Happy 25th, Logan Lerman!
Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 4:30PM by David Upton
Congratulations are due: Logan Lerman’s endearing baby face has lasted to his twenty-fifth birthday! It's not that unusual for actors to play teenagers even into their thirties, but Lerman seems especially stuck in transition, repeatedly playing similar tunes of young men who are particularly prey to societal pressures. Last year’s Indignation threw him back in time, with his personal dramas set against an Ohioan college in 1951, but it was his previous college adventure that has proven Lerman’s career high to date...
Multiplex audiences might have recognised him from a misbegotten adaptation of The Three Musketeers or the teen-lit blockbuster Percy Jackson and something-I’lllookituplater, but it was his role in The Perks of Being a Wallflower that saw Lerman break out into wider cultural consciousness. Stephen Chbosky's film remains an unusually deft and intuitive insight into the bridge between adolescence and adulthood, and, as the title suggests, the particular difficulties (and perks) of being a person who generally fades into the background.
Lerman is perfectly cast here, with a face that seems shy by its very design, his flat nose and sharp chin working to make his head as unobtrusive as possible, especially under the shaggy hair he sports. He's handsome but not imposingly masculine; cute rather than buff. His youthful face is almost generically attractive, but there's a soulfulness in his eyes that cuts through this to create wells of emotion for an audience to sympathise with. Perks takes full advantage of this, accompanying his reticent Charlie with an effervescent Emma Watson and a wild (yet somehow never more relaxed) Ezra Miller, who give the film its vitality and complement Lerman's cautious engagement with their flamboyance.
As someone who was similarly introverted as a teenager (though not nearly as attractive; thanks, Hollywood), Charlie is a highly relatable character, and Lerman's perceptive performance shows a clear understanding of a life learned in the shadows. His body perfectly reflects the awkwardness of being around other people, and his face perfectly communicates the immense and almost overwhelming value that swells inside at the unexpected but honest attentions of another person. Charlie's journey throughout the film encounters sorrows of his past, but most importantly presents progression and hope for his future.
Lerman certainly gave one of the finest performances of that year (he'd be on my ballot for Best Actor 2012) and it will only take the right role for him to bring us something of similar majesty in the second half of his twenties. (But perhaps you have a different favourite role from Lerman’s filmography? And what would you like to see him do next?)
Related post: Lerman's 2012 Film Experience interview
Reader Comments (14)
Thanks for this - so glad we're celebrating a young talent like him. I thought Lerman was fantastic in Indignation. That stunning central scene with Tracey Letts is one of my favorites the year. He's absolutely ferocious and charmingly uncomfortable. I was so impressed he was able to go toe-to-toe with such a commanding performer. He has a great career ahead of him.
So glad you posted this. Perks is the only movie of his I've loved (and yep, right there with you on thinking he should've been in the Best Actor mix for that - fantastic work), but I always like him in his movies. Very talented guy, and one of my favorite actors. Looking forward to hearing how Sidney Hall looks in the coverage from Sundance.
I could never narrow down the 2012 Best Actor field from 6 to 5. Phoenix, Day-Lewis, Trintignant, Washington, Cooper, and Lerman are all fantastic. Then there's tier 2 actors who were almost as impressive: Tatum (Magic Mike), Hill and Tatum (21 Jump Street), Gyllenhaal and Peña (End of Watch), Jones (Hope Springs), etc.
This was very well written!
Also, yes, I agree 100%. Perks is his high point so far.
here's hoping he forgoes the money grabbing superhero movies and stays focused on quality projects
David, thanks for this lovely tribute to LL. I thought Indignation was full-on terrible, but agreed that his performance in Wallflower is stunning. He gets that high school fear calibrated in just the right, constant dose, at skillfully varying levels. And his chemistry was Watson and Miller is beautiful. Eager to see what's ahead and hope he doesn't get lost in the shuffle.
I love Perks so much, he's so wonderful in it. Doesn't matter how many times I watch it, I still cry every time I do. Such a fantastic, underrated gem that captured such truth from all three of the leads. First time I've ever brought Emma Watson as a character rather than an actor and of course, it cemented my love and fixation with Ezra Miller - which I could finally feel okay about after crushing on him and feeling awful about it in We need to talk about Kevin :D
While Perks was certainly a breakout role - I found his performance in Indignation the high point of his output so far, intense and focused. The 18-minute long scene with Tracy Letts is a tour de force . Excited to see what he has in store in Sidney Hall
He is such an exciting young talent. He was brilliant and Oscar worthy in Perks Of Being A Wallflower and in Indignation, he continues to prove that he deserves more leading roles.
I've been watching him since The Butterfly Effect hoping for him to break out in a big way. He's earned some longevity already and no doubt is building a lot of good will, which helps. I was delighted when he landed a plum role in the short-lived Jack & Bobby. Perks, as you suggest, was the first to really bring his childhood charisma most effectively into older roles. Fingers crossed for him!
I think the first movie I saw him in was "3:10 to Yuma." Even around heavyweights Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, and Ben Foster, he pops from the screen. Love "Perks" and "Indignation," two of the best films of their respective years, and he's a big reason why.
BOBBY MACALLISTER in the one-season-and-done WB series 'Jack & Bobby'. What a cast that show had. John Slattery, Chrstine Lahti, Jessica Pare(!), Matt Long and of course Mr. Lerman as our future president.
Perks of Being a Wallflower has been endlessly rewatchable for me and I adore Logan Lehman in it.
I meant Lerman. My phone auto corrected it to the last name of a friend of mine. Also, I'm super happy I share a birthday with such a wonderful actor.