The Spectacular Now
A beautiful rarity of a coming-of-age story, from that title to note-perfect casting, The Spectacular Now is one of the year’s finest discoveries. Starring Miles Teller (Rabbit Hole) as Sutter, Lloyd Dobler with a drinking problem, and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) as bookish Aimee, the film follows their last few months of high school and the future that looms as they fumble into love. Both leads offer layered, inscrutable performances—Teller waffling between cocky and broken, Woodley trying to kill her inner Rory Gilmore—that really click into place during an unfortunate trip to see Sutter’s father (Kyle Chandler, totally hatable). Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brie Larson and Bob Odenkirk fill in the corners of this authentic, familiar world as director James Ponsoldt (Smashed) finds much beauty in his generic rural-suburban setting. Do not miss.