The Spectacular Now (2013)

The Spectacular Now (2013)

2013 R 95 Minutes

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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

Overall Rating

9 / 10
Verdict: Great

User Review

  • This film is incredible. I watched it yesterday and I've been too busy to create a review but I've been thinking about how to sell this ridiculously underrated film. The movie begins with it's main character, high school senior Sutter Keeley, trying to write an essay about a difficult challenge he's faced in his life for a college application. He takes a long sip from his flask, stares at the screen for another moment, and then gets to work writing his rather foul-mouthed and bold piece about his ex-girlfriend, Cassidy, and how awesome their relationship was until she broke up with him. But he wasn't that worried about it- his motto was to live in the moment. If he was worried sick about this failed relationship then he would be wasting his youth. The film retains this rather determined, resolute tone in Sutter. Everything's going to work out the way it's going to work out, right? He's popular and he's having fun. Well, Sutter's drinking problem has gotten slightly out of hand, and the next morning he finds himself laying in the middle of a yard of one Aimee Finicky, a sweet, scientifically inclined girl who hopes to work for NASA. The story that ensues is one that will have your heart melt and then break. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley are so good in this movie, it's insane. Aimee is such a lovely character with such a set of morals that I actually had myself going, why can't I be like that? The acting and the screenplay were so excellent in that they didn't create this contrived version of being a teenager- it all felt 100% real and authentic. You can tell how much thought went into every scene of this film, as the cinematography and director was impeccable. This probably falls in one of my top 25 favorite films at this point, and I firmly believe it should be seen by more people. Check it out.