52 SHARES Facebook Twitter Please subscribe to my blog

Every now and then, a movie comes along that is wonderful in its simplicity. A film that is pure and very uncomplicated.

Recently, I had time to relax and enjoy one such motion picture. Entitled, “The Spectacular Now”, this film is very refreshing in the sense that it draws its strength from its storyline and the superb performances of the actors. It contains no explosions, no special effects, and unlike most films produced nowadays, this one doesn’t delve on science fiction plots.

Starring Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Kyle Chandler and directed by James Ponsoldt, The Spectacular Now is a drama without the continuous heavy crying and screaming we’ve grown accustomed to with stereotypical films of the same genre.

Based on the beloved book by Tim Tharp, THE SPECTACULAR NOW is the story of Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) – high school senior, effortless charmer, and self-proclaiemd “life of the party” – and of how he unexpectedly falls in love with the “nice girl” Aimee Fineky (Shailene Woodley). While Aimee dreams of the future, Sutter lives in the now. And yet somehow, they’re drawn together. What starts as an unlikely romance becomes a sharp-eyed, straight-up snapshot of the heady confusion and haunting passion of youth – one that doesn’t look for tidy truths.

This indie film, in a sense, pays homage to the light (teen) drama movie treatments back in the 80s made popular by John Hughes. Movies such as “The Breakfast Club”, “Pretty In Pink” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.

It has its moments of good fun and an ample dose of tearjerking moments, too… but nothing that leaves you tired and exhausted afterwards. If anything, the emotion you feel from “The Spectacular Now” lingers in your head like a sweet hangover long after the movie is done – the kind of buzz that you wish wouldn’t go away.

Watch the trailer of “The Spectacular Now” below…

I am pretty sure you will enjoy this movie as much as I did.

The film’s screenwriters, Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, did a splendid job of adapting the book into film.

So, if you happen to be looking for a light feel-good drama film to watch that is also worth your time (and money), head on over to a video store and grab “The Spectacular Now”. You can also download it on iTunes. I highly recommend it.

It’s one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen in a long time. Simple. Spectacular.

Leave your comments

Related