Sundance smash THE SPECTACULAR NOW has released the first clip ahead of it’s limited US release next month giving us a glimpse of just why the movie was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and walked away with the Special Jury Prize for acting for it’s two stars at the film festival in January.
Miles Teller plays Sutter Keely, your typical party-hard American high school teenager whose world is turned upside down when he meets Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley) and embarks on a romance with the not-so-typical outsider. Directed by James Ponsoldt (SMASHED) and with a supporting cast including Mary Elizabeth Winstead (SMASHED), Brie Larson (United States of Tara) and Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) the movie aims to portray the emotion behind high school romance.
The director James Ponsoldt recently described why the scene released today is one of his favourite and gave a little bit of background into the shooting of the pivotal moment:
‘This is one of my favorite scenes in the entire movie. I always knew I wanted to film in it one long, continuous, unedited take, walking and talking with Aimee and Sutter, feeling like we — the audience — are part of a natural conversation that ebbs and flows from goofy and awkward to serious to emotional to flirtatious and nervous to … a first kiss. I wanted the scene to feel as natural as life. Of course, it meant that the burden was on Shailene and Miles to nail the scene (in a long take, everything has to come together perfectly, or else the shot is useless), and our camera operator had to back-pedal for 5 minutes on a muddy, slippery path.
What Shailene and Miles ultimately did in this scene is so casual and unguarded and spontaneous that some people think the scene was improvised. It wasn’t. Shailene and Miles are just that great as actors — so present, so connected to their roles, and so willing to embrace whatever happens in the moment (bumping into a tree branch or swatting a pesky mosquito, hearing rumbling storm clouds, etc.).
To put it simply, here’s why this scene is one of my favorites: It actually feels like two people falling for each other. I’ve seen this scene over a thousand times and I still get chills when Miles and Shailene kiss. I’m so, so inspired by their beautiful work.’
What a build up! Check out the clip below to see what Ponsoldt is talking about and join us here at THN in praying for a UK release date!
Originally from deep in the London suburbs Vicky is now enjoying the novelty of being able to catch a night bus home from anywhere in the city. Her favourite films are anything John Hughes is involved in, SAY ANYTHING and DEAD POETS SOCIETY. Don't mention the rumour she once served cold tea to Robert Webb and Olivia Coleman. Find her on twitter @chafferty
Pingback: Initial Clip From ‘The Stunning Now’ ReleasedCelebrity Blog | Celebrity Blog