The Spectacular Now (Blu-ray + Digital HD)

My rating is more of a 3.5.Thanks for reading in advance!The Spectacular Now is a 2013 American coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by James Ponsoldt, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, and starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. Based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Tim Tharp about a high school senior grappling with alcoholism.Without a smidge of a doubt: the success of ‘The Spectacular Now’ is due largely to the performances of both Teller and Woodley. More specifically, the vulnerability and authenticity of their separate contributions Is elevated by their non-Stop chemistry that is electrifying and palpable. Their interactions with one another remain relatively grounded and even those that had the potential to be unnecessarily dramatic - like in one scene where their characters are shown having sex for the first time - are kept secure enough to reflect experiences that are bound to resonate with their target audience. There is a particular reason why I chose to use the phrase “target audience” just now; for those of you that are unfamiliar with my movie review technique I find it important to share that I always begin by making a list of things I anticipate having comments about before even starting the film. After reading the summary of ‘The Spectacular Now’ I got a little worried about the role that Aimee (Woodley) would play in the grand scheme of things. It is common to use romantic interests - especially women - as a way of lazily explaining how individuals that display troubling behavior can change their lives for the better at what seems to be the drop of a hat. While I can say that it is true that Aimee challenges Sutter’s (Teller) expectations of normal (and, in some ways, playfully inspires him to make choices that significantly affect his life) there is still enough done to imply that Sutter’s potential development of a character isn’t vapidly attached to her existence - and this is arguably an important message for young and potentially vulnerable viewers.I’m reasonably torn on my thoughts regarding how the subject of alcoholism is touched on in this movie, however. On one hand, there is an attempt to provide a multifaceted explanation for why Teller drinks alcohol to the extent that he does. Through the use of personal anecdotes it’s made perfectly clear that the consumption of this substance has been normalized by his father starting from a very early age, and that this gives him a way to connect with family members he now has faint memories of that are understandably polarized in their favor. Secondly, alcohol is also alluded to as being a way for him to cope with situations that otherwise could make him uncomfortable. When he offers Aimee a drink and it is refused he casually retorts: 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒖𝒏.It’s such a tiny line - tiny enough to miss if one isn't paying attention - but it speaks to a whole other side of Sutter that is drenched with insecurity and uncertainty.Where my complimentary attitude in this regard ends is in how the use of alcohol is incorporated when the entire context is taken into consideration. I couldn’t help but notice that Sutter is often in situations where drinking recreationally is socially acceptable - like when in attendance at a party - and he doesn’t stand-out amongst his peers as someone developing a significant drinking problem. There is some integration of behavior that implies a problematic relationship with alcohol - like scenes in which he sneaks it in to his drinks at work - but these could rightfully be labelled as ‘cliche’ and don’t carry the emotional gravity they probably should. Even the climax - which, no spoilers, but involves a near fatal accident- ultimately feels like a hurried attempt to gift-wrap this struggle so as to put it up for auction. I am left wondering as an audience member how Sutter copes with situations where alcohol 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, and it’s truly a shame that this side of his story is criminally neglected.The question of whether or not the book or movie is better can be a difficult one, and this case is of no exception. Tharp’s novel concludes on a wildly ambivalent note and doesn’t spoon-feed its audience a formulic story regarding redemption. This may seem to inch along the seams of pessimism, but it’s real and embraces characters that are jagged in spirit and rough around the edges. Ponsoldt’s vision ends on a point that leaves room for interpretation while simultaneously encapsulating themes which serve as a common thread for the coming-of-age genre.In no way can I say this film blew me away - but what one can consciously take out of this film is larger than the attention people may be willing to give it in the first place. It struggles in many ways with establishing personalities that are multi-dimensional, but this love-letter to grief, painful introspection,and rising above our current circumstances is far from falling on deaf ears.I would recommend!

Wow, watching commercial movies it's easy to think that teenagers and high schooldom are a state. This movie relays the thought of individual people as spirited single dimensions. This fickle desire to capture a real oppression, and some of the pan shots of whole yards around a house in a pointed picture, make this a so-called art film, or at least a project of indieness. Sutter Keely(Miles Teller), is the senior that martials the perception that this is going to be a teen 'romp'. Night and daytime are the same to the environment of Sutter. At a bar, there are temptations to drink. During the day with Sutter driving his car, there are the familiar retail facilities with common elevated facades of stucco and red panel borders being passed. Sutter meets a girl named Aimee Finecky(Shailene Woodley) and a premature romantic disturbance gets absorbed into the carefree attitude of Sutter. This is a major exchange, but it's not the only interruption which beckons Sutter to embrace a rallying of deep sentiments. The brilliant sunshine is an illusion that lusts to be investigated; the tiers of moods have tomes of inevitable responsibilities, a hazier, denser rainment. In one of these young rays, Sutter says to Aimee: "You don't love me...Aimee what's the matter with you?...Do you not see that I am bad for you?" This is an intangible breech of our conceptions. Teenage-ality is an Eden and Nirvana and not a time slot in memory. Through the recounting of Sutter's senior year experience "The Spectacular Now" becomes a unique film of adolescence. "The Spectacular Now" rewards us with insights that are like messages being compelled from a nuance being traced intently. Initially I was jealous of Sutter. He is everything that I wasn't in highschool-popular. I learned a lot through his observations, and these manipulative feelings. It could be any time in life that one could direct strange and sensual energies towards a mature reservoir, and pursue a dream such as Aimee. It doesn't say where this movie takes place, but I read in Wikipedia that it was shot in Athens, Georgia.

Good film with some excellent young actors in it, the only real problem I had was that the movie doesnt really have much of a plot to it, its more just a film following the final few weeks of a kids days at school and doesnt really have an over-riding plot other than that. Still enjoyed the film and it touches on a couple of hard topics and handles them well.

I've very rarely watched many independent films; but as a fan of Shailene Woodley I decided to check it out and I'm glad I did as The Spectacular Now is a very touching film with two great performances from its lead actors in Woodley and Miles Teller.

Pity the French subtitles are irremovable & it's spoiled by French packaging & DVD menu but the movie is really enjoyable, Miles Teller & Shailene Woodley work great together, thankyou very much

Bought a region free dvd player purely for this dvd as it's unavailable for purchase in the UK for some reason.Plays in a foreign language but you can change the audio AND subtitles to English.

I'm in the uk and when I put the DVD in the player it said wrong reigon because it only works in the USA.