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
Mary Elizabeth Winstead	...	Holly Keely
Brie Larson	...	Cassidy
Miles Teller	...	Sutter Keely
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Kyle Chandler
Kaitlyn Dever	...	Krystal
Bob Odenkirk
Andre Royo
Dayo Okeniyi	...	Marcus
Gary Weeks	...	Joe
E. Roger Mitchell	...	Doctor
Masam Holden	...	Ricky
Nicci Faires	...	Tara
Christian Higgins	...	High School Student

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:

Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

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

Very Likable Characters and Outstanding Acting

The Spectacular Now is a surprisingly good film. The acting is great from the two leads, as they make their characters extremely likable. This amazing, (and at times seemingly unscripted), acting keeps the mature and occasionally dark screenplay from alienating viewers with it's harsh and unrelenting look at alcoholism. Several moments will have you almost pitying the main characters, as one has a serious drinking problem that often gets the better of him, while the other is at times unreasonably kind and forgiving. These flawed characters elevate the film above a level of just average teenage drama and in to a superb melodrama. Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller both won a well-deserved award at Sundance for their great chemistry. The script really gives these great characters a couple of brilliant scenes. They're all very well written and directed and get a lot of credit for avoiding the conventional scenes that every teenage movie in recent memory has been chock full of. But, in the end, it all comes back to that excellent dialog and chemistry between the two exceptional leads. I don't know if there are any Oscars coming, (although I would be just fine with that), but there will definitely be loads of accolades and critical acclaim for these two outstanding actors.