Review of The Giver (2014) by Eric M — 26 Dec 2014

Though it seems to be getting a lukewarm reception from critics, having read the book, I must say I rather enjoyed this adaptation. It featured some really solid and occasionally moving performances (Jeff Bridges was great), some *wonderful* use of color and music, and a good adaptation of the core themes of the source material. The final act would have benefited from more tension, as it felt rather flat in comparison to the events preceding it, and a few moments felt rushed, but the power of the imagery (the contrasting of black and white with a beautiful sunset is a transcendent moment) and the solid acting (aside from a distracting appearance by Taylor Swift) makes for a film that, while perhaps not as powerful as Lowry's written story, captures enough of the mighty spirit of the tale to still impact audiences as a meaningful reflection on life and what it truly means to live it.

Also, kudos to Marco Beltrami for some heavenly choral work on the soundtrack and a really nice main theme that is utilized quite well in film.

Addendum: Upon a home viewing, the acting sometimes is a bit uneven (Bridges is still great throughout) but overall I hold this was vastly underrated upon its release. A touching and thought provoking picture.