Review of The Spectacular Now (2013) by Carlos M — 31 May 2016

This might be the best romantic drama, coming of age story and American teen film I've seen in YEARS. It's quite possibly the best film of 2013. Yes, this unassuming little indie film is absolutely incredible. With no-frills, it's gorgeously shot and set in (a very purposeful) everyday American suburban town and looks wonderful, with long wide shots of a rustic setting and painfully emotive close ups. It's one of those films that looks how it feels; capturing the beauty of every day life.

The writing is so natural that I can't even wrap my head around how it was written. It couldn't have been, because the performances here are so natural, so authentic and so powerful, that the actors must have just carried themselves. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley crackle with deep humanity and mesmerizing chemistry and it's awe inspiring to watch. For such a simple story, watching these two people fall in love before your eyes beats almost any cinematic experience I've seen over the past few years.

Woodley might have been snubbed for an Oscar nomination with this performance. She doesn't even seem like she's acting. And Teller, playing the carefree party guy he typically does (and does well), adds a whole level of depth and complexity. The film is almost subversive in how it plays with our expectations and because of that, I feel like it's the definitive American coming of age story of the decade. A must watch.