In a fine movie debut, Stephen Chbosky directs the screen version of his novel. A shy high school freshman in 1991 is adopted by two unapologetically misfit seniors, played by Harry Potter’s Emma Watson and Ezra Miller (very different here than in We Need to Talk About Kevin). The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age story, and a very good one. We’ve all experienced adolescence, so my test for a film in this genre is whether the moments of adolescent awkwardness, peer obsession, self-doubt and discovery feel real. I felt that authenticity with Perks. In addition, the story is textured and unpredictable, and the performances – especially those by Watson and Miller – are excellent. It’s available on DVD from Netflix and Redbox and streaming from Amazon, iTunes and other VOD providers.
Emma Watson
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: authenticity in a coming of age story
In a fine movie debut, Stephen Chbosky directs the screen version of his novel. A shy high school freshman in 1991 is adopted by two unapologetically misfit seniors, played by Harry Potter’s Emma Watson and Ezra Miller (very different here than in We Need to Talk About Kevin). The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age story, and a very good one. We’ve all experienced adolescence, so my test for a film in this genre is whether the moments of adolescent awkwardness, peer obsession, self-doubt and discovery feel real. I felt that authenticity with Perks. In addition, the story is textured and unpredictable, and the performances – especially those by Watson and Miller – are excellent.
DVD of the Week: My Week with Marilyn
Not only is Michele Williams one of our finest film actors (Wendy and Lucy, Blue Valentine, Brokeback Mountain), but she has the courage to play that icon Marilyn Monroe. And she does so in a dazzling performance. Williams so inhabits the persona of Marilyn that we suspend recognition of the physical differences between the two.
My Week with Marilyn is about a young man observing the encounter between Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) during the making of the 1957’s The Prince and the Showgirl. That movie starred and was directed by Olivier, who expected a high level of craft, promptness and professionalism from all actors. Naturally, Marilyn, with all of her neediness, professional unreliabilty and reliance on The Method, was a bad fit.
Williams perfectly tunes in each frequency of the Marilyn dial, from the terrified, insecure actress to the confident sex symbol. There’s a great moment – after we’ve already seen her as troubled, flirtatious, needy, mischievous and, above all, lonely – where she announces that she will become “Her”; she flips an inner switch and becomes the Marilyn sex symbol persona, delighting a crowd of regular folks.
The underrated Zoe Wanamaker has a great turn as Marilyn’s Method acting coach. Judi Dench is perfect as a kind veteran actress. Emma Watson (so good as Hermione in the Harry Potter films) has an unfortunately tiny role as a non-wizard young adult. Dougray Scott, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormand and Toby Jones fill out the great cast. Wanamaker, Scott and Jones play American characters flawlessly.
My Week with Marilyn: a dazzling Michele Williams
Not only is Michele Williams one of our finest film actors (Wendy and Lucy, Blue Valentine, Brokeback Mountain), but she has the courage to play that icon Marilyn Monroe. And she does so in a dazzling performance. Williams so inhabits the persona of Marilyn that we suspend recognition of the physical differences between the two.
My Week with Marilyn is about a young man observing the encounter between Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) during the making of the 1957’s The Prince and the Showgirl. That movie starred and was directed by Olivier, who expected a high level of craft, promptness and professionalism from all actors. Naturally, Marilyn, with all of her neediness, professional unreliabilty and reliance on The Method, was a bad fit.
Williams perfectly tunes in each frequency of the Marilyn dial, from the terrified, insecure actress to the confident sex symbol. There’s a great moment – after we’ve already seen her as troubled, flirtatious, needy, mischievous and, above all, lonely – where she announces that she will become “Her”; she flips an inner switch and becomes the Marilyn sex symbol persona, delighting a crowd of regular folks.
The underrated Zoe Wanamaker has a great turn as Marilyn’s Method acting coach. Judi Dench is perfect as a kind veteran actress. Emma Watson (so good as Hermione in the Harry Potter films) has an unfortunately tiny role as a non-wizard young adult. Dougray Scott, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormand and Toby Jones fill out the great cast. Wanamaker, Scott and Jones play American characters flawlessly.