Film Review | Insurgent

The internal system is broken. The shattered factions are spread-out like refugees amongst the remaining factions. Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), Caleb (Ansel Elgort) and Peter (Miles Teller) are in Amity trying to reboot and recuperate. But their stay is not long. Even the most patient people in their city begin to wear thin when their visitors' Dauntless instincts kick in. With Erudite elites flooding the speakers with lies and troops of Dauntless traitors continue to massacre Divergents, it’s not long until the truth must be set free.

The Story

Much like the first film, Insurgent follows the storyline of its paperback counterpart. Divergent saw us in Abnegation and Dauntless, Insurgent is set, firstly, in Amity, followed by Candor and eventually, The Factionless. We meet each faction’s head and see the way how they live and how unimportant they are to the faction system and this entire storyline.

In Amity, Tris and her band are hunted down, with a dual betrayal from two members. In Candor, some secrets spill out and Tris loses a friend. In the Factionless, more secrets are revealed. But at the end of the day, viewers are always sent back to Erudite anyway – oh, where THE BIGGEST SECRET is revealed. Now, I’m kind enough not to give spoilers, but for those of you who’ve read the book, you know exactly what it is and will either be overjoyed or overly disappointed – like me.

Overall, the story was pretty straightforward and the action was somewhat believable.

The Cast

Shailene Woodley, alright...I say this all the time about Miss Woodley, but I think I have to say it again (not that she really cares): she has no screen presence; there is nothing in this film that makes me believe her. Time and time again throughout the film her co-stars outshine her. In saying that, I do tip my hat off to Robert Schwentke, Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman, Mark Bomback and Woodley if having no screen presence was and is intentional in order for last two films to make sense for non-readers, but COME ON! You’re the lead of one of the most read post-apocolytic-world book series after The Hunger Games – give us something to believe, or at least like, or take you seriously as an actress.

Theo James at least is a less annoying Four than the character that was written into the series at about this time in the second book. I always felt that Four was somewhat emasculated by Tris after they finally told each other that they “loved” each other or whatever it was in the book. At least in this film, James kept his male bravado - regardless of his looks or muscular build, I mean they helped, but at least they were outshone by his acting. Four’s mummy-issues was dialled down a lot more than I remember reading, which is good and you really don’t see his daddy-issues here either. Again, my hat is tipped for Schwentke, Duffield, Goldsman and Bomback if they’re setting it up for the final films, because Four was not this dominant in the book and James was actually likable.

Miles Teller is handsdown the shining star of this film. Witty, funny and believable to the point of pity (that is, when Peter realises that Tris would spare his life if she got the chance), Teller outshone everyone, including Kate Winslet. I was more interested in his character than anyone else’s and wished Roth had given him a bigger role. Teller’s portrayal of a hated character was so on-point that Peter became my favourite character – and that says a lot because I hated him in the book. For his performance, I give Teller a standing ovation.

Kate Winslet, although she did not outshine Teller, did however steal the show for this film. Her strong screen-presence dominated the entire plot and overwhelmed all who were seated in the theatre. She was so domineering that I was on her side when the big reveal came out and was really angry about the turn of events for her character at the end. Roses all around for Miss Winslet.

Overall, like Divergent, if you liked the book, you’ll like the film. That’s all I can say. I hated the book, so I hated the film. It was really hard to say anything nice about this film, but I will say that I’m looking forward to the (unnecessary) two-part ending for Allegiant. No, not because (like the Twilight Saga) it’s about to end, but because this film has set up the finale. I’m actually curious about how the last book will be adapted considering how it was written.

Don’t know what I mean? rRead the last book. You seriously don’t even need to read the first two books now that the films have been released. You’re seriously not missing out on much.

Star Rating: ★★★

Next on sL: Cinderella

Film Review | The Fault In Our Stars

Being diagnosed with cancer isn’t everything in life – well, at least not for someone who’s dying anyway. Hazel (Shailene Woodley) never saw herself as extraordinary or even slightly special. She’s a teenager, who so happens to have cancer – bummer, but that’s life – her life. But when Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort) comes along, suddenly having cancer isn’t so bad; suddenly there’s a little more living in dying.

The Story

Based on the bestselling novel by John Green, the film is pretty much accurate in terms of plot. For readers, some things like Gus’s ex-girlfriend and extended family members are edited out, but otherwise, everything else that you love about the book is in there.

For those who have never read the book, think of it as an amalgamation of Twilight (minus the vampires and werewolves) and My Sister’s Keeper – so, it’s a tear-jerking cancer story with a slice of romance intertwined. Thus, if you cry easily, take a box of tissues with you (but believe me, it’s NOT at all as tear-jerking as My Sister’s Keeper).

I know a lot of people say that the story is not completely centered on the fact that the characters have cancer, but let’s face it, without the fact they have or have had cancer, they a) would not have met (in the way they did anyway), b) would not have a ‘unique’ story and c) John Green would not have a popular book. Let’s face it, the biggest “cancer perk” of this book-film is the fact that the Romeo and Juliet aspect of this film is cancer. I don’t mean to rant, but truth be told, the story is great because of it’s simplicity – two kids with cancer, they fall in love regardless of their circumstances and they embrace their deal in life, no matter how short it is.

Since the film is so close to the book, I have to say that the reason why I think The Fault In Our Stars works is not at all about the “falling in love” aspect of the book – had Hazel and Augustus been just friends I still this the book would have been great! The greatness of this book comes from the raw nature of how each of the characters you come across, along with their little quirks, deal with the concept of having cancer. As a mother, father, child, friend, author, doctor, stranger – they all come face to face with the question of, “How would you react if you had or knew someone with cancer?” This book answers that question in various ways, which is makes cancer, living and death so profound in its scope. So I urge you to remember that when you watch this film, it is a movie about cancer just as much as it’s a movie about two teenagers falling in love. Cancer is not who they are, it’s what they have – just as much as love in its various kinds.

The Cast

Shailene Woodley unfortunately missed the mark for me in this film. Although her portrayal of Hazel was believable most of the time, I felt she could have done so much more for Hazel in the parts where she was supposed to be quirky and sharp. Woodley’s spritely attitude off-screen should have transpired a little more on-screen in order for her to give Hazel a different level. Hazel, in the novel, knew she was dying, but she knew she was living just as much and lived it as much as she could. Woodley’s portrayal made you think she was going to die ASAP, which is not the case at any point of the story. Since this important to the plot, I thought Woodley fell short.

Ansel Elgort was a great Augustus, he unfortunately overshadowed his leading lady, but in his defense, Gus was a stronger character on the page than that of Hazel. Although Elgort was great and I did think that he and Woodley had incredible chemistry, his overpowering nature did not leave room for others to match his on-screen presence. Kudos to a job well done though! I thought Elgort portrayed Gus accurately.

William Dafoe is another amazing actor who portrayed Van Houten perfectly. He understood the uncanny and unwavering nature of a downtrodden writer who is wallowing in self-pity, and to that I tip my hat to him.

Nat Wolff gets a special mention for being an amazing source of comic relief and for his tremendous portrayal of Isaac. He was funny in all the right parts and just as witty when he needed to be.

Overall I thought the movie was ok. It’s definitely for all you guys and gals who like to cry in a good film. Those of who liked the book will enjoy the film, and those of who (like me) only liked bits and pieces of the book, I don’t recommend seeing the film. Look, unlike Divergent, I have to say you should choose whether to want to read the book or watch the film. Personally, I recommend the book rather than the film, The Fault In Our Stars is one that cannot easily be portrayed on-screen due to the wittiness of Green’s words.

sL Star Rating: ★★

***

Rating Support

I'm not the only one who did not enjoy this film:

Next on sL: Sex Tape

FILM REVIEW | Divergent

Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) has always known that Abnegation was never her home. Her heart is always longing to be outside the grey walls of her birthplace, but she has never known where her longing would take her. On the day of her aptitude test her mind is set on going with whatever her results suggest, yet a small piece inside her fears that her results would only affirm that Abnegation is her true identity.

With a cruel twist of fate, her results are inconclusive, no, worse. She is Divergent.

Not knowing what it means to be “Divergent,” Beatrice now has to hide to save her life – the only thing she knows for sure about being Divergent is that everyone wants you dead. With Dauntless as her heart’s desire, she abandons her faction and finds herself in the forefront of a civil war to maintain the fragile peace between the five factions.

The Story

If you haven’t read the book, it’s basically about a social system that works on the basis of groupings called, “factions”. I’m going to go all Mean Girls on you now to describe these groupings.

“Post-apocalypse Chicago is your central nervous system; you’ve got your: Dauntless (the brave); Amnesty (the peaceful), Candor (the honest); the greatest people you will ever meet – Abnegation (the selfless), and the worst, beware of the Erudite (the intelligent).”

Once the city’s children turn the age of sixteen they have a choice to either stay in their factions or leave to join another faction. The city’s motto is, “Faction Before Blood”. Leaving your faction means automatic shunning from your old faction.

Generally, the story was pretty much the same as the book. I have no qualms with the overall plot and progression of the film. I thought some parts that were vague in the book were brilliantly explained through the cinematography in the film. I particularly liked the simulations of Tris’ fear landscape – specifically speaking, I enjoyed watching how she overcomes each of her fears is portrayed through one seamless scene-by-scene progression.

One thing I was a little disappointed about was the ending. Although it was very close to the book, I was a little peeved that they didn’t stay true to who is supposed to be controlling the simulations and how it was undermined. Although I understood why in terms of the series’ progression, but I thought, since they’d been pretty much accurate up until that point, why change it?

The Cast

Shailene Woodley is great in her first big film. She was great lead in the sense that she had that awkward quirk that Tris needs as she progress through her initiation from Abnegation to Dauntless, but I’m not confident in her development as to how she will react to other simulations in the future. There is a fragility in her that Tris loses by the end of the book and I just didn’t see that in Woodley in this film. I hope she proves me wrong in the second film.

Theo James was a convincing Four. Although I pictured Four to be an African American – and that image played on my mind while I was watching the film – I thought James was stronger than Woodley in terms of his character presence. It’s not a brooding allure, it’s a real demand for attention through his facial expressions. There’s a real jadedness to his portrayal that made his character believable. Which is helpful considering I didn’t really like Four in the books – no offence Veronica Roth.

Jai Courtney was a brilliant Eric. Again I pictured Eric a little different – i.e. lankier and less domineering in looks – but Courtney did Australia proud as he plays one of the most evil characters I’ve ever encountered in fiction – both on screen and on paper. He was borderline Heathcliff in this film, yet retained the Erudite wit within his Dauntless figure. I loved that he found the balance between Eric’s old faction within his new faction.

Kate Winslet was a simply flawless in this film. The heartlessness of Jeanine in the books was definitely conveyed in the film. She did overshadow Woodley, but in such a way portrays the icy relationship between the characters in the book. Casting both Winslet and Woodley was perfect with the description that Roth writes in Divergent, where Tris says, “I kind of look like her.” The cinematography that allows their constant mirroring is a brilliant kudos to the casting of this film.

Overall, Divergent was accurate to the book. So whatever you thought of the book, you’ll think of the film. Everything you fell in-love with in the book, you’ll fall in-love with in the film. Everything you hated about the book, you’ll hate about the film. Everything you – well you get the idea: book = film. If you haven’t read the book, like the Hunger Games, it’ll just be a source of “more information” for you. I usually recommend reading the books, but when the film is as accurate as it gets, like the Twilight Saga, I think the Divergent Series will be one you can simply watch without reading the book.

sL Star Rating: ★★★

***

Guest Reviewer | Irene's Corner

The best part of the film would have to be the cast! I’m pretty impressed with the cast selection for this movie. I think they did really well with choosing actors who could portray the characters in the novel realistically. I was particularly impressed with Zoë Cravitz who plays, Christina. I think her portrayal of a “badass” bestfriend was commendable.

The worst part of the film would probably have to be the over theatrics.  Let’s just take a moment to think about the confrontation scene between Jeanine and Tris towards the end of the film – can you say cheesy or? For most parts of the movie the music is pretty bomb – particularly in the zip line scene – but all the overly orchestrated stuff was a tooootal bummer.

If I could change anything about this film, I would change the ending.

Irene's Star Rating: ★★★

Next: Captain America: The Winter Soldier