“The Spectacular Now” continually takes us in unexpected
directions, giving the film surprising depth. The two leads, Miles Teller’s
Sutter Keely and Shailene Woodley’s Aimee Finicky, are so well drawn and
believably portrayed that it’s impossible not to accept them as real. And it’s
important to stress how good Teller and Woodley are. These are relatable
characters with recognizable behaviors. They display none of the superficial
aspects that are so evident in coming-of-age movies. So a lot of credit for
that has to go to the script adapted from Tim Tharp’s novel by Scott Neustadter
and Michael H. Weber. (They also wrote 500
Days of Summer.)
Sutter (Teller) is the smooth-talking kid who has an answer
for everything, makes friends easily and seems to be gliding through life. Until
he isn’t. Sutter always has a soft-drink cup with him, a cup that always has
booze in it, and Sutter always seems to have a slight buzz most of the time.
The night his girlfriend Casssidy (Brie Larson) breaks up with him, Sutter gets
really, really drunk. He wakes up in the front yard of a home he doesn’t
recognize with Aimee (Woodley) standing above him. He doesn’t know her, but she
knows who he is. He’s part of the popular crowd; she’s quiet, studious and
polite. You think you know where this is going, but things don’t happen that
way. She doesn’t overnight blossom into a beautiful butterfly. These two kids
have parent issues and they help each other muddle through. Aimee has plans for
the future; Sutter lives for the now, the spectacular now, which barely
disguises his fear of what the future may hold. You know from the start that
Sutter has a drinking problem and you wince as he teaches Aimee how to drink.
Nonetheless, tension comes from Aimee’s vulnerability and Sutter’s
heedlessness. The ending is not tidy, but it does allow a measure of hope.
You’re rooting for Sutter and Aimee although, perhaps, not together. “The
Spectacular Now” is finely made and deeply felt.
I had a different experience with "The Spectacular Now." While I agree the acting of Sutter's and Aimee's characters helped the film's believability and enjoyment factors, I found the storytelling to be on the weaker side. I don't agree with or understand why the filmmaker decided to spend screen time where he did. It felt like so much effort was spent on establishing characters and relationships, that once the journey really began, the story elements seemed to skip steps, and the viewers are asked to take leaps that could have been more satisfying if they were better fleshed out. As far as a coming of age movie, I can understand your commentary on this being a refreshing depiction, but it sadly left me a little disappointed and unfulfilled.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the narrative has holes. The director takes the easy way out with the solution. But I liked that Aimee is strong enough to move on with her goals.
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