The Spectacular Now (2013)

A hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."

Director:

James Ponsoldt

Writers:

Scott Neustadter (screenplay), Michael H. Weber (screenplay),

Stars:

Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller, Jennifer Jason Leigh

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Shailene Woodley	...	Aimee Finicky
Miles Teller	...	Sutter Keely
Mary Elizabeth Winstead	...	Holly Keely
Brie Larson	...	Cassidy
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Kyle Chandler
Kaitlyn Dever	...	Krystal
Bob Odenkirk
Andre Royo
Dayo Okeniyi	...	Marcus
Nicci Faires	...	Tara
Gary Weeks	...	Joe
Masam Holden	...	Ricky
E. Roger Mitchell	...	Doctor
Whitney Goin	...	Mrs. Finicky

Storyline

Sutter Keely lives in the now. It's a good place for him. A high school senior, charming and self-possessed, he's the life of the party, loves his job at a men's clothing store, and has no plans for the future. A budding alcoholic, he's never far from his supersized, whiskey-fortified thirst-master cup. But after being dumped by his girlfriend, Sutter gets drunk and wakes up on a lawn with Aimee Finicky hovering over him. She's different: the "nice girl" who reads science fiction and doesn't have a boyfriend. While Amy has dreams of a future, Sutter lives in the impressive delusion of a spectacular now, yet somehow, they're drawn together.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for alcohol use, language and some sexuality - all involving teens

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2013 (USA)

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

21 Laps Entertainment, Andrew Lauren Productions (ALP), Global Produce

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nicholas Hoult was considered for the lead role before Miles Teller was cast.

User Reviews

Truly spectacular

I am so glad I caught a screening of this film because I will definitely be seeing it again after it's wide release.

From the writers of 500 Days of Summer, which we all know wasn't just your average love story, comes a seemingly average love story in The Spectacular Now. But it isn't very average, and that's the beauty of it. The story observed here carries a genuine believability to it that allows a gushy teenage girl who searches for the perfect love story to be able to relate to the film in a way that isn't as unrealistic as some other popular romance films.

That's just what romantic films are right? Another relationship you wish you had? Not exactly the case here. Don't get me wrong, that is what this film is, but it really is much more than that. This film not only portrays an enviable romantic relationship between boy and girl, but also a relationship between man and life, man and the world, man and the now, and that's what allows it to be so powerful.

The acting across the board is great. I have found that movies like this that have relatively undiscovered actors and actresses as the lead roles allow for a good connection from the audience to the story, especially when the story is a good one like it is here.

Live in the now, because there's no way to know you're in the good ole' days until you've left them. And yes, I did steal that from The Office.

8/10