The dystopian society teen movie trend continues in the deeply moving drama The Giver. The film, originally a children’s novel penned by Lois Lowry, stars a very handsome Brenton Thwaites alongside the likes of Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, and Katie Holmes.

The movie, shot partially in stunning black and white, focus’ around Jonas, a teenage boy facing a graduation into his assigned role in society. The culture has eliminated hate, war, differences, and choice. Everyone lives in “sameness”; speaking, acting, and dressing the same. Each member lives in strict compliance to the rules. They are painfully polite and well controlled, living without any inconvenience, discomfort, or emotion.

At the graduation ceremony, Jonas is selected to be the new Receiver of Memory, an honored role in which he will acquire knowledge of the past world. With great enthusiasm, Jonas begins receiving memories from the Giver, Bridges. But this new knowledge of emotion, music and beauty leaves Jonas wondering why his culture has to be the way it is.

This film adaptation certainly does justice to it’s classic novel. The film begins in black and white, which gave director Phillip Noyce an opportunity to play a bit with lighting. The result was a stunning composition of classic lines and innovative shots.

Acting wise, this film hits it out of the park. While some roles, such as Meryl Streep’s position as the chief elder, were more understated in the book, they moved the film along nicely. Brenton Thwaites plays Jonas as deliciously naive and confused, a welcome twist from the way he was written by Lowry. The characters are very well cast; from Katie Holmes off handed coldness to Alexander Skarsgards much needed warmth, the casting team was on point.  Holmes and Skarsgard play Jonas’ parents in film.

Relationally, the characters got the typical Hollywood makeover. Childhood friendship turned teen romance oozes out the necessary cheese and expected “Aw” moments.

The film’s pace, however, seems to shove the plot down the readers throat. The entire situation is explained in the first five minutes, leaving little to be discovered by the audience.

The movie wrestled with the ambiguity of life, ping ponging between the pain and beauty of existence, an argument Jonas struggles with for most the film.

Overall, The Giver is an excellent film adaptation of a classic novel. From the fantastic casting to the relatable overarching themes, this film is more than worth the 1 and a half hours it takes to watch. 4 out of 5 stars.