A Perfect Teen Movie

Rating: 10/10 (4 April 2020)

This movie is more than you think it is. It is well crafted and takes itself serious, not shying away from real-life issues that high school students deal with. It has moments of intimacy and sweet teen romance, also paired with great comedic moments brilliantly delivered. But the thing that stands out the most in this film is it's raw emotion and portrayal of serious, relevant problems in our world today. The author of the novel and screenwriter of this film understands that this movie would be sold short if it did not dive into the minds of these teens and deal with their issues, which is done confidently and very effectively.
The acting is great in this film, with Logan Lerman easily giving the best performance of his career. His character has struggles and issues, and Lerman does a phenomenal job portraying these and making the character so relatable. He embodies this shy boy that grows and changes throughout the film and makes it irresistible to root for him. Emma Watson is great as always, breathing life into a complicated and spirited character. She takes hold of every scene she's in and adds so much heart to this movie. And Ezra Miller delivers a performance that is guaranteed to stick with you. He is a scene-stealer with arguably the funniest lines of the film that are presented with great comedic timing. But he also portrays something that so many teens struggle with and are forced to deal with when going through their high school years, and he makes it feel so real and authentic. His performance cannot be overlooked.
The movie is directed and written by the author of the novel, Stephen Chbosky, and his witty script and confident direction allow the movie to flow seamlessly. There is no pacing issues, each scene being relevant and important to the overall narrative. The cinematography is great and adds to the films warm feeling, and has a soundtrack that fits perfectly with the film.
It is a very well crafted movie that understands what it is, and isn't scared to tell serious stories and provide deeper messages for audience members. It is a movie that grips you with it's characters and carries you with it's storytelling. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a film that stands tall in the high school/teen romance collection of movies.