The Giver, film review: Sanctimonious, solemn, and sappy adaptation of Lois Lowry's novel
(12A) Philip Noyce, 97 mins Starring: Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Walden Media, the company behind the Narnia films, financed this adaptation of Lois Lowry's dystopian novel for kids. The set-up is similar to that of sci-fi films such as Logan's Run and Divergent but the film suffers from an absurdly sanctimonious storytelling style. It is set in a black-and-white world of conformity and placid contentment. Anger, pain, desire and joy have been erased.
The locals wear jumpsuits and ride about on silly white bikes, monitored by surveillance cameras. Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is chosen as the new "receiver of memory," the one citizen allowed to get in touch with his inner feelings. Jeff Bridges plays his mentor The Giver, a craggy old-timer who knows what happened in the past.
Meryl Streep (in a long grey wig) is the Chief Elder, a head teacher/wicked witch type with the ability to materialise at will, hologram-style, in people's homes.
Robert B Weide of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame co-wrote the screenplay but, sadly, none of the debunking wit of that series is found in this solemn, sappy fable. The colour montage sequences featuring Nelson Mandela mark a particular nadir.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments