Review of The Giver (2014) by Patrick L — 22 Dec 2014

"I'm afraid the science gets lost here in a movie that Jeff Bridges wanted to make for 18 years.".

Movie Review: The Giver.

Date Viewed: August 18 2014.

Directed By Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Salt and The Quiet American).

Screenplay By Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weide, Based on the novel by Lois Lowry.

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites,.

Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Taylor Swift, Cameron Monaghan, Alexander Skarsgard,.

Odeya Rush and Emma Tremblay.

I wasn't thrilled or compelled by "The Giver", a science-fiction movie that Jeff Bridges wanted to make for 18 years. Based on a 1993 novel by Lois Lowry, "The Giver" was about a young boy being selected into the position of Receiver of Memory, a person who receives memories from the past. "The Giver" sold more than 10 million copies and it was a part of many middle schools across the United States and Canada. "The Giver" has it's heart in the right place but director Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American, Salt and Patriot Games) and screenwriters Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weide spend little time exploring it's thought-provoking ideas.

"The Giver" is set in a utopian society in the year of 2048 and the community is ruled by 12 politicians called the Elders. After a huge war, the community had decided to get rid of colors, different races and feelings such as love and anger. Why? Because the Elders felt that they only caused conflict. The movie follows a young teenager named Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), his friends Asher (Cameron Monaghan) and Fiona (Odeya Rush) are assigned the jobs as Drone Pilot and Nurturer. Jonas however gets assigned the job of Receiver of Memory, an individual who receives memories from the past and must advise the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep) on the decisions for the utopian nation.

Jonas receives memories from the past from an elderly man known as The Giver (Jeff Bridges). Jonas is thrilled and frightened by what he has learned from those memories and he also learns that The Giver's previous receiver, Rosemary (Taylor Swift) was so distraught by the memories that she committed suicide. Soon, Jonas falls in love with Fiona and he goes on the run from the community.

Bridges optioned the rights to "The Giver" shortly after it's publication. Despite production going nowhere, Bridges refused to give up even though his original choice to play The Giver passed away (his father, Lloyd Bridges). Even with a talented cast, "The Giver" is buried under a pile of tired themes and allegories. The love story between Jonas and Fiona goes nowhere and it doesn't go deep enough into it's world.

Meryl Streep might be Hollywood's greatest living actress but she's wasted here as The Chief Elder.

"The Giver" is a dystopian tale that won't offend anyone but you won't be excited by it.

Was Jeff Bridges pleased with the final product? I don't know that to be sure but the movie is a simpleminded mess.