[Trailer 2] The Giver
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The Giver is the first Young Adult book I remember reading. It's got everything you'd want from a current bestseller (post-apocalyptic world, conspiracies, euthanasia) and mixes it all together within an intentionally blase world devoid of color. It's pretty brilliant. In case you forgot, the story's about Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), a kid who questions the rules of his world once he meets The Giver (Jeff Bridges) and gains the memories and history once erased by the current "utopia."
The first trailer may have failed to capture why so many of us read the books as kids (and made it seem like yet another shoddy teen cash in), but this second trailer should remind everyone why The Giver is so special. I remember I made a big fuss about the lack of black and white tones, but that's not the case as it's in full force here. Although seeing it in action makes me want to watch Pleasantville again. But I'll be keeping an eye on this anyway to see Meryl Streep dominate everyone. And Taylor Swift's here too, so that's a win-win right there.
The Giver hits theaters August 15th.
Taylor Swift to co-star in film adaptation of The Giver
Photo by Virgil Solis
The Giver was one of those children's literature books that aimed to be more than just that. Lois Lowry's 1993 novel was about a dystopian town in which its citizens embraced "Sameness" that allowed them to simply live without any emotional depth. The Ceremony of Twelve is a commemoration of every child's 12th birthday in which they are assigned the job they will do for the rest of their lives. However, a boy named Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, receiving memories of life before Sameness was established for situations in which the community can't come to a decision that requires such things. The novel then explores common themes such as existentialism, human freedom, etc.
For years, a film adaptation of the novel has been shelved, but it appears that all things are a go for next year. Today, The Weinstein Company publicized their cast and crew for The Giver, which includes Phil Noyce (Salt) directing, Brenton Thwaites in the lead role, Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) as the titular The Giver, Katie Holmes as Jonas' Mother, Meryl Streep as the Chief Elder, Alexander Skarsgard (Melancholia) as Jonas' Father, and... Taylor Swift. In a film full of Oscar-award winners based on a beloved children's novel, Taylor Swift has somehow made her way on to the cast. Thanks, Hollywood.
[via Entertainment Weekly]