There are seldom movies that are taken to the big screen that receive approving nods from critics. Take The Godfather by Mario Puzo and The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. And if you had no idea that this movie was from a novel by Tim Tharp, I feel sorry for you. HAHA! Just kidding. Anyway, here's my review:
Misfit's Summary:
Sutter Keeley is a senior at high school. He's the life of the party! He's the type of guy that thinks that he has it all : awesome school friends, parties every night, ladies everywhere, a stable job and the girl of his dreams right by his side. In a blur, he loses his girl and ends up drinking all night. He wakes up on a lawn in front of Aimee Finnicky, an awkward girl from school. The two of them hang out for the day and strike a friendship that Sutter did not expect. His friends wonder what he's doing with a girl like Aimee. His reason? He wants to make Aimee confident of herself. He wanted to do something good to prove a point to everyone and to his ex-girlfriend. In exchange for all of this, Aimee helps Sutter out with his failing classes. Sutter thinks his just helping Aimee out but he's slowly falling in love for her. Sutter learns that living in the now may not be enough to say that he's lived.
Misfit's Review:
Written for screen by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the screenplay writers for (500) Days of Summer and directed by James Ponsoldt, The Spectacular Now is a story of a guy who believes that the now is where he is meant to be, that thinking of the future would mean losing it all. It's also the story of love and acceptance and how it means to be with family and understanding each other.
One beautiful aspect of the film is it's wonderful adaptation of the novel. As someone who has read the book, I appreciate how true to the novel the movie is. As much as possible, all the details, from the parties, to the places, to the people and the scenarios and situation between Sutter and Aimee were almost snagged from and brought to life.
The casting is impeccable. Shailene Woodley deserves so much love and praise for her incredible acting. She brought out an inherent innocence to Aimee and a wide-eye wonder so distinct in the book. She also brought out an honesty and hurt to her character. Everything wrapped into Shailene's performance was sublime.
And then there's Miles Teller. I've seen Miles do comedies; his characters always so flamboyant, which his character in the film has. But Miles was able to pull off a hurt and edge to Sutter and I couldn't imagine anyone else to play the character. He was a wonderful revelation.
Everyone else in the film were great! From Brie Larson to Jennifer Jason Leigh, smooth acting I tell you all.
The cinematography was clear, not at all too dark or gloomy, just right, fitted for each scene of the film. Music was fine. Not too apparent but was enough to set the mood right. All in all, the technical aspects of the film were spot on.
The film is something you'd love to see with the ones you love, to value the now but never forget the future.
RATING:
OH! This is the part of the blog where I can share a bit of my sentiments about the ending. Would I change anything about it? ALTERNATE ENDINGS EVERYBODY!
REACTIVATE ALTERNATE ENDING POWERS!
Since the movie is almost true to the book, I have only one alternate ending suggestion... (THIS MAY INDUCE A SPOILER ALERT...EEP)
1. There could've been more interaction between Sutter and Aimee in the end. Maybe a hug or something intimate.
But it was still a lovely ending.
I WOULD LOVE TO CONGRATULATE THE WHOLE PRODUCTION TEAM FOR GETTING SHAILENE AND MILES' ACTING ON SUNDANCE AND ALLOWING THEM TO WIN THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR ACTING!!!! A WONDERFUL FILM ACTED OUT RIGHT DESERVES A WONDERFUL AWARD!
Thank you Misfits for always supporting me!!! I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND ALWAYS!!!
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