The combination of the drama and romance genres has led to some of the greatest movies of all time, and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” comes close to meeting that expectation. The film delivers emotional impacts at every turn and stands as one of the few examples of a novel turned into a screenplay that maintains the best elements of both media. This is in no small part due to the skill of Stephen Chbosky, who wrote the novel and screenplay as well as directing the film.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” follows the life of Charlie (Logan Lerman) as he enters high school and deals with issues ranging from incredible peer pressure and drug use to deep secrets from his past. Along the way, he’s joined by a flamboyant classmate, Patrick (Ezra Miller) and the classmate’s sister, Sam (Emma Watson). A friendship develops between the three. Charlie’s life becomes entwined with the love lives of Patrick and Brad (Johnny Simmons) and his affection for Sam. Things come to a head as Charlie experiments with drugs and his friends’ homosexual relationship is discovered by their family and schoolmates, resulting in a very dramatic storyline with continual twists and developments.
The acting in the movie provides one of its strongest elements. Lerman creates a very sympathetic character, delivering key lines with precision and delicacy. Watson shows how far she has come since her early days as a child actress, creating a character that is deep and beautiful both inside and out. Miller and Simmons are believable as homosexual teens attempting to deal with their own feelings. The supporting cast of friends, family, and fellow students all bring further depth to the work. Notable performances from Joan Cusack as Dr. Burton, Dylan McDermott as Charlie’s father, and Kate Walsh as his mother round out the movie’s top-notch acting talent.
The cinematography in the film is one of the few blemishes on an otherwise excellent record. Chbosky’s talents as a writer and director are evident in how he manages the actors and their portrayals of the characters he has created, but jarring transitions and strange lighting choices become apparent at many points in the film. The director’s vision compensates for these weaknesses in various areas, with the strange lighting serving to force audiences to strain to look more carefully at each scene while jarring transitions keep moviegoers on their toes. Still, many viewers are likely to become disillusioned if they notice these sometimes obvious cinematography tricks instead of remaining focused on the excellent story.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is built around the quality of its writing. Chbosky’s original novel brought wonderful characters to life and entranced readers with a world all too similar to their own. The film continues this process by bringing a new take on the same story to the silver screen. The screenplay medium offers the chance for a much more focused dialogue and delivery than commonly found in novels, and Chbosky delivers on this possibility in spades. The plot flows seamlessly, even when dealing with exceptionally sensitive subject matter ranging from physical abuse to drug use or suicide. Each of these potentially problematic elements is woven expertly into a whole that provides a wonderful cohesiveness that defines the film itself. The screenplay does not follow the novel word for word, but rather envelops the whole of the original work, creating a new take on the tale.
The movie’s direction is surprisingly good as well. Chbosky takes many roles in the behind-the-scenes production of the film. History has shown that writer and director combinations can often go horribly wrong. Chbosky avoids the most common pitfalls of that combination, however, instead leading the actors to produce an excellent body of work and really animate the characters and the roles they fill in the story. Some odd cinematography choices aside, the direction is top-notch and worthy of both the cast and heady subject material of the book.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” may well set a new standard for modern drama and romance films. The movie blends together many modern hot topics, and yet still leaves room for love and hope amidst continual threats. The film is likely to find a home amongst viewers looking for a solid story with modern ties and those who seek a romance that suitably tells the story of modern high school students and the difficulties they face. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” makes a great choice for a night out with friends or an evening with an open-minded date.