Director:
Josh Boone
Plot synopsis:
The film is the book to film adaption of John Green's sixth and most successful novel. Hazel Grace Lancaster is a sixteen year old cancer patient.
At support group she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen year old cancer survivor.
She doesn't want to fall in love, but she can’t help it.
First thoughts (Prior watching):
I have read the book and so
was looking to see how they adapted it to screen. The trailers made it look
surprisingly uplifting/light hearted, like a rom-com. There have been tons of
good reviews of this film, especially from Kim Kardashian, though that really
doesn't mean much to me. I knew from the start that it would either be
fantastic or ridiculously trying too hard.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review Unspoiled:
I adored this film, it was as my mother
put it best “A roller-coaster.” It made you feel all emotions, you laughed,
cried and even awh’d (Seriously, the other girls in the cinema actually,
awh’d.) The actors played their parts fantastic, Woodley taking center stage
and shining in her role as Hazel Grace. It loses 0.5 for some lines being
delivered a little wooden, or badly timed and left for a few seconds as if
waiting for a laugh they wouldn't get. It captured the best of the book and was
truly John Green all over, capturing the whole story and telling it in such a
short time.
Bottom line:
It was a fantastic film that made you think. It makes you
want to live, and value life better, whether healthy or not. I left the cinema
and was overcome with a need to hug my mum, who I watched the film with, because
it’s put so simply. “You don’t know which day will be your last good day.” No
matter currently healthy or not.
Recommend:
Yes I would definitely recommend this film, but I warn you, you will probably cry.Spoiler Section.........
As I said, the characters were brilliantly portrayed. Sam
Trammel as Hazel Grace’s father faded into the background, but Laura Dern kept
up emotion as her mother, her moment in Hazels flashback of the ICU was good.
Overall they kept in everything they needed from the book to
tell the story and the detail was great. The reconstruction of ‘Funky bones’
made me smile. My mother and I agreed it was a very good film and that it also
made you really want to visit Amsterdam, as the backdrops were amazing.
I was constantly looking out for a John Green cameo,
thinking he might pop up in the background or even at Augustus funeral but was
disappointed when he didn’t make an appearance. He did film one though, and it
set to be a deleted scene on the DVD which I look forward to seeing when it
comes out.
Best Character:
Isaac. Hands down. He was perfection. The
egg throwing seen (my personal favourite from the book) was hilarious. When he
missed and hit the tree I laughed maybe a little to much. Even his line telling
Augustus not to mock his disability was delivered in a way where even my mother
chuckled. He was well acted, though the actor (Nat Wolffe) didn’t really need
to do much and added the perfect touch of humour to film.
Worst Character:
Of course this would have to be Van Houten,
who else. He was very well portrayed. The scene where we we’re forced to listen
to Swedish hip hop was very good, Willem Dafoe was able to be balance actual seriousness
and ‘Look at all the F’s I give’ to a level where you don’t know whether to
laugh, take him seriously or slap him round the face.
Best Moment:
The aforementioned egg throwing scene. So good.
Worst Moment:
The scene where Hazel finds Augustus at the
petrol station. In my book review I put this as the worst moment in the book as
well, and was not looking forward to seeing it portrayed on screen. It was
heart wrenching. Too see the level of vulnerability to a character thought to be
so strong and free spirited. This was the scene that Elgort came out best in as
he brought across all the emotion needed to do the pivotal moment justice.
Please feel free to comment your own views on the film if you've watched
it, I would love to know how others felt about it.
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