CHARLIE BARTLETT
US, 2007, 97 minutes, Colour.
Anton Yelchen, Robert Downey Jr, Hope Davis.
Directed by Jon Pall.
There is a slyly humorous caption at the end of the credits, ‘No teenagers were harmed during the making of this film’. On the other hand, if looks or thoughts could kill, many of the main characters would not have survived the critical gaze of many an adult and parental audience.
It is one of those films that make a plea for understanding of teenagers when the teenagers, on the surface, don’t seem to deserve the understanding. But, by the end, lessons are learned and, once again, the worlds of high school and adolescence are not entirely without hope.
The strong centre of the film is young actor Anton Yellchin as 17 year old Charlie Bartlett. Expelled at the beginning of the film for forging driving licenses for his fellow students and charging well for them, he goes to a local high school where his blazer and tie appearance immediately elicit scorn and a toilet dunking by the school bullies – and the seeming indifference of the principal (Robert Downey Jr). Charlie is rich, is chauffeur-driven and is mollycoddled by his scatty mother (Hope Davis). Dad is in jail for tax evasion.
Charlie’s greatest desire (as the film’s opening fantasy of Charlie on stage being greeted by cheering peers) is to be popular. He has something of a gift for noticing people’s problems and, eventually, some empathy. This gets him into deep trouble since he invites one of the bullies (who has been low-esteeming his softer side) to partner him in selling the prescription drugs he has been given for his own concentration. While this creates literally rave responses, he still gets into trouble. However, he is the popular hero of the school – and has achieved one of his ambitions.
After the drugs, he then counsels students with problems (quite a long line) and can’t help himself in inviting adults to pour out to him. He is involved with the principal’s daughter which leads to his punching the principal, being arrested and the principal being fired because of demonstrations against surveillance cameras in the students’ lounge.
But, there is a moral to the story which nobody can disagree with: grow up (whatever your age is) and take responsibility for your own actions.
1.The variety of audiences for this film: adults, parents, teenagers and their peers? The effect on each different audience?
2.The world of adolescents, confusion? 21st century style? Showing the confusion? The behaviour of the students, their manner of speaking, self-esteem or not? The parents’ reaction, their ability to help their children or not? The role of school, the staff, the school principal?
3.How realistic was the film? How much fantasy?
4.The opening boarding school, the contrast with the high school, homes, the rich and the poor, the school, the toilets, the students’ lounge, the principal’s office? The musical score?
5.The opening, Charlie and his fantasy, everybody cheering, wanting popularity, his introduction of himself? Waking up, his silence, being expelled? The reason for the expulsion, the fake driving licences, his charging the students? His not needing the money?
6.His mother, the wealthy background, cars and chauffeurs, the wealthy home, playing the piano, the mother and her pills? Her letting her son off? Understanding him or not? The absent father, jail, tax evasion? Their both going to see him at the end? The possible reconciliation? Charlie having got rid of his anger?
7.Charlie going to school, the bus, the blazer and tie, the students’ reaction, Len and his friendliness in the bus, befriending him? Letting him sit next to him for the meal after everybody else left? Kip, looking at him? People laughing, the locker, Suzanne and her interest, the drama group? His going, his comic performance and audition, Suzanne laughing? The bullies, their attitude, in the toilet, his head down the bowl? Mr Gardner seeing him, seeming indifferent? His being bashed?
8.Mr Gardner, at home, with Susanne,her reaction to his presence, the small boat in the pool, at school, Charlie, the bullies? Assembly, the supervisor, the installation of the surveillance cameras? At home, his reaction to Charlie, the situations, the revolt? His handling of the situation, his being fired? Talking to Charlie at home, home truths for Charlie, Charlie persuading him to go to the play, his delight? His subsequently teaching and being happy with the students?
9.Charlie, coping, his ability at counselling people, Len and his threatening Murphy and the bullies, the friendship with Kip, Kip having no self-esteem, suicidal, the drugs? Murphy and the partnership, selling the drugs? The reaction and the rave parties? His popularity, the chant? Mr Gardner observing this? Mr Gardner and the drugs, his mother’s reaction, getting rid of them all? His going into counselling, the long queues, Kip and the focus on Kip and his suicide attempt, the note, Charlie visiting him, playing the games with him, his play, Mr Gardener permitting it to go forward? The girl and the football team, like a confessional, Murphy hearing, Murphy and his sensitive side, transforming his appearance, going on the date with her?
10.The protest, Charlie’s opinion and people wanting it, his telling them to go home, to come back at night? The riot? Charlie and Suzanne, punching her father? His being arrested, bailed out by his mother, his mother and her sense that she had failed him?
11.The play, Suzanne singing the song, the meaning of the lyrics?
12.The summer counselling job, the interview, Charlie offering to counsel the counsellor?
13.Charlie, an adolescent, seventeen, his own personal confusions, angers, hopes, ambitions, achievement? The role of his parents, teachers, peers?
