The Perks of Being a Wallflower (film)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

A boy standing next to a girl, who is leaning her head on the shoulder of a second boy, in front of a lime green wall and below the words "we are infinite".

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Stephen Chbosky
Produced by
Screenplay by Stephen Chbosky
John Hughes (uncredited)
Based on The Perks of Being a Wallflower 
by Stephen Chbosky
Starring
Music by Michael Brook
Cinematography Andrew Dunn
Edited by Mary Jo Markey
Production
company
Distributed by Summit Entertainment
Release dates
  • September 8, 2012 (TIFF)
  • September 21, 2012 (United States)
Running time
 103 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $13 million[2]
Box office $33.4 million[3]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a 2012 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film, and an adaptation of the 1999 epistolary novel of the same name; it was written and directed by the novel's author, Stephen Chbosky. Filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the film was released on September 21, 2012, to positive critical response and commercial success, earning $33 million worldwide. The film stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. This is one of the three films from John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon and Russell Smith's Mr. Mudd Productions that feature struggling teenagers; the other two are Ghost World and Juno.[3][4][5][6] Like the novel, Perks has developed a cult following in recent years.[7]

Plot

Charlie (Logan Lerman) is uneasy about beginning his freshman year of high school; he is shy and finds difficulty in making friends, but he connects with his English teacher, Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd).

Charlie sits with two seniors, Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller), at a football game, and they invite him to tag along to several social activities with them. At a party Charlie unwittingly eats a cannabis brownie, gets high and discloses to Sam that the year before his best friend committed suicide. He also walks in on Patrick and Brad (Johnny Simmons), a popular athlete, kissing. Sam realizes that Charlie has no other friends so she and Patrick make a special effort to bring Charlie into their group of friends. Sam needs to improve her SAT scores to be accepted to Pennsylvania State University, so Charlie offers to tutor her. On the way home from the party, the three hear a song they are unfamiliar with ("Heroes" by David Bowie), and Sam instructs Patrick to drive through a tunnel so she can stand up in the back of the pickup while the music blasts.

For Christmas, Sam gives Charlie a vintage typewriter to help his aspirations of being a writer. The two discuss relationships, and Charlie reveals he has never been kissed. Sam, though already involved with someone else, tells Charlie she wants his first kiss to be from someone who loves him, and kisses him. Charlie, in love with Sam, begins to try to find ways to show her how he feels.

At a regular Rocky Horror Picture Show performance, Charlie is asked to fill in for Sam's boyfriend Craig, who is unavailable. Their friend Mary Elizabeth (Mae Whitman) is impressed and asks Charlie to the Sadie Hawkins dance. Charlie goes along with the resulting relationship to avoid hurting Mary Elizabeth's feelings, but grows more and more irritated by the situation. Finally, at a party, when Charlie is dared to kiss the most beautiful girl in the room, he chooses Sam, upsetting both her and Mary Elizabeth. Patrick recommends Charlie stay away from the group for a while, and the isolation causes him to sink back into depression. He experiences flashbacks of his favorite Aunt Helen (Melanie Lynskey), who died in a car accident when he was seven years old.

Brad shows up to school with a black eye after being caught by his father having sex with Patrick, but he lies that he was jumped and beaten up. Brad distances himself from Patrick, calling him a "faggot", leading Patrick to out him. Brad's friends begin beating Patrick when Charlie forcefully intervenes, but then blacks out. He recovers to find he has bruised knuckles and Brad's friends are on the floor, incapacitated. Charlie threatens, "Touch my friends again, and I'll blind you," then leaves. Charlie reconciles with Sam and Patrick.

Sam is accepted into Penn State, and breaks up with Craig on prom night after learning he has been cheating on her. The night before she departs, she brings Charlie to her room and asks him "Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing?" to which he repeats advice he received from Mr. Anderson, "We accept the love we think we deserve". They confide in each other and kiss, but when Sam touches Charlie's thigh, he experiences a momentary flashback of his Aunt Helen, which he passes off as nothing, and they continue to kiss. After she leaves for college, though, his emotional state deteriorates and his flashbacks worsen; when he calls his sister blaming himself for Helen's death, and admitting he may have wished it upon her, his sister realizes he is in trouble and calls the police. Charlie passes out as they burst through the door and wakes up in a hospital, where psychiatrist Dr. Burton (Joan Cusack) manages to bring out Charlie's repressed memories of his aunt sexually abusing him.

Through therapy, Charlie recovers and returns home where he is visited by Sam and Patrick. Sam explains what college life is like, and reveals she has identified the song from the tunnel. The three drive through the tunnel again, with Charlie in the back of the pickup this time. He kisses Sam, and acknowledges that he feels alive in that moment and declares "We are infinite."

Cast

Project development

John Hughes read the novel and attempted to write a screenplay after he got the rights from Chbosky; he never finished the screenplay. Hughes was going to use the project as a directorial comeback with a more dark comedy style with dramatic elements. He had in mind while writing the screenplay particular actors: Shia LaBeouf as Charlie; Kirsten Dunst (The Virgin Suicides) as Sam; and Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) as Patrick.

Other filmmakers who were interested in the project are Ron Howard, Richard Linklater, Josh Schwartz, McG, Joel Schumacher, Ryan Murphy and British filmmaker Danny Boyle.

Mr. Mudd Productions (producers of Juno) became interested in the project and sought out Stephen Chbosky to adapt the film. The producers—John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon, and Russell Smith—hired Chbosky to write a screenplay adaptation and to direct the film. Chbosky found value in half of Hughes screenplay so he negotiated for the rights from Hughes' family and added his own touches. In January 2011, Summit acquired distribution rights.[8] The following month, Summit sought a buyer for the project at the European Film Market held simultaneously with the Berlin International Film Festival.[9]

In May 2010, actors Logan Lerman and Emma Watson were reported as in talks for the project[10] and confirmed the following year.[11] In April 2011, Mae Whitman signed on as Mary Elizabeth and Nina Dobrev was cast as Candace. Paul Rudd was cast as Bill later that month.[12] On May 9, 2011, Kate Walsh announced that she was cast in the film as Charlie's mother and had begun filming.[13]

Filming

The film was shot in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area from May 9 to June 29, 2011.[14] Initial filming began in Pittsburgh's South Hills, including South Park, Upper St. Clair, and Peters Township High School.[15][16]

The Rocky Horror Picture Show scenes were filmed at The Hollywood Theater in Dormont[17] after Chbosky learned that the theater was re-opening; he had seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show there when younger.[18]

The film also has scenes within Pittsburgh city limits inside the Fort Pitt Tunnel, Fort Pitt Bridge on Interstate 376 and on Mount Washington.[19]

Music

Soundtrack

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Released August 1, 2012
Genre Alternative rock, dream pop, new wave, jangle pop, pop rock, folk rock
Length 51:58
Label Atlantic Records
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
No. TitleMusic Length
1. "Could It Be Another Change?"  The Samples 3:27
2. "Come On Eileen"  Dexys Midnight Runners 4:12
3. "Tugboat"  Galaxie 500 3:54
4. "Temptation"  New Order 5:22
5. "Evensong"  The Innocence Mission 3:40
6. "Asleep"  The Smiths 4:10
7. "Low"  Cracker 4:34
8. "Teen Age Riot"  Sonic Youth 6:57
9. "Dear God"  XTC 3:36
10. "Pearly Dew Drops Drop"  Cocteau Twins 4:10
11. "Charlie's Last Letter"  Michael Brook 1:48
12. "'Heroes'"  David Bowie 6:08
Chart (2012/2013) Peak
position
US Billboard Top Soundtracks[20] 7

Score

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Original Motion Picture Score)
Soundtrack album by Michael Brook
Released September 25, 2012
Genre Score
Length 23:41
Label Lionsgate Records
Original Motion Picture Score
No. TitleMusic Length
1. "First Day"  Michael Brook 2:32
2. "Home Again"  Michael Brook 1:40
3. "Charlie Speaks"  Michael Brook 2:03
4. "Candace"  Michael Brook 1:46
5. "Charlie's Gifts"  Michael Brook 0:55
6. "Kiss Breakdown"  Michael Brook 5:12
7. "Acid"  Michael Brook 3:12
8. "Charlie's First Kiss"  Michael Brook 3:34
9. "Shard"  Michael Brook 2:47

Release

The film was scheduled to be released on September 14, 2012, but it was announced in August 2012 that it would be released a week later, on September 21, 2012, in selected cities.[21] The film continued to expand on September 28, 2012, with a nationwide release on October 12, 2012. The UK premiere was on September 23[22] at the Cambridge Film Festival.

Rating

The film originally received an R rating for "teen drug and alcohol use, and some sexual references". The filmmakers appealed and the MPAA changed it to PG-13 for "mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight—all involving teens".[23]

Box office

The Perks of Being a Wallflower received a limited release of four theaters in the United States on September 21, 2012, and grossed $228,359 on its limited opening weekend, averaging $57,089 per theater. The film earned $17,742,948 in North America and $15,641,179 in other countries, for a worldwide total of $33,384,127.[3][24][25]

Reception

Critical response

The film received mainly positive reviews. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a "Certified Fresh" score of 85%, based on reviews from 151 critics, with an average score of 7.4/10. The site's consensus states: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a heartfelt and sincere adaptation that's bolstered by strong lead performances."[26] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 based on reviews from critics, the film has a score of 67 based on 36 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27]

The lead cast also received positive notices. Ian Buckwalter of The Atlantic said "The primary trio of actors delivers outstanding performances, starting with Watson, who sheds the memory of a decade playing Hermione in the Harry Potter series with an about-face as a flirtatious but insecure free spirit. Miller also plays against his most recent performance, which was as the tightly wound eponymous teenage psychopath in We Need to Talk About Kevin, to deliver a giddy, scene-stealing turn as Patrick. Lerman, best known from the Percy Jackson series, shines as Charlie, a role that demands he be immediately likeable while still holding onto some deep darkness that can't be fully revealed until the end."[28]

John Anderson of Newsday also praised the cast saying "As Sam, the quasi-bad girl trying to reinvent herself before college, she (Emma Watson) brings honesty and a lack of cliche to a character who might have been a standard-issue student. But equally fine are her co-stars: Ezra Miller, who plays the gay character Patrick as something messy and unusual; Paul Rudd, as their English teacher, is refreshingly thoughtful. And Charlie is portrayed by Lerman as quietly observant, yearning and delicate in a way that will click with audiences regardless of age".[29]

Some critics had a less positive response to the film, with the main criticism being that the portrayal of teenage issues is idealized and the casting uninspired. The Miami Herald critic Connie Ogle notes that "the suicide of Charlie’s best friend, which takes place before the film opens, seems glossed over too quickly" despite the event being Charlie's main character motivation in the film.[30] Jack Wilson of The Age writes, "the script is transparently fake at almost every moment, congratulating the gang on their non-conformity while soft-pedalling any aspect of adolescent behaviour—drug use, sex, profanity—that might upset the American mainstream."[31] Richard Corliss of Time criticizes the casting of actors in their twenties to play teenagers, unlike the film Heathers where the cast were actually teenagers.[32]

MTV, Us Weekly and Complex named The Perks of Being a Wallflower one of the best films of the year.[33][34][35]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor Ezra Miller Won
Best Supporting Actress Emma Watson Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Chbosky Nominated
Most Promising Filmmaker Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Ezra Miller Nominated
Hollywood Film Festival Spotlight Award Won
Indiana Film Critics Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Chbosky Won
National Board of Review Awards Top Films The Perks of Being a Wallflower Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Supporting Actor Ezra Miller Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Emma Watson Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Chbosky Nominated
Most Overlooked Film The Perks of Being a Wallflower Nominated
Best Breakthrough Performance Behind the Camera Stephen Chbosky Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Emma Watson Won
Best Ensemble Performance Cast Won
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress Emma Watson Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Chbosky Nominated
Utah Film Critics Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Best Youth Performance Logan Lerman Nominated
2013 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Young Performer Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Chbosky Nominated
GLAAD Media Awards[36] Outstanding Film - Wide Release The Perks of Being a Wallflower Won
Independent Spirit Awards[37] Best First Feature Stephen Chbosky Won
MTV Movie Awards[38] Best Female Performance Emma Watson Nominated
Best Kiss Emma Watson and Logan Lerman Nominated
Best Breakthrough Performance Ezra Miller Nominated
Best Musical Moment Emma Watson, Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Drama Movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower Won
Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress Emma Watson Won
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Chbosky Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower Won
Choice Movie Actor: Drama Logan Lerman Won
Choice Movie Actress: Drama Emma Watson Won
Choice Movie Breakout: Actor Ezra Miller Nominated
Choice Movie Liplock Logan Lerman and Emma Watson Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  2. ↑ Mark Olsen (November 1, 2012). "'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' steadily blossoms". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Perks of Being a Wallflower (film)". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Catching Up With The Perks of Being A Wallflower". Paste.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ "'Perks Of Being A Wallflower' updates plus filming locations in Pittsburgh May 9–13". Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "A message from Emma". EmmaWatson.com. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  7. ↑ {{http://cultmontreal.com/2012/10/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-misfit-manifesto/}}
  8. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 25, 2011). "Summit circles 'Wallflower'". Variety.
  9. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (February 17, 2011). "Buyers leave EFM with deals despite slow festival". Screen Daily.
  10. ↑ McNary, Dave (May 19, 2010). "Watson, Lerman in talks for 'Perks'". Variety.
  11. ↑ Lodderhose, Diana (February 9, 2011). "Emma Watson to star in 'Wallflower'". Variety.
  12. ↑ Finke, Nikki (April 15, 2011). "Nina Dobrev Goes From 'Vampire Diaries' To 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower'". Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  13. ↑ Wilkinson, Amy (May 10, 2011). "Kate Walsh Signs On For 'Perks Of Being A Wallflower'". MTV. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Movie Filming In Pittsburgh Wants To Make Your Car A Star". WPXI. April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Movie Begins Filming in Upper St. Clair". Upper St. Clair Patch. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  16. ↑ Emmers, Becky (May 19, 2011). "Kings Restaurant Closing for 'Perks' Movie Shoot". Peters Patch. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  17. ↑ Vancheri, Barbara (April 21, 2011). "Film Notes: Newly resurrected Hollywood Theater to appear in film". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ↑ "USC Native to Film Scenes for Movie at Dormont's Hollywood Theater". Dormont-Brookline Patch. April 25, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ↑ Anya Sostek (September 28, 2012). "The 'Perks' Fort Pitt Tunnel stunt: Don't try it". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  20. ↑ "Soundtracks : 1 – 10". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  21. ↑ "Release Date Round-Up: ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Perks’ Get Pushed, ‘Rush’ and ‘Mama’ Get Dated". FilmSchoolRejects. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "'Cambridge Film Festival – Programme for Sunday 23rd of September'".
  23. ↑ "MPAA Grants 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' PG-13 Rating". The Wrap. Sharon Waxman. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  24. ↑ Deadline, The (September 23, 2012). "Indie Box Office - Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Diana Vreeland, The Master". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  25. ↑ "Box Office: Jake Gyllenhaal Tops Jennifer Lawrence; Dredd 3D Bombs | E! Online". Ca.eonline.com. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  26. ↑ "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  27. ↑ "The Perks of Being a Wallflower Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  28. ↑ Buckwalter, Ian. "How 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Breaks an Old Filmmaking Curse". The Atlantic. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  29. ↑ Anderson, John. "'Perks of Being a Wallflower' review: Life in high school". Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  30. ↑ Ogle, Connie. "'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (PG-13". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  31. ↑ Wilson, Jack. "Bohemian fantasy shies away from adolescent truths". Melbourne: theage.com.au. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  32. ↑ Corliss, Richard (September 13, 2012). "The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A Teen Angel’s Dreamy Angst". Time Entertainment.
  33. ↑ "Best Movies Of 2012". MTV. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Top Ten Movies of 2012". US Weekly. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  35. ↑ "The 25 Best Movies of 2012". Complex. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  36. ↑ Megan Townsend (April 20, 2013). "The New Normal, The Perks of Being a Wallflower among GLAAD Media Award Recipients in Los Angeles". GLAAD.org.
  37. ↑ "Independent Spirit Awards 2013: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  38. ↑ "2013 MTV Movie Awards Winners". MTV.com. April 14, 2013.

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