Column: Movie Mondays
Stephan Chbosky, the director who brought us Wonder and the upcoming Dear Evan Hansen, has done it again with the film I will be talking about today, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
The most clear film description was found by doing a quick Google search:
“Socially awkward teen Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two charismatic students become his mentors. Free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller) help Charlie discover the joys of friendship, first love, music and more, while a teacher sparks Charlie's dreams of becoming a writer. However, as his new friends prepare to leave for college, Charlie's inner sadness threatens to shatter his newfound confidence.”
The film brings light to mental illness, teen drama, and the awkward introvertedness of young love. Actors Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller take on the roles of Sam, Charlie, and Patrick in this coming of age romance/drama film. Their performances bring chills down my spine throughout the movie with the ending scene providing so much raw emotion from Logan Lerman that it made me empathize with him even though I am not even remotely close to his position.
It is an important movie that should be seen by any teen or adult because it is absolutely bewitching. This film captures the beauty of real teenage life by shedding light on the stress, insecurities, and doubt that goes through our minds every second of every day. This realness captivates the viewer and makes the film even more intriguing to watch.
Though my thoughts on this film are mainly positive, the ending (don’t worry there won’t be any spoilers here), I just did not get. It was all jumbled up and kind of rushed, and maybe it was just me needing some explanation, but I'm sure some might feel the same.
The cinematographer captures the essence of loneliness through childhood trauma with a simple, yet intricate, shot of Charlie (Logan Lerman) walking down the street, while foreshadowing his past.
Overall, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must watch and will always be a fan favorite. The acting, directing, and cinematography was mesmerizing. This all affects the way you look at the film itself.
How I wish I could go back and watch it for the first time all over again.