In a “dauntless” cinematic move, director Neil Burger succeeds in turning Veronica Roth’s beloved novel into the cinematic action-thriller, “Divergent.” The film defines the struggle of self-discovery that every teenager faces, but in a dystopian world that sees individualism as a threat, separating loved ones for possessing different characteristics.
Set in a futuristic post-war Chicago, citizens are divided into factions based on their personalities including Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), and Amity (the peaceful). When citizens turn 16, they must take an aptitude test to see whether they should stay with the factions they were born into, or leave their families behind for a faction that better suits them. But when Tris (Shailene Woodley from “The Secret Life of The American Teenager”) takes the test, her result is divergent, meaning she does not fit into any of the factions.
Since the government sees divergents as a threat to the perceived utopia, Tris must choose a faction and pretend to fit in. She goes through intense training and tests to stay in her chosen faction, Dauntless. During the tests, she must abandon her instincts and think like a Dauntless. If she is caught as a divergent, she could be put to death.
Though her character is put up against innumerable struggles, Woodley portrays Tris as a caring, honest individual who is willing to fight for what she believes.
Her performance is comparable to Jennifer Lawrence’s in the “Hunger Games,” both playing strong, beautiful heroines that moviegoers root for from start to finish. Woodley makes viewers feel her fear of the dangerous Dauntless lifestyle through the fear in her eyes, especially when she is forced to fight fellow initiates and jump from the top of a building. However, she becomes more confident as she begins to stand up for herself vocally and physically.
Woodley also has a great chemistry with her hunky trainer Four (Theo James of “The Underworld: Awakening”), although their romance was not properly explained and grew rather suddenly. While their romance progresses gradually in the book, the film had Tris and Four avoiding one another in one scene, and madly in love in the next.
Another memorable performance comes from funny man Miles Teller (“21 & Over”) who plays Peter, Tris’ fellow Dauntless initiate. Peter breaks up the dark intensity of the film by mocking Tris’ every move throughout the film, a role that suits Teller well.
Jai Courtney excellently portrays the relentless and terrifying Dauntless leader Eric with intimidating glares and a forceful tone. Kate Winslet commands attention through her poise and grace as the powerful Erudite leader Jeanine, but becomes aggressive as Four and Tris try to rebel against her. Ansel Elgort portrays Tris’ uptight, but caring brother Caleb. Elgort and Woodley will reunite on screen as the romantic leads in “The Fault in Our Stars,” based on John Green’s popular novel of the same name, to be released in June.
Screenwriters Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor’s script uses scenes with heavy dialogue to advance the plot and action sequences to show off the film’s special effects. The scene where Four explains the meaning behind his name (he has four fears) shows a new, sensitive side to the mysterious Dauntless trainer. The special effects bring the novel to life by allowing audiences to see the characters jump from great heights and have their worst fears come alive in a simulator. The film also features Chicago landmarks that frame the city in a whole new light. At one moment, Tris and Four daringly climb Navy Pier’s Ferris Wheel. Later, they zip-line from the top of the John Hancock building.
The action-packed climax of the movie where Tris is put to the test to save her family and original faction, as well as the “cliff-hanger” ending, leave audience members begging for more, setting the bar high for the film’s sequel.
