Today’s quick review: The Giver. In a perfectly ordered society that has erased all trace of its past, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is chosen to become the new Receiver of Memory. Under the tutelage of the Giver (Jeff Bridges), the previous Receiver of Memory, Jonas inherits humanity’s collective memory, along with forbidden knowledge of emotion. But his attempts to share his knowledge earn him the enmity of the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep).
The Giver is a dystopian science fiction movie based on the book by Lois Lowry. The Giver examines the perfectibility of mankind by positing a sterile society where all difference and all strife have been eliminated. The movie offers a competent but rather static take on its premise. Its script and presentation are up to the challenge of exploring its themes of conformity and emotion, but its plot crescendoes too gradually to have much impact.
The Giver’s greatest strength is the construction of its world. The Giver takes place in a futuristic community where life is regimented, dissension is forbidden, and all memory of humanity’s past has been expunged. The details of the setting go a long way towards selling the film, from its stilted language to its well-meaning but misguided characters. Though similiar to other sci-fi settings, The Giver’s world gives it a solid foundation to build on.
The Giver runs into trouble when it tries to move beyond set-dressing. Brenton Thwaites leads a young supporing cast with just enough talent to keep the movie interesting but not enough to make it compelling. Jeff Bridges as a few good moments as the Giver, the sole individualist in a world of conformity, but the role lacks much-needed personality. For her part, Meryl Streep gives a token performance as the Chief Elder, more authority figure than character.
The plot has similar issues. The steps of Jonas’s awakening are all sensible enough, but the story tarries in this state for too long. Nearly the entire movie is spent inching Jonas along from one minor revelation to the next, with almost no external action to put them to use. By the time Jonas actually takes action, there is little left to do. Most of The Giver’s value is in the world it sets up rather than what it accomplishes with it.
The Giver is worth a watch when you’re in the mood for introspective, teen-friendly dystopian sci-fi. Skip it if you’re looking for something with a more gripping plot. For a science fiction drama with similar themes and thoughtful writing, check out Gattaca. For an action-oriented sci-fi movie with a similar premise, check out Equilibrium. For a classic take on a similar premise, check out Logan’s Run.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for a well-constructed world and good presentation held back by a static plot and mediocre characters.