Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2013)
MOVI ES BY MO LLY TEMP LETO N THE TEENS ARE ALL RIGHT An unfiltered, bittersweet study in young love THE SPECTACULAR NOW: Directed by James Ponsoldt. Screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, based on the novel by Tim Tharp. Cinematography, Jess Hall. Editing, Darrin Navarro. Music, Rob Simonsen. Starring Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler and Jennifer Jason Leigh. A24, 2013. R. 95 minutes. 44426 M aybe the most bittersweetly delightful thing about James Ponsoldt’s The Spectacular Now is the way it captures the feeling of a drawn- out ending. For Aimee (Shailene Woodley), Sutter (Miles Teller) and their classmates, it’s the end of high school, a time when everything is bitingly vital and yet nothing matters much, since it’s all going to change in a few weeks anyway. What happens next is of the utmost importance, but no one really knows what that next thing will be, least of all Sutter, who has yet to get around to applying to college. At the movie’s start, he’s writing a half-assed essay about the worst thing that’s ever happened to him: getting dumped by his girlfriend, Cassidy (Brie Larson), a smart blonde who figured out that Sutter is paying more attention to her and his flask than to anything resembling a future. What The Spectacular Now teases out, gently and lightly, is that Sutter is full of shit: There’s more darkness in his life than one high school breakup. He’s one of those easy-breezy kids who has just enough charm to get himself TIX $2 Tix 21 & FOOD $5 Sun & Tues ovER MENU 762-1700 | 180 E. 5TH AVE davidminortheater.com THUR SEPT 12 - WED SEPT 18 THU out of most trouble and just enough cockiness that you can almost believe that nothing troubles him. When, the morning after not-quite humiliating himself at a party, a classmate he doesn’t recognize fi nds him on a stranger’s lawn, he takes it in stride. Aimee is out doing her mom’s paper route, so Sutter comes along for the ride, helping her throw papers so she’ll help him fi nd his car. It’s a very clear trade-off, but the relationship that follows is less tidily balanced, harder to defi ne and paced to perfection, with a few pauses for Sutter to pine after Cassidy. Soon Aimee has a fl ask of her own, and the kids are making deals about their relationships with their parents: Aimee has to stand up to her mom and tell her she wants to go to college. Sutter has to get in touch with his dad (played by Kyle Chandler in a twitchy, nervous performance that’s so spot-on, it’s uncomfortable to watch). This is a movie that would fall on its face were it not for its cast. Its teens look real, unpolished; their speech is dotted with overused words and nervous giggles, awkward pauses and uncertain replies. Teller has a weird charisma that was LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED 5:15 THE GREAT GATSBY 7:15 ® 492 E. 13th Ave. Tel: 541-686-2458 bijou-cinemas.com/bijouartcinemas BLUE JASMI JASMINE (PG-13) Fri-Sat 2:30, 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 Sun 1:00, 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 Mon 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 Tues 4:50, 9:30 Weds-Thurs 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 UO Cultural Forum presents a Special FREE Advance Screening of DON JON Tues 7:30 OREGON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Weds 6:00 WEST IS WEST $11/no passes Weds 7:45 SHORTS PROGRAM $9/no passes Weds 8:00 LA LLAMADA $11/no passes MUD 7:15 NOW YOU SEE ME 9:45 9:45 “TEXT-A-BEER” 541-913-5733 ORDER DRINKS & FOOD RIGHT FROM YOUR SEAT “NO LONGER SNEAKING BEER INTO THE MOVIES SINCE 2008” WANT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? ADVERTISE WITH THE EUGENE WEEKLY CALL US TODAY 541-484-0519 43 W. Broadway Tel: 541-686-2458 bijou-cinemas.com/ bijoumetro KONTIKI (OSCAR NOMINEE) The Spectacular Now opens at the Bijou Friday, Sept. 20. SHOWTIMES FOR WEEK OF FRI, SEPT 13 - THURS, SEPT 19 AIN'T THEM BODIES SAINTS (R) Fri-Tues 3:15, 5:35, 8:00, 10:15 Weds 3:15, 10:15 Thurs 5:35, 8:00, 10:15 CHASING ICE 5:15 also on display in Rabbit Hole, and Woodley, who’s poised to inherit Jennifer Lawrence’s teen-movie crown, is so good as Aimee that it makes the character’s shortcomings even more frustrating. Aimee is a good-hearted doormat, a mirror, and the screenwriters (working from Tim Tharp’s novel) work hard to justify the box the story puts her into. When things go off the rails, her suffering is due to her own behavior, which is self-destructive when it comes to Sutter — but the movie is about Sutter, and what he fi gures out as a result. Is it fair to want Aimee to be stronger? Is that asking for The Spectacular Now to be a different movie? Maybe. (Maybe someday we’ll get the equivalent fi lm about a teenage girl.) It’s because of their fl aws and shortcomings that Aimee and Sutter are so recognizable; it’s because Ponsoldt focuses so closely on these specifi c teens, and their fears and weaknesses and moments of bravery, that the movie works so well. Honest, smart and ugly in turns, it’s a coming-of-age story on a wonderfully realistic scale, unaffected and perfectly cast. ■ FULL METAL JACKET (1987) Fri-Weds 3:00, 7:50 AUSTENLAND (PG-13)12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:10, 9:15 IN A WORLD... (R) Fri 12:40, 2:50, 7:10 Sat 12:40, 2:50 Sun-Weds 12:40, 2:50, 7:10 Thurs 12:40, 2:50 CRYSTAL FAIRY (R) Fri-Weds 10:15p 20 FEET FROM STARDOM (PG-13) 12:10, 2:15, 7:50, 9:50 PRINCE AVALANCHE (R) 5:00, 9:30 BLACKFISH (PG-13) 6:00 DANCING SALMON HOME (NR) 4:20 THE WAY WAY BACK (PG-13) Fri 12:40, 5:30 Sat-Sun 5:30 Mon-Weds 12:40, 5:30 Thurs 12:40, 3:00, 5:30 BEST OF THE NORTHWEST ANIMATION FESTIVAL Sat 1:00, 7:15 HOW TO WATCH A MOVIE LIKE A FILM CRITIC w/Doug Hennessy Sun 1:00 OREGON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Thurs 8:00 EL MILAGRO $11/no passes Thurs 9:30 DRAMA PROGRAM $9/no passes Thurs 10:30 ANIMATION PROGRAM $9/no passes Gathr Preview Series presents ZERO CHARISMA Purch Adv Tix @ cinemark.com 800-326-3264 + Exp # CINEMARK 17 Gateway Mall - Beltline @ *DWHZD\ ([S&RGH Adv. Tix on Sale BATTLE OF THE YEAR IN REAL D 3D THE FAMILY [CC] (R) Fri. - Sat.(1130 210) 455 740 1025 INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 [CC,DV] (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(1200 230) 515 800 1035 THE FAMILY [CC] (R) Fri. - Sat.(130) 415 715 1010 INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 [CC,DV] (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(120) 400 700 1000 RIDDICK [CC,DV] (R) ★ Sat.(115) 405 710 1005 ONE DIRECTION: THE EXTENDED CUT IN REALD 3D [CC] (PG) ★ Sat.(350 PM) 705 PM 945 PM ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US THE EXTENDED CUT [CC] (PG) Sat.(105 PM) LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER [CC,DV] (PG-13) Sat.(100 355) 650 950 ELYSIUM [CC,DV] (R) Sat.645 PM 940 PM PLANES [CC,DV] (PG) Sat.(105 PM 345 PM) WE'RE THE MILLERS [CC,DV] (R) Sat.(110 340) 640 930 THE FAMILY [CC] (R) Fri. - Sat.(100) 400 700 950 LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER [CC,DV] (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(100 355) 650 945 ELYSIUM [CC,DV] (R) Fri. - Sat.(130) 430 715 950 THIS IS THE END [CC,DV] (R) Fri. - Sat.115 415 725 1000 Thurs 7:30 Times For 09/13 - 09/14 © 2013 2 GUNS (DIG) R 11:15, 1:50, 4:40, 7:15, 9:55 BLUE JASMINE (DIG) PG-13 11:35, 2:00, 4:30, 7:55, 10:20 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) PG 11:10, 1:55, 5:10, 7:50, 10:25 ELYSIUM (DIG) R 11:05, 1:40, 4:25, 7:05, 9:50 THE FAMILY (DIG) R 11:55, 3:20, 7:35, 10:15 INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 (DIG) PG-13 11:40, 2:15, 4:55, 7:25, 9:55 KICK-ASS 2 (DIG) R 4:15, 10:30 THE LEE DANIELS’ BUTLER (DIG) PG-13 11:30, 3:10, 7:00, 10:05 MORTAL INSTRUMENTS (DIG) PG-13 11:45, 3:15, 7:05, 10:10 ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US - EXTENDED FAN CUT (3D) PG SPE- CIAL EVENT PRICING: $3.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 3:30, 7:20, 10:00 MOVIES 12 THE CONJURING (DIG) R 4:55, 7:30, 10:05 THE HEAT R 12:00, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:20 IRON MAN 3 PG-13 12:05, 3:30, 7:25, 10:30 THE LONE RANGER PG-13 11:55, 3:40, 7:00, 10:15 MAN OF STEEL PG-13 12:25, 3:35, 7:05, 10:10 NOW YOU SEE ME PG-13 12:20, 3:10, 7:35, 10:25 PACIFIC RIM PG-13 2:15, 5:15, 8:45 ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US - EXTENDED FAN CUT (DIG) PG 12:05 PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS (3D) PG SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $3.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 2:10, 7:30 PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS (DIG) PG 11:20, 4:50, 10:10 PLANES (DIG) PG 12:00, 2:20, 5:05, 7:40, 10:00 RIDDICK (DIG) R 11:00, 1:45, 4:35, 7:30, 10:15 THIS IS THE END (DIG) R 11:50, 2:25, 5:00, 7:45 WE’RE THE MILLERS (DIG) R 11:25, 12:45, 2:05, 3:25, 4:45, 6:05, 7:20, 8:45, 10:05 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) PG-13 12:10, 7:00 THE WORLD’S END (DIG) R 11:00, 1:35, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45 Gateway Mall - Beltline @ *DWHZD\([S&RGH PACIFIC RIM (3D) PG-13 SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $2.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 12:30, 3:45, 7:15, 10:20 R.I.P.D. PG-13 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:40, 10:00 TURBO PG 12:55, 3:15, 7:10, 9:30 TURBO (3D) PG SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $2.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 11:45, 2:05 WHITE HOUSE DOWN PG-13 12:10, 3:25, 7:20, 10:25 WORLD WAR Z PG-13 11:50, 3:20, 6:15, 8:50 Assistive Listening and Captioning System Avail eugeneweekly.com • September 12, 2013 21
