MOVIE - The Spectacular Now

R (1:35)

Limited release 8-2-2013

El Con 9-6-13

RT Critic: 91 Audience: 85

Cag: 5 Loved it 

Directed by James Ponsoldt

Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Fandango Summary:   Tim Tharp's unsentimental tale of adolescent frustration comes to the screen in this comedy-drama following the story of a sociable high-school senior whose self-delusion shattered by his emerging friendship with an unpopular classmate. Sutter Keely is one of the most popular kids in his class. Outgoing and fun-loving, he's completely oblivious as to what awaits him beyond high school. Lately, however, his drinking has started to become a problem. So when Sutter's girlfriend breaks things off, he reaches for the bottle without hesitation. Awakening in the grass under the gaze of studious, practical-minded sci-fi nerd Aimee Finicky, he isn't quite sure how he got into such a predicament. Over time, however, the two teens who couldn't be any more different on the surface realize they have more in common than either ever suspected..

My comments:  I thought this was a particularly good movie. Miles Teller reminded me greatly of John Cusack....and Shailene Woodley pulled off her part beautifully.  This was a really believable story - and even with all the drinking and self-doubt, I left the movie feeling optimistic.  I'd see it again.  It wasn't fluff.

MOVIE - Easy A

Delightful. Fun. Clever Released 9-17-10 PG-13 (1:33) 9-22-10 at El Con (with Marlene & dau. sitting behind me!) RT: 85 cag: 90 Director: Will Gluck Emma Stone, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Thomas Haden-Church, Olive Penderghast Sone, who is WONDERFUL in this part) gets the reputation of being hard and fast because of one overheard lie. Before she knows it, she's becomes the easiest girl in school - by reputation only. What happened to her might drive other girls to suicide, but because of her keen sense of humor and her ability to laugh at and with herself, she more than survives. Her parents, played by Clarkson and Tucci, are wonderful, totally unreal, and so much fun to watch. Thomas Haden-Church plays her high school English teacher....and he's great, too. There are so many reference to literature - from the Scarlet Letter to Huck Finn to Judy Blume - and many reasons to laugh and chortle. Set inj Ojai, California (which has a much smaller actual high school), it was filmed there, too. I've driven through there, just outside of Santa Barbara. I could tell. You can't take this movie seriously, it's not meant to be serious. If you do, then you're an old fart (even if you're 12). It's meant to be funny, silly, and give you a chance to roll your eyes a half dozen or so times. It's just plain fun....and quite well done.