There have been many a film exploring the anxieties of teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, but few attain the aura of authenticity achieved by The Spectacular Now, directed by James Ponsoldt. With an excellent screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and a duet of fine performances, the film is a charming ode to the fleetingness of youth.
Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) seemingly has it all. He is universally liked, the life of every party and has an amazing girlfriend (Brie Larson). However, after a falling out involving a misunderstanding about a date set-up she breaks up with him, and he spends a drunken night out trying to forget about it. He is woken up on a stranger’s lawn by shy Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley) whilst she is on her paper route. After their chance encounter they begin an unlikely friendship, and a relationship soon begins to develop. Aimee encourages Sutter to find out more about his absent father, and in return she will proclaim her intentions to go to college despite her mother’s overbearing misgivings.
There is a refreshing sincerity to the screenplay, brought to life through two unaffected performances which seem to effortlessly play off each other. Woodley is wonderful as the reserved, caring Aimee, and her performance is filled with awkward glances and an endearing naivete. Teller plays the charming Sutter with an effortless ease, infusing his performance with a relaxed, casual charisma that nevertheless provides hints and glimpses of an underlying insecurity. The script provides plenty of humourous moments, but they never feel forced or contrived because of the chemistry between the two leads, who tend to downplay such moments. Subsequently, the minimal use of make-up and the subtly enchanting score (with a notable absence of indie-pop or acoustic songs to frame the mood) only further encourages the audience to focus on the honesty of their unfolding relationship as teenagers on the precipice of adulthood.
The Spectacular Now is one of the better recent entries into the coming-of-age film genre, and its success is largely due to its commitment to depicting a believable portrait of teenage relationships and anxieties. Their conversations are by turns stilted, amusing, awkward, endearing or unexpectedly moving in their honesty, but always resonate with a sincerity that elevates this film to a memorable meditation on the ‘spectacular now’ that is youth.
The Spectacular Now screened at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival and will be in Australian cinemas from December 5 through Disney.
