Let's Drive: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I love this film. Saw it for the fifth or sixth time at a sold-out screening this afternoon. (Had set out to see Japanese Girls Never Die but didn't feel like standing a rush line for an hour.) I gave it "somewhere between 3 and 4" on the last-(x)-movies thread first time I saw it; would consider it for a decade Top-10 at this point. It makes me love "Come On Eileen," and makes me want to forever refer to David Bowie's "Heroes" as "The Tunnel Song." Emma Watson is Katherine Ross in The Graduate and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's and every one of my movie crushes ever rolled into one character. Charlie flipping out in defense of Patrick is heroic. The potentially-clichéd surprise is, I think, handled well. Charlie's dizzy monologue at the end--somewhat reminiscent of Wes Bentley's much-reviled paper-bag monologue in American Beauty--is just as long as it needs to be to set up the incredible cut to the second appearance of "The Tunnel Song."

Haven't seen the film but I loved the book in high school. It's YA novel cheese done just right with the correct amount of sweetness

You probably know this, but Stephen Chbosky also directs the film. Looked him up and he's making his second feature now--looks to be a Mask-like film (the Bogdanovich one).

I...wasn't a fan. An FB post I made when I saw the film on DVD in '13:

OK, so I'm watching "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and a song comes up as source music on a truck radio (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie) and the characters turn it up (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie) and talk about "what's this great song, I've never heard it before!" (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie) and later on the main guy references it (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie) to the main gal when presenting her a thematic mix tape (it's the 90s or something in this film) and then mentions that he still can't find that great song they heard on the radio (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie), perhaps because he still doesn't know what it was (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie) but he'll continue his research (it's fucking "Heroes" by David Bowie).
And that is that. I think I'm gonna go eat a waffle or something, maybe even stand by a wall.

and then a follow-up comment:

*SPOILER ALERT* They eventually find the song.
@[my friend who pointed out the bokk was set in the early '90s]: I'd forgotten that until they started trading tapes. Judging by the music, the film would actually take place in late '93 at the earliest ("Low" by Cracker came out that summer, and one of the Morrissey songs the summer prior), but I guess I'll give them some leeway. But this Bowie thing...There's even a thread on imdb with complaints about it. There's no way in hell big-city boho kids, with their Moz-worshippin' and "Rocky Horror"-actin' out ways could not know that song, or at least who sang it on first blush.

Obvs. that kind of ruined the movie for me. Fine performances tho. But if I had to rep for recent-ish film s of this ilk, I'd go for Adventureland or The Spectacular Now or even Diary of A Teenage Girl.

in the book the tunnel song is landslide by fleetwood mac

I like all those other films, too, Grissom, especially Adventureland. I also seized on them not knowing "Heroes" first time I saw the film, especially in view of the fact that they do know Nick Drake and the Shaggs. I haven't changed my mind on that--it defies credulity--but there's so much I like otherwise I just forget about it now.

"Landslide"'s brilliant, but I can't see that that scene would work nearly as well with that. I could think of other songs that might work as well--or might not; "Heroes" is so right--but "Landslide" wouldn't be one of them.

Would rate this film higher than Adventureland and Diary of A Teenage Girl, neither of which I thought were anything special, but in addition to the Bowie thing (which nobody I know who has seen the film *hasn't* complained about), I thought the late-in-the-game revelation came too far out of left field and was given curiously little weight, considering. The Spectacular Now is indeed a better contemporary teen film, though my very favourite one of these in recent years (at least if we aren't counting the Chronicle) remains The Way Way Back, which still feels underrated and under-seen to me.

Had the same problem with the jukebox that plays "Pale Blue Eyes" in Adventureland--not even "Sweet Jane" or "Rock and Roll," mind you, but "Pale Blue Eyes." And then all the good stuff started to pile up, and then Jesse Eisenberg was on the bus as "Unsatisfied" played, and then I forgot all about the magical jukebox.

It's now on the list. Soundtrack's important to me, hopefully it's got a good one.

and was given curiously little weight, considering

I don't agree with that. The revelation/explanation comes late, but the event itself frames the entire film, and drifts in and out throughout.

I could kind of let the jukebox thing slide in Adventureland by looking at it not as what he played, but what he remembered playing at some remove. But still...

Also just realized Boyhood is the epic overlord of these films.

Another Thing: forgive me, as its been 4 years since I saw it, but <SPOILER ALERT> is the "Revelation" being discussed the scene when Miller makes a move on Lerman?

No--Charlie and his aunt (at least that's what I mean). In the movie, Charlie and Patrick isn't that big of a deal.

It's now on the list. Soundtrack's important to me, hopefully it's got a good one.

Do you mean The Way, Way Back? Cause the soundtrack is, unfortunately, the film's weak spot--twee, Sufjan-style indie-pop, for the most part. I actually remember being relieved when REO Speedwagon showed up on the soundtrack at one point, and that's not how I typically react to REO Speedwagon.

I don't agree with that. The revelation/explanation comes late, but the event itself frames the entire film, and drifts in and out throughout.

I'm wondering if this is one of these things that makes more sense upon repeat viewings. A reason to give it another look, anyway.

And yes, gotta acknowledge Boyhood in this particular cycle of teen films. And if we are allowed to count non-American films, The Way He Looks is another recent favourite of mine. And if we are allowed to seriously stretch the definition of "film," I'd add Shura's video for "What's It Gonna Be?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ4uBdmnKds

best needle drop in Adventureland is "Don't Dream It's Over"

The Way Way Back is garbage. Faxon and Rash are bad at writing movies

XPS <Checks Detailed Plot Synopsis> OK. Didn't really register with me, but as I've already pointed out, my viewing was skewed in another direction pretty early on.

I did mean The Way Way Back, cryptsicko. I'm exaggerating with regards to the soundtrack--means a lot to me when a soundtrack's great, but if the film's good enough, not necessary. Excepting the half-minute of Yo La Tengo, Boyhood's soundtrack barely registered with me.

Honestly, Crowded House was the one thing I would have liked to yank out of Perks of Being a Wallflower. Not a fan.

I actually really liked this movie as well

For a ya novel, the book is pretty interesting

I feel like maybe the movie does have some cheesy parts but the overall message/theme isn't?

there is no fucking way those kids wouldn't recognize David Bowie's voice or know the song "'Heroes.'" when they're driving doesn't one of them say "who is this??" oh, please! good movie otherwise. i dug the book more. but i read it in one sitting and completely missed that his aunt had abused him.

Chbosky's new one, Dear Evan Hansen, premiered at Toronto this week, and already been designated this year's Cats: https://www.avclub.com/toronto-gets-the-big-folly-of-the-festival-out-of-the-w-1847658920

Do not get the vaccine look what it did to my beautiful 15-year-old son pic.twitter.com/F8plw3YX4K

— Michael Pielocik (@michaelpielocik) September 10, 2021

I know that performers can't 'know' every show that appears or even gets popular, but I was a little taken aback recently when the DEH trailer dropped at just how many of my theatrical friends were previously unawares of the nature of the show and were now shocked there was a recent hit Broadway musical celebrating gaslighting.

A Zoom on the music in Perks:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkwhqQG5fes

Wish I'd remembered to mention something posted above, that "Landslide" is the tunnel song in the book.

I don’t know that it made into the film, but for reasons I will not get into I am 110% certain I am the reason for the book’s reference to a VU lyric. This is my contribution to YA literature. You’re welcome.

That's amazing. I'm sure it's awkward, but I'd love to hear more about that. (I don't think the reference made it into the movie...I'd have to think about that.)