Divergent (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'Divergent', directed by Neil Burger, is based on yet another Young Adult book series (a la Twilight, The Hunger Games). In The future, a catastrophic war decimates the population; leaving survivors to live in what’s now a dilapidated Chicago. Society is structured around 5 distinct groups, each dedicated to a singular innate virtue: Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amnity (the kind), Candor (the honest), & Erudite (the smart). Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley, of The Descendants, The Spectacular Now) was born into the Abnegation faction. This faction has been the head of the government & her father Andrew (Tony Goldwyn) is an Abnegation official. Her mother Natalie (Ashley Judd) & brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort) are both nurturers who love helping those in need.
Upon turning 16, teens are given an aptitude test to show which faction they best fit in before being given the opportunity to choose their 'permanent' faction. To her utter shock, Beatrice learns that her test results are "inconclusive". The administrator (Maggie Q) advises Beatrice to keep these results secret, even from her own family. They show she is ... "Divergent," a multi-talented person who has an affinity for each of the 5 factions; and therefore, poses a threat to the status quo. On Choosing Day (something akin to Sorting Day in Harry Potter), Beatrice & Caleb surprise their parents with their decisions. Caleb joins the powerful/snobbish Erudites, & Beatrice decides to leave Abnegation to join the respected warrior class, Dauntless, who storm through the city like hundreds of Batmen-like saviors.
Desperate to find an identity (big theme in the film) & prove herself in Dauntless, Beatrice - who renames herself 'Tris' - grabs the attention of 2 instructors, the brooding Four (Theo James, the infamous Mr. Pamuk from Downton Abbey) & the brutish Eric (Jai Courtney). She also makes some new friends: Christina (Zoe Kravitz), Will, & Al. All of the new initiates are graded on grueling martial arts fights, use of weapons, & other assorted fear-conquering skills. When Four finds out that Tris can manipulate the psychological simulations where she's forced to confront her deepest fears, he realizes that she may be a Divergent; and in grave danger. All the while, unrest is brewing as Erudite believes that they should be in charge & are planning a coup against Abnegation. And Erudite's leader, Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), is hell bent on destroying anybody who does not conform (Divergents). Drama & tragic action ensues.
'Divergent' shares commonalities with other YA film adaptations. Just like with The Hunger Games, we have a resourceful female heroine, a depressing dystopian society, the power plays of corrupt leaders, & the blooming of romance in the midst of peril & chaos. Young viewers will likely take to this movie like a moth does to a light. Director Neil Burger keeps the action moving along with some interesting sequences. i.e., Tris' high-speed solo zipline from the top of the deserted skyscraper through the wartorn city to the ground. As Tris, Shailene Woodley is easy to root for. And with his chiseled visage, Theo James nails the strong, silent type as Four. Neither Woodley nor James truly command the screen, per say, but I enjoyed how open/relaxed they seem to be in their roles. They provide down-to-Earth portrayals (important in a movie like this). So that makes it easy to empathize with both of them as they draw closer amid the dangers. Kate Winslet gets to chew some scenery in a rare villainess role. And Ashley Judd is pretty kick-a** in a few action-oriented scenes near the end (during the Erudite revolution).
On the whole, I wasn't overly wild about the script. There are plot holes. And there are moments that are rushed to get to the next gripping fight/action sequence. An opening voiceover gives us the framework of the city & how it works, but a better understanding of the political structure might make happenings in the last 1/2 hour or so seem less sudden & better integrated into the narrative as a whole. I think I enjoyed 'Divergent' more right after I saw it then I do now in reflection. But overall, I admire the basic story for 'Divergent' more than that of 'The Hunger Games' because it's rooted more in reality and not so much in fantasy. This movie may be too much like other recent YA films (too familiar in plot trajectory/tone). But I went in expecting worse & was pleasantly surprised.
Upon turning 16, teens are given an aptitude test to show which faction they best fit in before being given the opportunity to choose their 'permanent' faction. To her utter shock, Beatrice learns that her test results are "inconclusive". The administrator (Maggie Q) advises Beatrice to keep these results secret, even from her own family. They show she is ... "Divergent," a multi-talented person who has an affinity for each of the 5 factions; and therefore, poses a threat to the status quo. On Choosing Day (something akin to Sorting Day in Harry Potter), Beatrice & Caleb surprise their parents with their decisions. Caleb joins the powerful/snobbish Erudites, & Beatrice decides to leave Abnegation to join the respected warrior class, Dauntless, who storm through the city like hundreds of Batmen-like saviors.
Desperate to find an identity (big theme in the film) & prove herself in Dauntless, Beatrice - who renames herself 'Tris' - grabs the attention of 2 instructors, the brooding Four (Theo James, the infamous Mr. Pamuk from Downton Abbey) & the brutish Eric (Jai Courtney). She also makes some new friends: Christina (Zoe Kravitz), Will, & Al. All of the new initiates are graded on grueling martial arts fights, use of weapons, & other assorted fear-conquering skills. When Four finds out that Tris can manipulate the psychological simulations where she's forced to confront her deepest fears, he realizes that she may be a Divergent; and in grave danger. All the while, unrest is brewing as Erudite believes that they should be in charge & are planning a coup against Abnegation. And Erudite's leader, Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), is hell bent on destroying anybody who does not conform (Divergents). Drama & tragic action ensues.
'Divergent' shares commonalities with other YA film adaptations. Just like with The Hunger Games, we have a resourceful female heroine, a depressing dystopian society, the power plays of corrupt leaders, & the blooming of romance in the midst of peril & chaos. Young viewers will likely take to this movie like a moth does to a light. Director Neil Burger keeps the action moving along with some interesting sequences. i.e., Tris' high-speed solo zipline from the top of the deserted skyscraper through the wartorn city to the ground. As Tris, Shailene Woodley is easy to root for. And with his chiseled visage, Theo James nails the strong, silent type as Four. Neither Woodley nor James truly command the screen, per say, but I enjoyed how open/relaxed they seem to be in their roles. They provide down-to-Earth portrayals (important in a movie like this). So that makes it easy to empathize with both of them as they draw closer amid the dangers. Kate Winslet gets to chew some scenery in a rare villainess role. And Ashley Judd is pretty kick-a** in a few action-oriented scenes near the end (during the Erudite revolution).
On the whole, I wasn't overly wild about the script. There are plot holes. And there are moments that are rushed to get to the next gripping fight/action sequence. An opening voiceover gives us the framework of the city & how it works, but a better understanding of the political structure might make happenings in the last 1/2 hour or so seem less sudden & better integrated into the narrative as a whole. I think I enjoyed 'Divergent' more right after I saw it then I do now in reflection. But overall, I admire the basic story for 'Divergent' more than that of 'The Hunger Games' because it's rooted more in reality and not so much in fantasy. This movie may be too much like other recent YA films (too familiar in plot trajectory/tone). But I went in expecting worse & was pleasantly surprised.