Unlike so many commercialised teen dramas, The Spectacular Now boldly explores the issues of teenage alcoholism, love and the balance between living in the moment or living for the future. Based upon the novel by Tim Tharp, it is a beautifully crafted coming of age piece.
Miles Teller (Rabbit Hole) is brilliantly cast as Sutter Keely; a fast talking high school senior with a salesman-like gift of the gab and a fondness for alcohol. Charismatic and slightly sleazy, Sutter is “one hundred percent serious about not being serious” and lives for the moment. When Sutter’s gorgeous and popular girlfriend Cassidy (Brie Larson) dumps him for the class president Marcus (Dayo Okeniyi), Sutter embarks on an all-night drinking binge.
Golden Globe Nominee Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) is cast as Aimee Finecky, who finds Sutter passed out on a lawn early the next morning. In contrast to Sutter, Aimee is academically talented, shy, and naieve. She finds inspiration in comic book heroes and dreams of working for NASA. Inexperienced in love, Aimee is manipulated by Sutter’s words. In response, Sutter is taken by her optimism and kind heart. Their relationship journeys through one of the most natural “first kiss” scenes ever put to screen as well as a somehow awkward but beautiful sex scene.
Together, Aimee and Sutter find the courage to stand up against their parents. Aimee plans for their future, while Sutter reconnects with his long-lost father (Kyle Chandler – Argo; Friday Night Lights). Through this example and some harsh wakeup calls, Sutter learns that living only for the present can lead to the neglect of people from your past.
It’s no surprise that Woodley and Teller shared the Special Jury Prize for Acting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Teller’s performance as the anti-hero keeps you guessing, with plenty of hints that his selfishness could only end in heartache. Woodley is natural as Aimee, whose lovestruck heart puts her beau high upon a pedestal that is not deserved. The minor characters are beautifully placed to explore the different viewpoints young adults have regarding their purpose and future. Adults are portrayed as influencers rather than role models and the peers to Aimee and Sutter are saturations of the human characteristics of caution, common sense or impulsiveness.
The plot is evenly paced and the scenes are well shot using close ups to thrust the starkly opposite characters of Aimee and Sutter from the screen right into your heart. A noticeable absence of music or makeup, coupled with soft and natural lighting further focuses your attention on the dialogue. Beautifully written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber, The Spectacular Now further cements the pair as writers of modern day film romance, after their success with 500 Days of Summer in 2009. Producer James Ponsoldt is gaining momentum after the success of Smashed in 2012 at Sundance, where he received the Special Jury Prize in Film Producing. The Spectacular Now is sure to explode Ponsoldt and his leading actors into the realm of modern day dramatic legends and will appeal to adults of all ages.
Reviewed by Bree Downs-Woolley
Rating out of 10: 9
The Spectacular Now opens at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas on 5 December 2013
View the official movie trailer here
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