The Blindspots of a Wallflower

Of the following musical acts, how many do you know?

Ok. Now considering that, does anyone not know who this is?

If there is anyone out there who knows the first three acts, but doesn't know the fourth, I'd like to meet you. Because you are a fictional character. And not a very convincing one.

Which brings me to my point. In the film version (I haven't read the book, but I'd love for someone to tell me if it's the same) of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the lead characters, a group of high school kids in the early 90s, who are totally into music, have a revelatory moment as David Bowie's Heroes plays on the radio. None of the kids know the song. Nor do they know it's David Bowie. It takes a year for any of them to figure it out.

This would not be a big deal if, a little later in the film, the kids didn't talk passionately about the tracks on a mixtape, rattling off the names of the first three acts listed above: "The Smiths! Nick Drake! The Shaggs! Wow, you have great taste in music".

No scenario exists where this could actually happen. There is no person alive who knows who these aforementioned acts are, but does not know David Bowie or Heroes. It's simply impossible (or it's some Brechtian trick to make you realise you're watching a movie, not real life).

No big deal you might say, but this is akin to writing a programmer who boasts about SEO and search analytics, but who draws a blank when someone asks them to 'Google it'. It makes accepting the reality of the film a tad difficult.

The most bewildering thing about this whole scenario is the film is adapted and directed by the author of the book. The producers gave it to him to direct, so I'd assume he wasn't forced to give into a studio looking to wring a few more dollars out of Bowie's hit.

And that's the shame of it all. The movie is actually really good. It feels honest and warm and hits the right notes so often that this glaring error left me feeling so baffled and unsatisfied that this is now the one thing I talk about when talking about The Perks.

Anyway: I still recommend this movie.