The Giver
(2014)When people have the power to choose, they choose wrong.
In a utopian future where society lives in ignorant bliss, only a sage known as The Giver (Jeff Bridges) possesses all memories of the past. Now, 16-year-old Jonas (Australian newcomer Brenton Thwaites) is selected to be the new Receiver of Memories. His world of conformity and contentment cracks open when he learns his forefathers gave up individuality to eliminate conflict. Co-stars Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift. Based on Lois Lowry's 1993 award-winning young adult novel.
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Directed by Phillip Noyce
Starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgård, Katie Holmes, Brenton Thwaites, Taylor Swift, Odeya Rush, Cameron Monaghan, Emma Tremblay
Written by Michael Mitnick, Vadim Perelman (based on the novel by Lois Lowry)
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The Giver
BY flapper123 superstar
I have never read the book, so I guess that is a plus when it comes to making comparisons. There was nothing to compare the movie with.
I gave this film 4 stars for the lack of violence, evenness of flow throughout the... More movie, no time for me to get bored. I was mesmerised.
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BY Gaspardation superstar
Brenton Thwaites is cute. That's the only thing I learnt from this movie.
The Press Reviews
36%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Every aspect of The Giver feels both painfully familiar and like an awkward, unsupportable stretch. For a film about the deep, hidden dangers of enforced sameness, that’s almost hilariously ironic. Full Review
A lazy ending mars this fine, if generic, take on a much-loved YA novel. Full Review
The Giver reaches the screen in a version that captures the essence of Lowry’s affecting allegory but little of its mythic pull. Full Review
While there are echoes and plot resonances from other films and sources, as a film The Giver always feels fresh. Full Review
There's enough that's fundamentally good in the meat of film not to wholly reject what The Giver is giving us. Full Review
The enervating hash of dystopian dread, vague religiosity and commercial advertising-style uplift is nothing if not stale. Full Review
The problems show up during the climactic action sequences. Logic is jettisoned and once that happens, the basic flaws in the whole scenario become all too obvious. Full Review
Despite the fact that Phillip Noyce is a fine director who usually brings nuance and intelligence to action films, this is a surprisingly lacklustre affair. Full Review
BY Adam Fresco Flicks Writer
Based on Lois Lowry’s bestselling young adult novel, helmed by action director Phillip Noyce (Salt, Sliver), starring the likes of Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges and, er, Taylor Swift, The Giver is another Divergent Twilight Ender’s Game. Introduced as a seemingly perfect society, the world of the film is soon revealed to be an individuality-stomping dystopia. Leading us through is Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), chosen by the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep, rocking a grey wig), to receive the memories of Jeff Bridges’ Giver. Bridges’ elderly Obi Wan teaches of a world before the fascism of ordered perfection, blowing Jonas’s mind with tales of art and freedom.... More
If you go with the film’s flow, it’s fun enough. Noyce throws in some nice touches, with the world of dull conformity shot in monochrome, before Jonas’ dreams of what was and could be in sparkling Technicolor. As the lead, Thwaites is amiable enough and, aside from Bridges and Streep (both great, as ever), the cast do their best with a script that demands no more than their names appear on the poster. With a screenplay hobbled by some pretty gnarly dialogue and gaping plot holes, it’s not a patch on the engagement offered by the novel.
For a film that looks this good and has all the right star power, disengage your brain and it’s sure to entertain. But (and it’s a big but), compared to the bar set by The Hunger Games, it’s a standard, here we go again, first-movie-in-the-intended-series, tale of teen rebellion.Hide
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