The Giver (2014)

In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

Michael Mitnick (screenplay), Robert B. Weide (screenplay),

Stars:

Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	The Giver
Meryl Streep	...	Chief Elder
Brenton Thwaites	...	Jonas
Alexander Skarsgård	...	Father
Katie Holmes	...	Mother
Odeya Rush	...	Fiona
Cameron Monaghan	...	Asher
Taylor Swift	...	Rosemary
Emma Tremblay	...	Lilly
Alexander Jillings	...	Gabriel 12 Months
James Jillings	...	Gabriel 12 Months
Jordan Nicholas Smal	...	Gabriel 3 Months
Saige Fernandes	...	Gabriel 6 Months
Renate Stuurman	...	Dinah
Vanessa Cooke	...	Elder

Storyline

This film, based on Lois Lowry's book, tells the story of a perfect world. Everyone here is happy. When Jonas is 18 years old, he's chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. He enters into training with an old man called The Giver. From the Giver, Jonas learns about pain, sadness, war, and all the unhappy truths of the "real" world. He quickly realizes that his community is fake. Confronted with this reality, Jonas faces difficult choices about his own life and his future.

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Plot Keywords:

color | community | book | memory | piano playing | 

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Taglines:

You can make things better.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 2014 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Le passeur

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,305,016 (USA) (15 August 2014)

Gross:

$44,548,042 (USA) (17 October 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

As Is Productions, Tonik Productions, Walden Media

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nelson Mandela died while the film was being shot in South Africa, and his image is used in the film as a "memory."

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Goofs

One of the characters in the movie makes a reference to Marty McFly from the "Back to the Future" movie. Yet it seems inhabitants of the community would not have access to TVs or movies and therefore would not be familiar with Marty McFly.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: The Expendables 3/The Giver (2014)

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Soundtracks

Holly and the Ivy
Traditional

User Reviews

Ever seen the movie Equilibrium?

So... first of all, I have not read the book so this is not a comparison. Not to the book at least.

But the story... It's not an original one, to be honest. And, as a movie at least, it's told and shown less alluring then the movie I know that tells a similar story; Equilibrium.

Some other reviewers also state that you don't really get emotionally connected to the characters, with which I have to agree.

All in all it's really not a bad movie and the underlying moral is beautiful! But if a movie tells a story you've heard before it's easy to compare it with each other and, in my opinion, the other told it better.

So; if you did like it or liked the story but missed the connection; Equilibrium!