Not enough color in promising but rushed ‘The Giver’

  • By Robert Horton Herald Movie Critic
  • Wednesday, August 13, 2014 3:18pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

‘Thank you for your childhood,” says the Chief Elder to each graduating 16-year-old. In this society, that’s not as weird as it sounds; all children who reach 16 are given life assignments and launched into adulthood at a public ceremony.

Childhood’s end, indeed. “The Giver” tells the tale of one such teen, Jonas (played by Brenton Thwaites), chosen for a very special role on assignment day. He will be the new Receiver of Memories, a singular and mysterious job that sets him apart from everybody else in this isolated, placid world.

For reasons we don’t know, this slice of humanity has embraced “sameness” as its motto. The voluntarily tranquilized population is white, polite, and always truthful. If everyone is just the same, with limited emotional range and no ambitions, they will all get along together.

That explains why we view this world in black-and-white. Odd thing is, Jonah keeps seeing flashes of color.

Jonah will be instructed by the current Receiver of Memories (Jeff Bridges), now known as the Giver. He has the ability to instill flashbacks of the past world of violence, pain, love. He doesn’t flash back to “Logan’s Run,” or movies with similarly dystopian ideas. But I did.

The Giver conveys things in color — but what will all this do to Jonah’s loyalty to the bland society? How can he not tell his best buds (Odeya Rush and Cameron Monaghan) about the exciting visions he’s seen?

This is a pretty neat set-up, courtesy Lois Lowry’s 1993 Newberry Award-winning Young Adult novel. There are some ludicrous plot points (including some nonsense about a boundary line that will play the crucial role in the climax), but at least this world is intriguing to imagine.

And the Chief Elder is played by Meryl Streep, which ain’t a bad thing. Bridges has the chewier role, although he has adopted a curious, strangled voice for this part.

Still, the promise doesn’t pan out. The opening reel is incredibly rushed, as though the editor had been told to cut out the pauses that make dialogue scenes interesting.

At 94 minutes, there’s little chance to dig into the characters, including Katie Holmes and Alexander Skarsgard as Jonah’s family unit. Director Phillip Noyce (“Salt”) is usually a steady hand with the thinking person’s action film, but this one has a hard time finding its footing.

Everybody’s on the hunt for the next “Hunger Games” movie franchise. This doesn’t feel like it.

“The Giver” 2 ½ stars

A too-fast-moving adaptation of Lois Lowry’s novel about a chosen one (Brenton Thwaites) in an isolated, tranquilized society where sameness is encouraged. Interesting set-up, but the movie has a hard time finding its footing, despite the classy presence of Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.

Rating: PG-13, for violence, subject matter

Showing: Alderwood, Everett Stadium, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Oak Tree, Pacific Place, Sundance Cinemas Seattle, Woodinville, Cascade Mall.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.