The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now (2013)
Directed by James Ponsoldt.

To be honest, I wasn't originally going to see this in theaters. But I wanted to see a movie tonight and Closed Circuit has been getting pretty terrible reviews (and I have zero interest in that movie about that band) so I found myself settling in for a trip to the not-so-distant past that was high school. And I was pleasantly surprised.

The Spectacular Now tells the story of Sutter (Miles Teller), the always partying, yet occasionally profoundly wise, class clown who accidentally falls for the perpetually innocent Aimee (Shailene Woodley). In most cases the above sentence would have been enough to deter me from the theater, because those years are still pretty fresh in my memory and most filmmakers are unable to genuinely capture the essence of the high school experience.

But genuine is a great word for describing this film. The script feels genuine, as do the performances, and the directing, and even the incredible (and definitely challenging) long takes. These aspects all work together perfectly, almost making the film too genuine. Suspending disbelief isn't difficult when a film's honesty makes it seem like you could walk into any high school (or the one of your own memories) and find Sutter and Aimee kissing in the hallway between classes. There is a scene that almost betrays that honesty by forcing the audience to watch a very intimate moment. I felt that Sutter and Aimee wouldn't have wanted me to be watching, though in comparison to other films it was more tastefully presented.

Along with Teller and Woodley's touching performances, the film also benefited greatly from the supporting cast, especially Kyle Chandler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brie Larson, and Bob Odenkirk.

As for the ending, it definitely left me wishing I could have spent more time with the characters. I really like that they chose to end it where they did, but I won't go into more detail for the sake of those who haven't seen it yet.

Let me know what you thought of The Spectacular Now in the comments below!

4 out of 5 stars.
Viewed September 4, 2013 at LOOK Cinemas Prestonwood in Dallas, TX.