One of the main ‘perks’ of the picture is its cast, relative
newcomers Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller deliver stunning performances of
incredible complexity, the character of Charlie is a multifaceted one, one that
grows more and more complicated as the film progresses, initially he seems very
simple and uninteresting, as if he has nothing to offer the new exciting world
of interesting characters he becomes enveloped in. However the dynamic of the
film is the total opposite, the characters that Charlie meets are not nearly as
interesting as him. His loves and passions are more genuine than theirs; his
lack of sexual experience is redundant in comparison to the weight of true emotional
burden that he has suffered through childhood abuse, in contrast the so-called
‘experienced’ Sam.
Sam, played by Emma Watson, desperate to shed herself from the long locks
of Hermione Granger, quite literally, is such a beautiful character to witness.
A girl of such professed experience and free spirit, yet played immaculately in
all her insecurities and fragilities, she is the perfect fit for Charlie, as
they are both as naïve and inexperienced of true love as each other, and their
friendship develops into a relationship of real truth that neither of them have
yet found.
The strength of ‘Perks’ it is emotional depth, delivered in such
simple brush strokes, it hits you hard and stays with you longer than you might
think. The innocence and sweetness of a boy like Charlie is so seldom found in
modern film making and literature for that matter, he is so earnest and of good
heart without being a hero or a martyr, he is truly lonely and unhappy but not
complaining about it, he is brave in his sadness and tries hard to soldier
through life. The fact that Charlie doesn’t know the true extent of his
tortured past, gives weight to such revelations when we the audience discover
them. He is pure love and innocence corrupted and therefore damaged. But he is
not ruined, he is not unfixable, which is where the beauty of the film lies.
No matter what you’re past or circumstance, there’s always hope of
changing them, that things will get better. You cannot choose your family, but
you can choose your friends. The friendship between Charlie, Sam and Patrick is
so genuine and uncontrived that you feel as assured as Charlie that this is
real, and you care for all of them. You care for Patrick and hope he figures it
all out, you even hope he makes it work with Brad. You care if Sam gets into
College, you even feel for Mary-Elizabeth when she is heart broken. The fact is
that the people that Charlie has surrounded himself with outside his family are
all great people who have his best interests and care for him, reinforced by his
paternal relationship with his English teacher played by Paul Rudd.
‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ is a rare film, for all its clichés
it is one of the few films that truly articulates with flourishing authenticity
the sheer confusion of teenage life, the malady that plays within all of
us, the sadness in all our lives, the pain that never leaves us and effects
every decision we make, it is like a beautiful song or poem in its
gracefulness, which is why music plays such an important role in the film. The
songs on the soundtrack are not selected at random; they are the songs that
save us, the songs that keep our heads above the water. ‘Asleep’ by ‘The Smiths’
and ‘Heroes’ by ‘David Bowie’ are more than songs for Charlie and Sam, they are
salvation, articulation of their own fears and desires and consolidation that
in their own pains there is hope that tomorrow offers new life, new friends,
new opportunities and hope for all of us.
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