The Giver

2014
PG-13
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

127K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer0:32

Dystopian Sci-Fi Teen Romance Drama Romance Sci-Fi Thriller

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

127K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,500

232

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 6 nominations

Trivia
Jeff Bridges had been trying to have the film made for nearly 20 years and even filmed a version of it with his family. Speaking on the Nerdist Podcast he said: "I originally wanted to direct my father in it. As a matter of fact, somewhere in some garage, there is a version of this movie with my father (Lloyd Bridges) playing The Giver, Bud Cort narrates the whole thing, Beau's kids, one is shooting it, one is playing Jonas. We did the whole book, so that's around somewhere."

Goofs
When Jonas flees through various terrain and weather conditions at the end of the movie, his wardrobe changes a number of times to where he finally wears a thick winter parka. All the while he never has a backpack or bag or anything with him and the baby when he initially flees on the motor bike. And where could he have even gotten a spare parka from anyway, since the whole society was climate controlled to perpetual summer-like conditions?

Quotes
Chief Elder: When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong--every single time.

Connections
Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jeff Bridges/Ali Larter/Andy Woodhull (2014)

Soundtracks
Silent Night
Lyrics by Joseph Mohr
Music by Franz Xaver Gruber
(Incorrectly attributed as "Traditional")
Performed by The von Trapp Children
Courtesy of Rattlesby Records, Inc.

User reviews419

Review

Featured review

6/10

Lackluster

I went into the movie with high expectations after having read the book in high school. I absolutely loved the book and always imagined it to be a certain way. While some aspects of the film met my expectations in terms of visual delivery and execution of the novel, a lot of it did not. There were many scenes that I would have loved to see but were not included.

As a film on its own, I found some of the acting to be lacking in emotions and conviction. I did enjoy Meryl Streep and the Giver, but the rest were very average. Some parts of the film felt slightly rushed, missing out on the true essence and meaning it could have conveyed. I did not feel as indulged in the film as I was in the book. Perhaps this was because I loved the book very much, but I feel it was also because the film lacked passion and depth. The overall message and meaning behind the story was not adequately conveyed as important scenes were not emphasized on and were rushed. Jonas's character development happened too quickly and we could not create a connection with any of the characters in the film.

Overall, I found the film to be average. Those that have read the book will find it to be below expectations whereas others may enjoy it for the concept and meaning it attempts to convey.