For this week’s spotlight piece, I wanted to take a look at an up and comer who’s just joining the A-list, but one who does so with the potential to go to some extraordinary places. I’m talking of course about Miles Teller, someone who really could turn out to be the best actor of his generation. A mix of John Cusack and Vince Vaughn (plus his own unique flavor), Teller is going places, plain and simple. He’s only got about 20 credits to his name, but in his short time on the big screen he’s already established himself as someone worthy of the A-list.
Teller got his start pretty quickly when, after only a few appearances in shorts and a guest spot on the TV show The Unusuals, he was cast in a main supporting part opposite Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole. An Oscar player all season long, folks immediately took note of this kid, naming him someone to watch. If they only knew how right they were. In fact, less than a half decade later, he’s already turned in a couple of performances that are miles (no pun intended) above this high bar. He next showcased some dancing skills in the Footloose remake and had an odd cameo/supporting role in Project X, two movies that let him stretch out from the dark dramatic work he debuted with. The best was still yet to come though.
Teller really established himself last year though, when he blew people away in The Spectacular Now. Playing a wise cracking teen who lives in the moment but comes to find that existence hollow due to his relationship with Shailene Woodley’s good hearted character, Teller stretched and wins you over in a big way. It’s a touching performance in a nearly perfect film. Teller and Woodley have tremendous chemistry and this was the role that I feel started the actor off on this path to the A-list.
Since then, he’s had a few comedies/romantic comedies in 21 & Over, That Awkward Moment, and Two Night Stand (which happens to be much better than you’d expect and well worth seeking out) that have showcased him either as a comedian or as a romantic lead, while he’s also taken a big step into the mainstream with a notable part in the epic Divergent. The success of Divergent is his entrance to the big A-list rankings, but it’s the work he’s [...]
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