The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

If you've ever been or still are chronically prudent in your demeanor, taking quite some time to spread your wings and take the chances you thought were wrong or questionable for so many reasons, this movie is a must see for you. You'll find yourself exploring the many facets of being a "wallflower" and of course all the perks of being one, realizing that these rare species of people are who they are for so many reasons and really could be the standouts of the party even if they weren't really trying. All it takes is one dip into the pond, but the ripples you make may be felt far and wide by others and even yourself.

Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a social recluse and outcast wherever life takes him and he's  just about to start high school, hoping with all his heart that everything will be different after the loss of his best friend, who took his own life over a year ago and left Charlie all alone. Charlie seems to have a healthy, happy relationship with his family but he seems to have and odd attachment to his deceased Aunt Helen (Melanie Lynskey) who he considers to be his favorite person in the world. He has recurring flashbacks about the day she died which have haunted him ever since her death but he doesn't understand why these flashbacks are popping up in his head and what detail of their relationship he either can't discern or chooses not to. On his first day of high school, the only friend Charlie manages to make is his English teacher, Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd) who subsequently gives him some of his personal favorite books to read and write essays about. Charlie finds Mr. Anderson's actions incredibly endearing and really takes a liking to completing essays and learning something new about life from the literature he devours. Lucky for him, he won't be lonely for too long and on a day like any other while at his high school's football game, Charlie meets Sam (Emma Watson) and her step-brother Patrick (Ezra Miller) who invite him to sit with them and happen to be the first to not scold him for being a freshman or any of his other attributes despite being seniors themselves. Soon enough, Charlie finds himself taking part in the experiences of any other high-schooler and really gets to experience the world outside his bedroom window and take in all the quintessential elements of a clique, from the drama and adrenaline to the relationships and heartaches. However, as each precious day passes, Charlie becomes more and more aware that the days he spends with his new-found friends are numbered, especially after the incessant conversations between the seniors about their plans for college as well as past it. It starts to grow on him that this isn't an everlasting friendship and after their departure, he'll just be the same introverted kid who no one seems to notice. But as the flashbacks come back time and time again, we are left wondering what is the secret Charlie harbors deep down inside and if it will ultimately destroy him or serve as yet another revelation to be learned from and taken into account for the future; for there's no way to turn back time but a definite need to peel away the layers which taint your soul and inhibit you from liberating yourself and showing the world the wonder that you are.

Never was a movie set in high school so sincerely produced and exposed to the naked eye. Wildly entertaining and profound, the movie was moving along at a comfortable pace and I never found myself shifting my focus from the screen. As a big fan of the book, I thought that the movie was very much near perfect in adaptation and staunch in the overall purpose and effect it chose to achieve on the screen. I did think that the scene between Charlie and Sam near the end probably should've been extended to match the revelatory status and conviction that it served in the novel, but I do understand that it's impossible to adapt all the details and events of a novel into a film and Stephen Chbosky did a great job in preserving the substance and gist of the story to the maximum extent.

Compelling in every way, from the story to the characters, I thought the starring cast could not have been any better and every single thespian was mind-blowing in their respective roles and dramatic performances. The stand-out role was without a doubt played by the incandescent and wonderfully audacious Ezra Miller; his interpretation of Patrick was dead-on and I found his character to be an uplifting presence in a film which is so emotionally profound and haunting underneath it all. It is a coming-of-age story with a distinct twist to it which has probably never been shown from this particular angle, and each and every character including the central focus, Charlie, can be relatable on many different levels even if neither of us had to go through what Charlie experienced in his short life.

I was overly impressed by the shooting techniques used for the production in order to induce a vividly nostalgic feel to the film, such as the lighting technique which could be described as a candle lit effect given to each and every frame, which in turn gives an impression of an aged film strip or photograph like one you might find in your parents' old photo albums. Beautiful, reminiscent and slightly melancholic in taste is exactly the kind of flavor this picture needed to accomplish its goal of appeal to the adolescents of today and yesterday. A touch of haziness was also present in the party scenes and the scenes where the bunch would all get together for whatever adventure they took on, and I thought that to be a necessity and a warm touch overall, considering the sensations we have all felt at any party or event in our youth, reflecting quite closely the realistic quality of an experience as perceived by a young individual who is looking for that rush of adrenaline and a sense of rebellion and self-expression whether it is caused by peer pressure or free will.

Taking into account that this story is immensely jarring on an emotional level and stirs up a cauldron of emotion deep in your heart, it does have many morals and lessons to be learned from and no, taking drugs doesn't have to be the solution to loosening up in a social setting and becoming accepted. Just be yourself... there's your first piece of wisdom. From the very first moment of Charlie's inclusion in Sam and Patrick's group of friends, he has always conformed to the rules and did what was expected of him and as Sam pointed out to him just before she left for college, this was his biggest mistake during the entire time she's known him. Charlie had a tendency to overthink situations and did what he thought was right instead of being unforgiving for once and actually doing something he has longed to do for a very long time which was asking Sam out on a date. He wasn't being himself and as a result, Sam didn't think he was the guy for her because he wasn't showing his true colors or the different quirks and qualities that made him who he is today. She on the other hand is an open book and isn't afraid to speak her mind despite the many problems and regrets she has from her freshman year which could have defined her for the rest of her high school career if she didn't step up and change her life around. Be in charge of yourself and what you want and need, but try not to be a stuck up snob while you're at it and turn all your friends away just because their thought processes are miles apart from yours. That is what makes each of us so unique and captivating to our peers. We mustn't be afraid to confide our troubles or fears in others because that is how we grow closer and develop a long-lasting friendship. We must be not only be able, but determined to accept others for who they are without further judgment and try to learn from their mistakes, reaching out a helping hand to the people who we love the most if they are in need of our help and support at a critical point in their lives. Your actions will be returned to you later on if those you help are truly your friends, which makes this an effective and brilliant way to weed out those who aren't worthy of your company or effort; which moves us on to the next point: the vulnerability of the growing mind.

This film is a great reminder of the volatile nature of an adolescent mind where mood swings, peer pressure and reckless behavior is at its peak psychologically, not to mention if the individual has had a difficult childhood and not but one friend who left them in the most horrific of circumstances. A mind like that is bound to have thoughts which might seem incomprehensible to adults and as a result do not get addressed properly, pushing those kids to the edge of their sanity and left wondering if anyone will ever understand them or offer them some helpful advice or support during a miserable or stressful period in their life. And no adult ever explains to their pre-teens or teenagers what self harm means and how to avoid this before it gets out of hand and tragedy strikes. During this stage in a human's development, the mind can't really weigh all of the consequences of a certain action and the negative influence of peers also may prompt that individual into making the wrong choices which lead to regret in the near future. Of course every one of us makes mistakes but the best way to protect ourselves from harm's way and prevent others from going down the same road is to educate people about the issues and incidents which happen around us, from the cause to the cure, and really push forward the notion that it is alright to tell an adult if something is bothering you because in so many cases it just leads to suffering and even demise.

Overall, it's a magical film of self-discovery, self-revelation and liberation, which no doubt will have relevancy for many more generations and could be considered a timeless classic upon its release. I loved it from the first moment to the last and I hope you will too. Life is a rollercoaster but if we prepare ourselves for it, we will have one hell of a time while it lasts. Stay infinite everyone and remember that it's never too late to enjoy life and cherish every moment of your existence and those who you love and who love you in return.