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The Giver

The Giver

Drama · Science Fiction · 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.

Movie details

The Giver

“Search for truth. Find freedom.”

2014 Drama · Science Fiction 1h 37m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Giver?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Phillip Noyce

Written by

Robert B. Weide · Michael Mitnick

Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges

The Giver

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

Chief Elder

Brenton Thwaites

Brenton Thwaites

Jonas

Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Skarsgård

Father

Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes

Mother

Odeya Rush

Odeya Rush

Fiona

Cameron Monaghan

Cameron Monaghan

Asher

Court is in session

Put The Giver on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.