The Spectacular Now (2013)

August 2, 2013 (US) • Comedy, Drama, Romance • 95m

Overview

Sutter, a popular party animal, unexpectedly meets the introverted Aimee after waking up on a stranger's lawn. As Sutter deals with the problems in his life and Aimee plans for her future beyond school, an unexpected romance blossoms between them.

Director

James Ponsoldt

Writers

Tim Tharp, Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Top Billed

Miles Teller

Keywords

based on novel or book alcoholism coming of age high school student based on young adult novel introspective teenager

Where to watch

Free / Included

HBO Max Amazon Channel

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Miles Teller

Sutter Keely

Shailene Woodley

Aimee Finecky

Masam Holden

Ricky Mehlinger

Kaitlyn Dever

Krystal Krittenbrink

Brie Larson

Cassidy Roy

Kyle Chandler

Tommy Keely

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Sara Keely

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Holly Keely

Karen Strassman

Additional Voices (voice)

Andre Royo

Mr. Aster

Bob Odenkirk

Dan

Nicci Roessler

Tara Thompson

Ava London

Bethany Marks

Whitney Goin

Mrs. Finecky

Levi Miller

Erik Wolff

E. Roger Mitchell

Doctor

Gary Weeks

Joe

Dayo Okeniyi

Marcus West

Logan Mack

Cody

Valerie Payton

Bus Driver

Christopher Nathan

Shane Finecky

Troy Willis

Bartender

Whitney Christopher

Roberta

Wayne Dean

Customer

Mike Hickman

Drunk Man

Keith Silverstein

Additional Voices (voice)

Dina Sherman

Additional Voices (voice)

Doug Haley

Additional Voices (voice)

Alex D'Lerma

Additional Voices (voice)

Nico Ford

Cassidy's Brother (uncredited)

Crew

James Ponsoldt

Director

Tim Tharp

Novel

Scott Neustadter

Screenplay

Michael H. Weber

Screenplay

Jess Hall

Director of Photography

Rob Simonsen

Original Music Composer

Michelle Krumm

Producer

Andrew Lauren

Producer

Shawn Levy

Producer

Tom McNulty

Producer

Darrin Navarro

Editor

Angela Demo

Casting

Barbara J. McCarthy

Casting

Linda Sena

Production Design

Jess Royal

Set Decoration

Peggy Stamper

Costume Design

Denise Tunnell

Makeup Department Head

Ryan Collins

Supervising Sound Editor

Ryan Collins

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Leslie Shatz

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Tim Limer

Sound Recordist

Matthew Bramante

Visual Effects Supervisor

Gresham Lochner

Visual Effects Producer

Gabe Hilfer

Music Supervisor

Season Kent

Music Supervisor

Walter Simonsen

Musician

Eric Milano

Foley Artist

Dan Cohen

Co-Producer

Billy Rosenberg

Co-Producer

Matthew Medlin

Executive Producer

Scott Neustadter

Executive Producer

Marc Shmuger

Executive Producer

Michael H. Weber

Executive Producer

Katie Willard Troebs

Associate Producer

Moe Coles

Hair Department Head

Gindy Martin

Key Makeup Artist

Caprice Green

Key Hairdresser

Nicolas Harvard

Second Unit Director

Nicolas Harvard

First Assistant Director

Matthew Medlin

Second Unit First Assistant Director

Rico Savage

Second Assistant Director

Henry Auerbach

Dialogue Editor

Wade Barnett

ADR Recordist

Thomas Curley

Sound Mixer

Tom Efinger

ADR Recordist

Paul Hammond

ADR Recordist

Jim Hawkins

Sound Mixer

Perry Levy

Foley Mixer

Travis MacKay

ADR Mixer

Matt Robinson

Boom Operator

Callie Thurman

Assistant Sound Editor

Ben Whitver

ADR Recordist

Scott Dale

Stunt Coordinator

Marcelle Coletti

Stunt Double

Andy Rusk

Stunt Double

Josh M. Allen

Gaffer

Paul Varrieur

Second Unit Director of Photography

Reviews

tmdb39513728

February 9, 2015

Staggering Negligence

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Directors come in all shapes and sizes. They range from megalomaniacal tyrants to milquetoast mice. The best ones are virtually invisible, suggestive, telepathic, allowing their talent and techies to excel, while quietly, expertly weaving together their grand vision. James Ponsoldt is either halfway there, or on his way to nowhere. It's obvious he frees up plenty of slack to let his actors run loose, but they don't always know which direction they're heading, and seem to be improvising without a script, which is interesting in a way, for a while, since it gives the movie a semi-reckless, naturalistic feel. The plan is there is no plan. And if the stars magically align in his favour, everyone wins.

The problem is some actors really do need direction. Miles Teller, jester of the present, boy without a future, looks awkward and lost much of the time, which may coincide with his character. Without proper guidance, sometimes he gets it right, sometimes trying too hard to be carefree, otherwise not knowing how to shine in the spotlight. He's probably just trying to keep his gears aligned with Shailene Woodley, who once again radiates, this time as a brainy Cinderella on a collision course with a broken heart. Seems she will redeem a second-rate picture every time. Yet again managing to rescue a movie that appears to have little purpose or scheme other than pairing up various young actors and assembling a series of romantic skits. Many scenes end abruptly, probably because the actors ran out of steam. Exhausting the moment. Making the now spectacular isn't easy when the director is absent.

Then there's the accident-from-nowhere scene. When Miles cries out and orders Shailene out of the car in the middle of nowhere and, once stepping out on the freeway, is suddenly struck out of frame by a speeding bus. My heart jumped. Okay I'm awake now. I was ready to forgive the director's sheepishness up to that point, which was, I hoped, only a decoy to set up a fatal or near-fatal accident scene, one that was going to turn the narrative completely on its head. I was next expecting to find Woodley in a coma, a wheel-chair, or completely disfigured. And Miles being tested by an act of fate. How will he answer to this? But the story plods along as if nothing happened. Which I'm sure nothing did, not in the script or on location. It had to be a sensationalized CGI stunt contrived in the editing room to inject the tedious narrative with a much-needed shot of adrenaline. Cheap trick. This is clearly the sign of poor story-telling and a director that isn't in command of his position.

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$2,500,000

Revenue

$6,854,611

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The Spectacular Now (2013)

Tim Tharp, Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

tmdb39513728

Recommended Movies

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Your Heart Will Be Broken

The Shawshank Redemption

Project Hail Mary

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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