IT'S YOUR MOMENT // A FILM REVIEW OF "THE SPECTACULAR NOW"

BY MATEO MORENO

The hardships of youth, the sweetness of first love, and the honesty of heartbreak have rarely been told with such raw honesty than by a man named John Hughes.  There’s a reason his films have endured over the years.  Teens today still relate to the misfits of The Breakfast Club or any one of the famed roles Molly Ringwald brought to life.  Hell, I still fantasize that the girl of my dreams is going to be my tomboy best friend who plays drums and wears my future on her ears.  Last year Stephen Chbosky’s wonderful The Perks of Being a Wallflower came closest to nailing that perfect tone that Hughes knew so well.  And now we have THE SPECTACULAR NOW, a new film that not only transcends that time in our lives but captures it completely with an honesty not seen since Lloyd Dobler, his pen, and that famed boombox.  World, meet Sutter Keeley.

Miles Teller (21 and Over) plays Sutter, a high school kid who’s the life of literally every party, along with his girlfriend Cassidy (Brie Larson of The United States of Tara).  He drinks too much and cares about too little, yet his heart is huge.  However, much like a speeding rocket hurtling towards the earth, the fun loving couple break up and Sutter ends up drunkenly on a lawn without a clue as to how he got there.  Luckily for him, there’s a pretty girl waiting for his as he opens his eyes.  Aimee Finecky (Oscar nominee Shailene Woodley) is a good girl; gets good grades, has her future mapped out for her.  She’s a bit of a wallflower and loves science fiction novels.  Though the “now obsessed” Sutter and “future planning” Aimee may not have much in common on the surface, the two find each other exactly when they need to, and so begins their story, a story much like our own memories.  It’s filled with swelling emotions, high school “games,” far too much drinking, and bold and selfish mistakes.  In other words: high school.

Yes it is indeed a story of two high school kids, this is by no means a movie just for kids.  Writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber have adapted Tim Tharps bittersweet novel into the best coming of age movie in decades.  The dialogue is fresh and often heartbreakingly honest and sweet.  James Ponsoldt (Smashed) directs the proceedings with such a deft touch that you’d swear sometimes we are literally peaking into the life of real teenagers in the here and now.  Miles Teller truly creates a star making performance here, bringing you in to sympathize with Sutter even as he does terribly selfish things.  Each time he takes another drink you fear for what is coming next, yet you still root for him.  He adds the warmth needed to every scene, and the chemistry between him and Aimee is wonderful.  Woodley nails yet another performance (much different than her star making turn in The Decendents) and bring a shimmering energy and honesty to a lovingly naive character.  Watching their love bloom is quite wonderful, and watching the sure to be heartache hurts even more so.  I won’t spoil the film for you here, as there as so many fantastic moments for you to see for yourself so please do exactly that.  Spend a morning, an afternoon, or an evening with The Spectacular Now.  It just may be, much like high school, one of the best times of your life.

MATEO'S GRADE: A

Directed by James Ponsoldt Based on the novel by Tim Tharp  Screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber  Starring Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Masam Holden, Dayo Okeniyi, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, Nicci Faires, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, Andre Royo.  Rated R for Sexual Content, Adult Language, Brief Nudity  NOW IN THEATRICAL LIMITED RELEASE

BOTTOM LINE: Much like the title, it's Spectacular.