This may be the most grounded movie about high-school life. While I liked Perks, it's not perfect, however it's still pretty damn good.
Let's run it down: this is a period teen drama, set in the early '90s. Now, I was alive during this time, and was only a few years younger than the characters in this movie. I suppose, at the very least, I can appreciate that the characters are not cliches. Each person feels organic, and true to the era.
The soundtrack plays a heavy role in the movie, and I recommend "Evensong" by The Innocence Mission.
I'll take just a moment to mention that these kids go to the coolest high school ever, where Paul Rudd, and Tom Savini are teachers.
Anywho, I feel like I have gotten way off track. I liked the first and second act, but the movie picks up even more in the third, but it also gets heavy, like really heavy. While I appreciate that Perks tackles some serious subjects, it feels like it comes out of nowhere. We've been watching a movie about a kid and his circle of friends, then it shifts gears into child molestation. Maybe it's just me, but the topic always hits me like a ton of bricks, so I view it more critically than most, I imagine.
Overall, I think the writing was a little too busy. I mostly wanted to know about Charlie, and Sam. The interactions with their wider friend group was good, but I didn't need to know everything about them.
I look at this as an anti-John-Hughes movie, and I mean that with respect. What I mean is, while his '80s movies dealt with heavy subjects, and they were good for what they were, they didn't exist in reality. Perks feels very true, to a fault. I think if it would have shaved off a few minutes, and focused more on how Charlie's trauma affected his life, the ending wouldn't have felt like a blindside hit.
Totally worth a watch, especially for semi-outcast, extroverted teens.
The great acting, good soundtrack and solid storyline alone would already make this film a pretty good one. But the depth of the story and background of the characters gives this movie an extra layer that a lot of 'coming of age' movies lack.
First off, the acting is superb. Every character that has some role in this movie, even those without lines, is casted perfectly. The 'bad guys' and 'bullies' are not played out as villains, or stereotypes (except for the no name students.) There is no ultimate good guy, not even the main character. It looks on screen as if the characters hang out outside of their working hours as well. This resulted in the cast behaving so naturally that it didn't feel staged.
Having said all that, I have to give a special shout out to Ezra Miller who did such a good job that he probably would have played everyone from the screen whith any other cast.
The storyline is very realistic, even though there are a few turn of events that might make you wonder if you would've done the same. But remember this is a coming of age story, and making mistakes are a big part of growing up.
It does not often get predictable. Even the 'does he get the girl' part was not set in stone for me. The first schoolball is probably the most cliché part in the movie, and some of the camera techniques used. But hey this is not an art house film. :P
Every character has it's own complicated background story, but because they do not spell it out for you in full detail it makes the characters more human and appealing. It is as if you are getting to know them while the main character is getting to know them, and the obstacles within himself too.
This realistc setting and chemistry between the actors made me memorize my own time in High school and the friendships I have made there and how we/I used to be.
There is a line at the end of the movie that made this even more relevant since realized I thought something along those lines too back in those days:
"I know these will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now these moments are not stories. This is happening."
I guess if you had a bad time in High school you wouldn't have had those feelings of course. But in the end it makes saying goodbye (and especially the goodbyes in this movie) more emotional. The characters are aware of the future, and what awaits them. Luckily the movie lets you fill in what could happen afterwards for yourself.
Review by FxzaBlockedParentSpoilers2023-07-19T11:39:10Z
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a poignant coming-of-age film that peels back the layers of teenage angst and the journey of self-discovery. Centered around the introspective protagonist, Charlie, it wrestles with philosophical concepts of existentialism and authenticity that give the film a depth not often found in the teen genre.
Echoing the works of existential philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, the film grapples with the meaning of existence and the burden of freedom. Charlie, navigating the turbulent waters of high school, embodies the existential hero, thrust into a world without inherent meaning. His struggle with mental health, his relationships, and his grappling with past trauma underscores the existentialist notion of life's absurdity and the human struggle to find meaning within it.
Moreover, the movie takes on Soren Kierkegaard's concept of authenticity. Each character, in their own way, struggles with societal expectations and their true selves. From Patrick's fight for his sexual identity, Sam's quest to redefine herself beyond others' perceptions, to Charlie's own struggle to understand who he is amid his psychological challenges, the film delves into the struggle of defining one's authentic self amidst societal pressures.
Further, drawing on the teachings of Friedrich Nietzsche, the film shows that through suffering and facing our deepest fears, we can ultimately grow stronger - encapsulating Nietzsche's idea of "what does not kill me makes me stronger". Charlie's journey from a quiet, repressed introvert to a more open, self-assured individual underscores this concept of growth through hardship.
Finally, the film's emphasis on friendship and human connection beautifully aligns with Aristotle's concept of "philia" - deep, platonic love or friendship. Aristotle viewed "philia" as one of the highest forms of love - a mutual, selfless bond that leads to ultimate happiness. The friendship between Charlie, Sam, and Patrick exemplifies this, showing how their bond becomes a healing force in their lives.
In summary, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is an introspective exploration of adolescence that brings philosophical concepts to life in a tangible, relatable way. It is a film that shows the pain, the joy, and the profound self-discovery that comes with growing up. It is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the transformative power of friendship and love.