reason the movie is at all worth watching is the cinematography. For example Hanna, which had an unoriginal story line and okayish acting but some of the best camera work of the year making it visually appealing. In Perks of Being a Wallflower, the Cinematography took back seat to the acting and story line, but even then the director, Stephen Chbosky, managed to slipped in interesting scenes. For example in the tunnel scene, the camera follows the truck up and over the bridge, revealing all of town with Sam standing on the back of the truck. It is an amazing shot because it shows all of them together can take on the world.
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