What Gives?

It was only a matter of time before Lois Lowry's literary masterpiece was given its due on the big screen. I may not have the time (and I definitely don't have the money) to see every movie that comes out, but I had to go see this movie, if for no other reason than that the book is phenomenal. 


But even before I could go see the movie, I was hearing all kinds of reviews.  Critics have swarmed the movie in a veritable Zerg Rush (Google it), eager to rip apart the seemingly defenseless film. 

Critics can smell fear!  

Not all the water in the well was bitter, so to speak.  A lot of people had good things to say about The Giver.  But I believe in forming my own opinions, and so I began my own Giver experience. 

Before I get into my thoughts on the movie, I should probably give you a summary of the plot.  Just in case you didn't read the book. 

 

A Not-So-Quick Overview

The stage is set in the futuristic utopia known as the Community, where Jonas (played by Brenton Thwaites) and his friends live without pain, without fear, and without conflict.  All of that changes when Jonas is selected as the Community's Receiver.  All the collective wisdom and memories of the old world are to be shared with him by none other than the book's namesake, the Giver (that's Jeff Bridges, by the way).  But as Jonas learns of life before the Ruin, before the Community, he realizes that the people around him are, as the Giver eloquently puts it, "living a life of shadows."  In his attempts to understand his place in the Community and share his knowledge, he makes enemies of pretty much everybody, including the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep), his authoritarian not-mom (Katie Holmes), and all of his childhood friends.  Jonas is forced to make the same decision the Giver once had - conform or be exiled. 

Sound Familiar? 

What if I simplify it like this:

Good-looking teenager is victimized by a corrupt government and must fight the power!  Of course what good is any story without a love interest, there's definitely got to be one of those.  And how could I forget, there's the alpha-female that tries to bend the protagonist to her will in between officiating ceremonies and designating careers.  Can't forget those. 

Yeah, definitely familiar.  That's because many of these young adult themes have already had their time on the big screen.  The romantic post-apocalyptic adventure has already been done a number of times. 



Divergent did it...

 

Hunger Games did it better. 

Is it really The Giver's fault if The Hunger Games and Divergent stole its thunder?  Granted, Lowry's novel vastly precedes Collins' and Roth's dystopian rebellions.  But because of the success of these other movies, Philip Noyce's adaptation of The Giver leaves a lot of viewers underwhelmed and unsatisfied.  But even in the shadow of Katniss, The Giver gets a lot of things right, the most prominent being... 

The Colors

 Or rather, the lack of color.  The Giver begins with the utopian world (or dystopian, depending on how you look at it) in greyscale.  Citizens of the Community are required to take daily medications that leech color from their life.  And art.  And libido.  And any sense of individuality at all, whether from race or religion or whatever. 



Equilibrium, anybody?

As the Giver shares his knowledge with Jonas, the boy's eyes are opened to colors.  Noyce really hits the nail on the head with this one.  The audience gets to share in Jonas' enlightenment.  As his knowledge grows, more and more color seeps into the picture.  

What's even more impressive is what Noyce chooses to pigment.  The memories, of course, are in full color, and there's a lot of symbolic visuals in there (my favorite is the gorgeous ocean sunset).  As color bleeds back into the world, though, it appears in the perfect places, really driving the effect home and giving the movie a sense of depth.  Most notably, of course, is the apple.    

And all that it implies...

But really the biggest thing that The Giver's got going for it is...

The Cast

First and foremost is Jeff Bridges, who's list of hit characters goes on and on.  Kevin Flynn.  Rooster Cogburn.  Obadiah Stane.  And while Jonas may be the young hero, Bridges' Giver is definitely the star of the show. 

An old, wrinkled star...

Conflict moves at tectonic speeds in this movie.  And though the plot picks up speed as the films progresses, it's really Bridges' performance that saves (and steals) the show.  His role as the Giver is to pass on the memories of the free world, a world with diversity and war and love.  But he has to choose what he shares carefully.  Bridges perfectly encapsulates the wise mentor, bringing life to the Giver's tragic past and regrets.  His inner turmoil (which he also slowly shares with Jonas) is really what drives this movie. 

But, as good as Jeff Bridges is, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Meryl Streep, the lady of a thousand accents.  She's played in dozens of movies, ranging from the emotionally charged (Doubt) to the splendidly funny (Fantastic Mr. Fox), and I'll put it simply. 

Meryl Streep doesn't make crap.   Just ask Cam here. 

She's the actress Giver deserves.

Remember that domineering, head honcho lady I mentioned earlier?  Yeah, that's her.  The Chief Elder, as she's called in The Giver, is responsible for ruling the Community with her jaded views on humanity and her eyes in the sky.  She is cold, she is calculating, she is mistrustful.  Streep's acting is superb (per the norm), and her performance really fleshes out the Chief Elder's character and injects the movie with much-needed conflict. 

Neither Meryl Streep nor Jeff Bridges' talents are wasted on this movie. 

And finally, there's Brenton Thwaites, playing Jonas the Receiver. 
Brenton faces a role similar to Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy.  His performance is (obviously) crucial because he's the protagonist.  If his acting sucked, the whole movie would suck, regardless of Meryl Streep and the Dude.  This role is a giant step up from his pretty insignificant role in Maleficent.   


  No offense, your highness.  

Thankfully, Brenton doesn't disappoint.  His acting may not be on par with his veteran co-stars, but he holds his own throughout the movie.  And though the character of Jonas differs slightly from Lowry's original, Brenton's performance is in no way an insult to the text. 

Which brings up an interesting point.  A lot of viewers are concerned that Noyce's adaptation doesn't dig deep enough into the source material.  I myself watched this film with a specific question in mind...


Does the Movie Do the Book Justice?

In short: Yes.  And no. 

Let me explain!

The film is only an hour and a half, and it's a hefty feat to capture the scope and plot of a book in such a brief period of time.  That being said, movies are a whole nuther animal than novels.  The audio and visual dynamics of film can share with an audience in moments what would take an author pages to express.  I'm still at war with myself over this question, and I saw the movie weeks ago! 

While The Giver may have its shortcomings, it presents Lowry's text in a fresh new way.  Sure, Noyce made a few changes here and there, tweaked a few details, added a few more.  But his unique reprisal of this childhood classic embodies a lot of what the novel stands for.  It brings up many of the same questions and explores the same ideas, and though it doesn't treat the audience to the same depth of character and emotional power as the text, it puts in an excellent effort. 




And that's perfectly understandable. 

The movie, like the book, doesn't shy away from gritty topics such as death, fault, and individuality.  In reading the book, the audience knows (or at least suspects) a number of the Community's dark secrets.  Readers, taught by harsh experience and reality, are not as naïve as Jonas, and that is what creates the suspense and intrigue in the book.  However, that suspense is missing from the film, and its presence is painfully missed.  Again, the Giver's emotional turmoil can only stave off the narrative's need for conflict for so long. 

Me need conflict! 

Often times, when conflict does surface, characters suddenly aren't true to themselves (particularly Asher, who somehow gets away with lying when the Giver can't).  These clunky moments may not distract you from the movie, but they raise plot questions and critical afterthought. 



Like why couldn't those Eagles ferry people all over Middle Earth? 

One huge difference between the movie and the novel is (spoiler) the Release of young Rosemary.  In the book, it's a very touch and go topic, one that the Giver doesn't fully explain until nearing the end of the book.  The movie, however, alludes to this tragedy that happened years ago.  And it brings it up again...and again...and again.  Really strips the suspense from it.  In reality, its grand unveiling in the film is grossly underwhelming, particularly for those who've read the book and already know what the all the hullaballoo is about. 

Also, she's played by Taylor Swift. 

That wig isn't fooling anybody, Taylor.

These weaknesses notwithstanding, Philip Noyce has crafted a thought-provoking film that dips into the deep themes Lowry instilled in her novel.  This movie is an excellent example of visual storytelling, and brings the text to life in a whole new medium.

In the End

When I left the movies after seeing The Giver, it didn't feel like I'd wasted my money.  Lowry's cherished novel is well represented by Noyce's film, and while it may not be as shiny as The Hunger Games, it's in no way to be shrugged off as a mere Redboxer.  The movie is certainly worth watching, even if only from the comfort of your couch. 

You should check the book out, too! 

As for me, I give The Giver a solid 7 out of 10.  As far as how the movie compares to the book, you'll have to make your own decision!  And that's all I've got to say about that. 


Sam


P.S. This is just about the only trailer that doesn't give the whole movie away!

What did you think of The Giver?  Post your thoughts in the comments below! 

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All images belong to their respected owners.  Google really failed me on this one.  There wasn't a Zerg Rush gif to be found.  Instead I had to settle for that (really awesome) Zerg pic by Aled Lewis.    GIFs courtesy of giphy.com.  The Giver is a novel by Lois Lowry that everybody should read.  The trailer can be found on The Weinstein Company's YouTube channel.