Being the 3rd favorite movie for me last year, I don’t think I gave enough credit for The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012). Based on a novel with the same name, the movie is filled with excellent cast and is about coming of age story of an awkward kid in high school. And I don’t think the movie gets lots of recognition from big prestigious awards either. If you haven’t check it out, you should definitely do it now. What I love about this movie :
1. The friendship story. Charlie is the innocent kid that seem to be a bully target, but he ended up hanging out with two seniors, who is cool enough making him to their inside group. While high school is known for the ridiculous social groups, but the gang don’t have the childish thought.
2. The quote “We accept the love we think we deserve.”
3. The chemistry between Logan Lerman (Charlie), Emma Watson (Sam) and Ezra Miller (Patrick). Each have their own characteristics and all likeable, they somehow blend perfectly and you would believe if you see them as a very close friends if you don’t know them.
4. The goofy trio dance in the prom night
5. The cool soundtrack. You’ll like it if you love ’90s music as me.
6. It doesn’t change much from the novel. Perhaps the benefit of the author, Stephen Chbosky, being also the director, is that he wouldn’t change the story.
7. Ezra Miller as Patrick. As the humorous senior who turned out to be gay, he showed his cool and mellow side at the same time. After We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011), Ezra Miller showed a lot of range and potential and now being one of my favorite young actors.
8. Paul Rudd as Mr. Anderson. I must say I have someone more serious in mind playing as Charlie’s favorite teacher, but he’s quite good as him.
9. Emma Watson’s glorious moment through the tunnel with Heroes by David Bowie as the music background. She looks simply beautiful and though her activity can be counted as dangerous and rebel, she looked quite goddess-like.
10. It showed that being yourself gets you closer with the right people. That’s right, it’s ok if you didn’t join the football/cheerleader/prestigious groups in high school. All you need is good best friends, and you’re good.
11. The quote, “We are infinite.”
12. It shows a lot of questions and confusions in high school, especially about relationships and dreams.
13. It’s a perfect transitional role for Emma Watson from a good girl to bad girl. After being Sam, she played one of the crime gang in The Bling Ring (2013). Watson surely knows what role to pick and where to go.
14. The script and plot are simple and sometimes innocent, but gives the effect of heartwarming and filled with lots of wisdom
15. It represents the time when music really counts (like high school), and the way it appreciates good music.
16. Sam’s dialog to Charlie the night before she leaves, were both romantic and was such an honest moment.
17. Teaches one big lesson; to always be honest with ourselves.
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Thoughts are very much welcome. Do you have any additional points why you love this movie too? Or not?
