Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Brenton ThwaitesJonas
- Odeya RushFiona
- Jeff BridgesThe Giver
- Meryl StreepChief Elder
- Katie HolmesJonas' Mother
- Alexander SkarsgårdJonas' Father
- Cameron MonaghanAsher
- Taylor SwiftRosemary
- Emma TremblayLily
- Katharina DammNurturer
Recommendations
- 75
Washington Post
In its own way, the movie version — handsomely directed by Phillip Noyce and featuring an appealing, sure-footed cast of emerging and veteran actors — aptly reflects The Giver’s pride of place as the one that started it all, or at least the latest wave. - 67
IndieWire
In spite of grand, world-building special effects and a stellar cast, the film falters under giant leaps of faith that land it just outside of the typical audience's threshold of suspension of disbelief. - 67
Austin Chronicle
The film begins to get a bit lost as the story develops and pushes toward a wobbly climax and conclusion. And what to make of that sled, which is the first bit of knowledge Jonas receives. Rosebud, anyone? - 63
New York Post
The Giver is at its best when Bridges expounds on civilization’s lost beauty and savagery; at other times, it’s strewn with implausibility: For a totalitarian society in which everyone is monitored constantly, our hero is able to sneak around an awful lot. - 63
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
While The Giver scores points for being smarter and deeper than “The Hunger Games” or its inferior photo-copy (“Divergent”), coming after all those other versions of this plot does neither it, nor us, any favors. The Giver has nothing new to offer. - 60
The Hollywood Reporter
A lazy ending mars this fine, if generic, take on a much-loved YA novel. - 58
The A.V. Club
The ironic side effect is that this major influence on today’s new class of dystopian YA smashes now looks like just another greedy knockoff on-screen—a monochromatic "Divergent," or something similar. - 50
Variety
The Giver reaches the screen in a version that captures the essence of Lowry’s affecting allegory but little of its mythic pull.
