The Spectacular Now (2013)

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: James Ponsoldt
Writers: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, Tim Tharp
Starring: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Masam Holden

"HITS YOU LIKE A SHOT IN THE HEART"

A romantic teenager coming-of-age movie that gets it right.

Sutter (Miles Teller) is a charming high school senior who enjoys drinking, a self-proclaimed "life of party" who lives for the present and does not care about the future. One day, in the midst of his girlfriend dumping him, he meets Aimme, a "good girl" whom he develops a strong romantic bond with and who makes him get a new perspective in life.

Based on the novel of the same name by Tim Tharp and adapted for the screen by the writers of 500 Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now is a film that repeatedly upturns the clichés of the teenage movie genre, adding up to something pretty special and creating one of the best, most compelling cases for growing up ever put on film.

Plot summary from IMDb: Sutter Keely lives in the now. It's a good place for him. A high school senior, charming and self-possessed, he's the life of the party, loves his job at a men's clothing store, and has no plans for the future. A budding alcoholic, he's never far from his supersized, whiskey-fortified thirst-master cup. But after being dumped by his girlfriend, Sutter gets drunk and wakes up on a lawn with Aimee Finecky hovering over him. She's different: the "nice girl" who reads science fiction and doesn't have a boyfriend. While Aimee has dreams of a future, Sutter lives in the impressive delusion of a spectacular now, yet somehow, they're drawn together.

Awards: 11 wins & 28 nominations.
Runtime: 95 min
R