On July 11, the Walker got a first look at The Spectacular Now, with director James Ponsoldt on site to answer audience questions about the film after a preview screening. The film has a local connection: co-producer Billy Rosenberg, who was also here for the premier, grew up in the Twin Cities. The movie is about a charismatic troublemaker teen growing up in Athens, Georgia, Ponsoldt’s own hometown; in his introduction to the film, Ponsoldt likened the film’s rebellious protagonist to his 18-year-old self. Rosenberg compared himself to the protagonist’s geekier best friend—as he put it, still a troublemaker, but “one who doesn’t get caught.”
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