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The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now

2013
Romance, Drama
1h 35m
Sutter is a high school senior who lives for the moment; Aimee is the introvert he attempts to "save." As their relationship deepens, the lines between right and wrong, friendship and love, and "saving" and corrupting become inextricably blurred. (sundance.org)
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The Spectacular Now

2013
Romance, Drama
1h 35m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 52.38% from 1627 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(1627)
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Rated 17 Apr 2014
75
77th
This sweet little coming of age flick comes dangerously close to being a high school soap opera but it's saved by memorable characters, strong performances and a nice ending.
Rated 21 Dec 2013
85
80th
Extremely compelling coming-of-age tale. Teller and Woodley put this on their backs... really, their chemistry is so god damn good and believable it's insane. It is pretty cripplingly depressing at times, but that's fine. It's not really funny, but it's wonderful watching these two share moments together and wrestle with their own problems. It's not a revelation, it's just an amazingly well put together movie on all fronts.
Rated 04 Jan 2014
95
91st
In the early going Sutter Keely feels like the kid you want to be. He is the most loved kid in every room he walks into, the light of the party. He may have all these friends, but he never takes anything seriously. Yet, like Sutter himself says repeatedly through-out the film there are two sides to every story. Aimee is his story, his one chance to make things different. Teller and Woodley are sensational, grounding the film in true chemistry in both an endearing and heartbreaking fashion.
Rated 30 Jan 2014
70
54th
It's a step in the right direction for Ponsoldt and a significant improvement from his previous effort. This charming teenage tale of love and budding maturity may be inconsistent and inadequately fleshed out but it is imbued with a genuinely affecting sense of youthful discovery and fragility that is refreshing to behold. The excellent Teller and Woodley are bound for great things.
Rated 22 Nov 2013
9
85th
A teen movie that doesn't talk down to it's audience, and whose characters genuinely feel like 17 year olds, instead of "what a 17 year old sounds like".
Rated 17 Jan 2014
74
62nd
Moved along ok, things were too easy with serious issues, and made serious issues of easy things. Still, had it's moments.
Rated 20 Jun 2015
10
98th
Buttery cinematography, crisp editing, and intoxicatingly good turns from Woodley, Teller, and Chandler here present an incredibly realistic, nuanced, and heart-wrenching tale of young love and life. The characters are truly human: complex and dynamic, their language (spoken and unspoken) stuttering, imperfect. The story similarly aches with the subtleties and drama of authentic teen life, building to a fittingly unresolved ending. Sad and endearing, sweet and torturous, this film is a must-see.
Rated 13 Feb 2021
88
78th
This flick isn't a coming-of-age drama full of weiner kid teenagers navigating normal adolescent problems with a privileged melodramatic flair. Instead, it genuinely spotlights the obstacles of a child of an alcoholic. There's a sweet, natural intimacy in some parts, including the wonderful walk in the woods sequence & the love scene. All told, it works as a lovely romance, although I could've done without the dude "learning" a lesson from a girl he emotionally tortured.
Rated 03 Jul 2015
88
57th
Pretty compelling coming-of-the-age movie, The Spectacular Now may not offer a lot of new grounds to the table, but I can see why everyone enjoyed it. The characters and story/events are obviously gonna be something to relate to for some and the acting is great as well as the noticeably good directing.
Rated 01 Sep 2013
30
22nd
Unfortunately, that brings us to the corruption part of the equation. In the process of helping Sutter move in more mature directions, Aimee gets sucked into immature, immoral and treacherous ones herself. She cheerfully surrenders her virginity to Sutter without much thought of the consequences. And she succumbs significantly to Sutter's drinking habits too. In short, she pays a steep price to serve as something between a muse and a salvific figure to Sutter. (pluggedin.com)
Rated 19 Dec 2013
73
92nd
A strong 'Say Anything...' (1989) vibe - and as with that one, all the brilliant small details and respect for the characters make the whole an irresistible and timeless a boy meets girl story. The intriguing support are all solid, K.Chandler especially again delivers a strong case for more and meatier film-roles in his post-FNL career - and the two leads are both just quietly spectacular. *Preview*: #13#, story, ratings, writers/1, director Ponsoldt/1, cast, R4.
Rated 26 Dec 2013
66
66th
Yeah, catchy and heart-warming and full of bright remarks like any well-written novel bound for young hearts, but you have to give Ponsoldt some credit for making this full-of-facts story work in just 95min and giving the key scenes -- walk in the woods during that party at the lake, the conversation about Aimee moving to Philly after graduation -- a slow pace that most coming of age flicks don't dare to show. Also: I was shocked by how old Jennifer is and found Miles too Vince-Vaughn-ish.
Rated 26 Dec 2013
2
17th
a wonderfully un-self conscious woodley performance and some emotive visual choices do wonders to paper the cracks of this increasingly facile, regrettably male-centric screenplay about proto-deadbeat boys stepping out of their deadbeat dads' shadow. the trite conclusive scene reveals just how misplaced the filmmakers' attentions are though, and the final look on aimee's face reminds of what a wasted opportunity this thing is.
Rated 29 Dec 2013
65
65th
The director and the young actors manage to capture the spirit of the novel wonderfully. The story feels honest, and portrays the egocentric mindset of the teenager perfectly. It's a good filmatization, but can't fix the main problem of the book: it has nothing new to say.
Rated 02 Feb 2014
80
71st
Here's a fine example of a wonderful independent film that didn't get enough of a fair shake because of its absolute shit marketing that gives zero indication that its title is ironic, that its protagonist is deeply flawed, or that it's more of a subtle character study than a goddamn youth anthem. Sutter's alcoholism and the way he convinces himself that his way of life is ideal are disturbing undercurrents to a narrative formula that in many ways resembles a classic Hughes flick.
Rated 09 Feb 2014
50
31st
As such it is well made, but it still becomes a bit boring. It doesn't take any chances. It doesn't surprise us. It stays within the lines of what's been done before and therefore it simply does not stand out. It lacks bite or tension; a scene or a performance, something to pick from it if I were to recommend it. The Way Way Back and The Kings of Summer are moth much more memorable.
Rated 11 Mar 2014
74
54th
The story feels a bit underdeveloped, but the director and the cast do a fine job.
Rated 25 Apr 2014
84
84th
Wow, pretty, intense, open-ended. Maybe not the style most teenage romance movies go, but this one's a jewel. Main actors deserve a real praise - I've rarely been so disappointed in a guy as Miles Teller portrays it, while Shailene Woodley just shows what an outstanding and loveable actor she really is!
Rated 26 Aug 2014
82
74th
Most of the movie delightfully plays around with cliches of teen love plots, but the ending is where it exceeds it's peers and elevates to one of the better romance movies in the past few years.
Rated 30 Oct 2014
80
83rd
Shailene Woodley is crazy gorgeous and amazing in this. Miles Teller was also quite satisfying in his role. Brie Larson and Jennifer Jason Leigh were also very satisfying. This is a well made sensitive story that deals with realistic and compelling issues. It was entirely convincing and engaging. Great production quality. It was entertaining and interesting throughout. Excellent writing and directing. And a good hopeful ending.
Rated 17 Feb 2015
70
61st
Doesn't do anything poorly but at the same time nothing makes me fall in love with it either. Give it a shot if you've already seen the better films of the genre and don't want to re-watch them.
Rated 27 Feb 2015
85
91st
One of the most compelling and realistic coming of age stories in years.
Rated 12 Mar 2015
66
63rd
A different kind of high school movie. And a different kind of love story. Benefits from the young leads, but gets a bit melodramatic towards the end.
Rated 03 Jul 2015
1
12th
Total dogshit. Rarely do you see a main character less likable than Miles Teller. His problems are so meaningless and uninteresting that I spent most of the film just rolling my eyes. Your dad left you? So have literally millions of others. I really don't understand how anyone liked this. The conversations and subsequently the script was garbage. I give it 1 point for Shailene Woodley who gave life to nothing but this was just aggressively terrible.
Rated 15 Oct 2016
7
57th
Good Will Hunting, only Robin Williams plays a potato in this movie and Miles Teller is a mathematical putz.
Rated 08 Jul 2018
70
57th
A cool guy drinks way to much. Kids, do not drink as much as this cool guy. Even though everything he does is apparently "awesome", he has his fair share of problems. That's why he's drinking so much. But at least there is not the usual drama with his girlfriend. But she's also drinking, so maybe that's why they understand each other better than their peers. The ending was fucking cheesy and unnessessary. No one was drinking, so the whole scene was pointless.
Rated 16 Dec 2019
68
65th
This movie rides the chemistry of its leads and stays firmly on those tracks. That's good because if it didn't, the score would be lowered 10 points.
Rated 06 Jul 2022
83
69th
Sensitive, well-observed drama fits into the “coming of age” template; Teller and Woodley are equally outstanding, charting their stuttering relationship with bracing honesty, heading a terrific cast right down to the most minor of roles. Perhaps a shame that with Teller front and centre, Woodley lacks a decent narrative follow-through; perhaps reflecting Teller’s dazed state, the third act sacrifices an emotional sting for a more low-key ambience which leaves the film's impact somewhat muted,
Rated 25 Aug 2013
55
22nd
Mistaking misogyny for realism does not mean this "coming of age story" is innovative. Shailene Woodley, however, is a remarkable, natural talent.
Rated 25 Aug 2013
80
80th
Self-loathing life-of-the-party under-achiever meets unconfident over-achiever in a coming of age dramedy that's a cut above most of the rest of its genre. More drama than comedy but that's what gives it substance. (misogyny? WTF???)
Rated 26 Aug 2013
85
59th
Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley are great. I still don't know if it's the revelation some people say it is but I definitely liked it.
Rated 28 Aug 2013
5
57th
It's ultimately a very slight film, and when it's done it doesn't feel like that much has actually HAPPENED in its 95 minutes. But despite that it's mostly entertaining and moving and flew by for me. Teller and Woodley both do fine work and Kyle Chandler knocks his brief appearance out of the park. The movie's funny bits do a good job being convincingly funny without feeling like shoehorned comic relief.
Rated 28 Aug 2013
40
57th
Not exactly fun and enjoyable to watch, but the compelling story makes this a good movie.
Rated 06 Sep 2013
90
81st
A brutally honest and real look at teen romance and coming to grips with growing up. Shailene Woodley proves her great acting in The Descendants was no fluke with another strong turn.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
64
27th
Neither completely authentic nor completely thematically focused. In fact, it erratically bounces between these two poles, making it difficult to fully feel for the well-performed characters. Indeed, the actors give it their all, and there are a few scenes of wise & bold formalistic decisions. But it's just too slight and inevitably bland to leave a lasting affect. Actors deserved a better story.
Rated 27 Sep 2013
40
34th
Sort of like (500) Days of Summer in that it's billed as an offbeat, whimsical dramedy when it's actually just really depressing.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
2
19th
Sutter is a pretty awful guy.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
77
49th
Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley are both very good in this film about youth, love, and maturity. It's always good to see a teen film this sincere and intelligent. The relationship between the two leads is surprisingly multifaceted, and their ability to convey all the nuances involved is very impressive.
Rated 26 Dec 2013
90
92nd
Spectacular indeed...
Rated 27 Dec 2013
50
31st
"Nice."
Rated 29 Dec 2013
70
86th
pretty good movie main kid was good acting weak ending pretty good story would recommend to others
Rated 29 Dec 2013
74
62nd
genc, ayrilik, romantik, alkolik, müstehcen, ani yasa (Sutter kiz arkadasi Cassidy ile ayrilir. İcmekten sizmis bir sekilde cimenler üzerinde uyurken kendisini uyandiran Aimee ile tanisir. İkili zamanla arkadasliklarini gelistirirler. Aimee üniversiteyi kazanmistir fakat annesi izin vermemektedir. Sutter ile annesiyle ayrilan babasi ile görüsmek istiyordur fakat annesi onu engellemektedir. Sutter ablasindan babasinin numarasini alir ve babasiyla görüsür. Babasi hayatta hic bir hedefi
Rated 08 Jan 2014
3
65th
I found this movie pretty good, as many of those other good coming of age novels, which are made into movies. The two leads, Woodley and Teller have an excellent chemistry. Woodley is something special. I'm looking forward to seeing her again. It did'nt show me something I had not seen before, and the whole social heritage thing was a bit rushed. Excellent job by Chandler in that regard, though. Teller reminded me a bit of a young Vince Vaugn, hopefully he'll shake that off. - Good.
Rated 11 Jan 2014
90
85th
A surprisingly deep script is supported by two great young actors. Funny, sad and heartfelt.
Rated 14 Jan 2014
85
49th
great direction, has a wonderful pace, a little less humourous than 500 days
Rated 15 Jan 2014
80
44th
Ultimately forgettable but still very warm and caring portrait of youth. Woodley is a revelation.
Rated 15 Jan 2014
73
37th
It was a surprise how the characters even knew what "now" meant, since they were drunk most of the movie. I'd like to spend most of this review praising Shailene Woodley for her excellent performance. If it wasn't for her, this movie would have been terrible...
Rated 19 Jan 2014
70
71st
Solid coming of age flick made in the same spirit as The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And at one point it gave me a bigger scare than any horror/slasher-movie have ever done...
Rated 22 Jan 2014
71
85th
All too often high school romance films plunge into pitfalls of crass immaturity or cynicism. Watching this film I was constantly expecting it to go stupid. But in never took the easy way, in fact it got heavier and heavier without losing emotional sensitivity. Best teen romance film since Say Anything...
Rated 25 Jan 2014
70
64th
7- recommended, good :: Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Leaving Las Vegas.
Rated 26 Jan 2014
4
70th
Sheesh, somebody saw Say Anything... and thought it was way too upbeat. In a lot of ways it's a dark mirror-image of that one, but the fundamentals (fractured father-child relationship, outgoing dude helps girl blossom, etc.) are similar. Where it differs is that these characters aren't the model citizens that Crowe's are, and their relationship suffers the consequences. The ending is ambiguous and optimistic, but it's hardly an upper on the whole.
Rated 31 Jan 2014
83
75th
Great sexscene!
Rated 02 Feb 2014
52
24th
This film seems somewhat reminiscent of Buffalo '66 in its attempts to redeem a destructive, importunate, callow drunk by showing us the hidden self-esteem deficiencies that drive him. These attempts ultimately work to a degree, but getting to that last third of the movie requires slogging through the abjectly poorly-paced rest of the film. I mostly found myself watching in the hopes that Shailene Woodley's character would hurry up and outgrow him.
Rated 03 Feb 2014
92
86th
Wall-to-wall brilliant performances - Shailene Woodley transcendently complex, Miles Teller's finest work yet, Kyle Chandler revealing a dark side - supporting a powerful, earnest screenplay. Coming-of-age is one of my favourite genres, and TSN nails everything great about it: intense, ferocious and conflicting emotions; facing up to grown-up problems; the unique sense discovery and excitement the adult world brings with it. Imbued with palpable passion and a certain kind of nostalgic beauty.
Rated 04 Feb 2014
88
85th
Without a doubt one of my favourite teen growing up films ever. Shailene Woodley was great, the script and acting never falted and the plot was solid. I just wish Sutter wasn't such a nob.
Rated 11 Feb 2014
85
82nd
A compelling coming-of-age story with a somewhat relatable and heart warming story of young love and planning for the future. Teller plays his part extremely well and Woodley is as charming as ever. It felt more real and authentic than other coming of age stories due to the way the characters respond to each other and to what is happening on screen. If you enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower then you will love this.
Rated 12 Feb 2014
85
81st
This is not a perfect movie by a longshot; there are a few plot elements that seemed ill-advised, and one important section of the film gets a little bogged down. But the interactions between the characters feel realer than anything I've seen in movies this year*, even though Sutter's world of drinking and partying is a completely foreign country to me, and by the time it ends, I am rooting for every character in it. That's rare, and so is the believability of this film. *besides Enough Said.
Rated 18 Feb 2014
75
36th
Very little to say about this. Hits all the notes you would think, as a "selfish teen loser with a drinking problem completely disproportionate to his life circumstances"/earnest romantic indie comedy. How does that sound? Pretty awful, huh? Well, it's not. It's fine. Just fine. And the lead actor, you can tell, is going to be somebody before long. He'll probably play the "buddy" in another rom com or two, then get a shot as a funny lead like a mid-00s Jonah Hill.
Rated 25 Mar 2014
100
96th
a heartfelt tale about struggling with your own identity. shailene woodleys performance is simply amazing
Rated 29 Mar 2014
70
70th
You kind of fear where this movie might go when you first meet the life-of-the-party Sutter. But this one feels more real and intimate than many of the new teenage movie does, and sometimes "it's more too a person than just one thing." Woodley and Teller brings great chemistry to the film and with the screenplay it does a good job exploring the murkier side of first love.
Rated 12 Apr 2014
70
63rd
Good.
Rated 16 Apr 2014
89
46th
1230: good!
Rated 18 May 2014
85
80th
I watch hundreds of movies a year, so when people start speaking like *gasp* actual human beings, it gets my attention. Sure, the revelations of the characters are ordinary to people who are older and wiser, but to these young characters, they're genuinely earth-shattering. Movies aren't supposed to be about me - they only have to be true to themselves.
Rated 17 Jul 2014
85
79th
When I hear "high school coming-of-age drama" my mind is instantly flooded with thoughts of film making cliches that have been around as long as I have. But watching a movie like The Spectacular Now serves to remind me that it isn't so much what a movie does that matters, it's how it does it. On paper this movie hits every beat of the formula, but it's done with such restraint, subtlety, maturity and nuance that it transcends the cliches and turns into a pretty awesome movie.
Rated 30 Jul 2014
86
90th
A brilliant coming of age film that keeps you interested the whole way.
Rated 03 Sep 2014
30
16th
Nice movie poster, but very bad teenage movie.
Rated 09 Sep 2014
60
51st
Save for one or two good scenes, just kept reminding me of movies I liked more.
Rated 01 Oct 2014
70
77th
The Spectacular Now might not be particularly focused on its narrative, but its characters are top-notch and feel very realistic. We get to observe them for such a time that when the time comes for them to blossom - or fail - we understand exactly why either (or both) happens. Their relationship is sweet, the humor comes from a very natural place, and the production treats its teenage subjects with respect. The story goes in a darker direction than similar films, and it feels honest throughout.
Rated 02 Nov 2014
50
64th
Run-of-the-mill rom-com.
Rated 09 Nov 2014
80
70th
Pretty great coming of age film. Everything's in place. I liked the well-drawn (and cast) characters and the subtlety with which it tells things while telling the story.
Rated 06 Dec 2014
69
58th
The leads have good chemistry and bring an authentic feeling to the whole movie. The script is a little too predictable and a little too meandering. But the direction is well done and the movie sustains the perfect tone throughout.
Rated 10 Jan 2015
4
72nd
I really liked this one... It just kept keeping it "real"
Rated 12 Jan 2015
62
75th
One of the better young adult dramedies of last years, up there with Youth in Revolt, Adventureland etc. It has somewhat darker undertones than most films in it's genre, and takes some interesting turns. Good lead performances by Teller and Woodley, as well as supporting ones from Leigh, Chandler & Odenkirk.
Rated 10 Feb 2015
64
22nd
Okay, and with one incredible scene that came out of nowhere, but overall it's a film I'll probably totally have forgotten within a year.
Rated 20 Mar 2015
65
44th
This is not my genre, I was getting bored after an hour and probably won't remember anything from the movie in two weeks but Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley were wonderful, very natural performances.
Rated 03 May 2015
63
15th
this movie turned out to be everything all the reviews said it wasn't which was a bit confusing
Rated 10 Jul 2015
98
95th
I can relate to Sutter in a lot of ways which is probably why I like this movie so much. On the outside Sutter seems better than fine, but on the inside he's hurting. He grows up and faces his demons in a beautiful coming of age story.
Rated 12 Jul 2015
92
88th
Quite the "spectaculr" coming of age story. Some truly incredible directing and acting, as Teller and Woodleys chemistry oozes off the screen.
Rated 20 Aug 2015
92
92nd
Seen 3x
Rated 13 Apr 2016
78
50th
James Ponsoldt's directing caught me off guard. Beautiful, emotionally effective use of focus time and time again. Miles Teller delivers a gut-wrenching but at the same time heart-warming performance as Sutter. I thought Shailene Woodley honestly stole the show though. The chemistry between her and Miles was palpable in the first scene and it never lost its charm. Oh, and Brie Larson.
Rated 30 Apr 2016
65
35th
The chemistry between Woodley and Teller is commendable. This is enough to propel the mediocre coming-of-age tale above the bore that it could have been.
Rated 21 Nov 2016
90
85th
I simultaneously found the lead male character obnoxious and the movie very good.
Rated 19 Dec 2016
17
0th
This is the most badly written, awkwardly acted, terribly directed thing I've ever seen. Every conversation involving Sutter, Cassidy or Aimee seemed to be one giant awkward pause, which the actors tried to overplay with clichés, small-talk and head-nodding. And, I don't think I've ever been more painfully aware I'm watching adults pretending to be teenagers. The sex scene, the dinner scene, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Lee, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and the ending were great, though.
Rated 06 Aug 2017
70
64th
A sweet coming of age drama that feels real. Great performances too.
Rated 07 Aug 2017
47
23rd
Aimless and only occasionally charming, it's a coming of age movie that seems to think both youth and adulthood are mostly detached and boring.
Rated 15 Aug 2017
78
57th
Not really convinced by this teen morality tale. The blaring "don't drink" message kind of drowned out anything else the story might have had to offer. I mean the mismatched couple were cute, but they didn't really stay together long enough to sustain my interest. The rest was pretty forgettable. No idea how Shailene survived that hit-and-run.
Rated 03 Oct 2017
65
22nd
Miles Teller and Shaliene Woodley deliver heartfelt performaces, but the film slows down to a halt in the final hour.
Rated 25 Jan 2020
90
70th
Pretty simplistic but never lost my attention. Maybe it was the refreshing authenticity. Good acting and chemistry from the 2 main characters.
Rated 20 Apr 2020
75
69th
Wow, a teenage romance that isn't completely insufferable. Almost fools you into thinking that high school isn't the miserable piece of shit it actually is. Almost.
Rated 27 Mar 2021
56
64th
This is coming of age done differently, with honesty to spare.
Rated 06 Jul 2021
10
99th
I really really like this. Teller & Woodley are very natural and realistic, and the portrayal of Teller's character is something I relate to personally a lot. I enjoyed the downs as much as I enjoyed the ups. I felt very moved by this because it's a striking mirror of not just me, but I think what a lot of people feel at this age. They are layers to this that i can't really explain, but their chemistry does it perfectly. This is a close to a perfect movie, and a high recommendation.
Rated 09 Aug 2021
76
73rd
Host ratings: 72 / 87 / 70. (High School Showdown) Podcast review link: https://rydeorwrong.podcaster.de/rydeorwrong/folge-020-showdown-die-besten-highschool-filme/
Rated 23 Aug 2021
30
34th
Depressing, cliche and disjointed. The themes here are worth exploring, but unfortunately the writing just doesn't work. It's messy. Woodley is good and well cast. Teller, not so much. To be fair, I can't think of anyone who could have pulled it off. It's a poorly developed, unappealing, cartoonish role. The ending is astoundingly absurd. The sex scene is gratuitous and creepy. Ironically, there's too much emphasis on the superficial, fleeting moments and fails to capture the big picture.
Rated 17 Aug 2022
79
44th
I thought this was a pretty okay coming of age story but it makes you mad at the end so idk

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