Following rave reviews out of Sundance and the SXSW Film Festivals–check out our own right here— director James Ponsoldt’s The Spectacular Now hits theaters in a limited release this Friday, August 2nd with a cast led by Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley that also includes Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Based on Tim Tharp’s 2010 novel of the same name, The Spectacular Now follows the life of high school senior Sutter Keely (Teller) who, despite his charm and popularity, has trouble planning for the future and is instead intent on living in the moment. When he and his girlfriend (Larson) break up, Sutter winds up developing a relationship with a quiet, decidedly less outgoing girl, Aimee Finicky (Woodley). It’s through their relationship that Sutter begins to reexamine his life and question what it’s going to take to live beyond the now.
ComingSoon.net sat down to speak with Teller and Woodley about Ponsoldt’s approach to working with actors and the film’s realistic take on high school life. Teller also discusses Chandler’s method approach to playing his father, explaining that he didn’t really “meet” his co-star until promoting the film at Sundance.
Check out the video interview in the player below and catch The Spectacular Now in select theaters August 2. It will expand nationwide on August 23.
