Hello :-)
‘The Fault In
Our Stars’ is the only book I’ve ever recommended to people on the basis that
“it will kick your heart in the arse… in a good way”.
I read it 18
months ago, after catching on characteristically late to how awesome the Vlogbrothers
are. This led me to John Green’s books, all of which I love, but ‘The Fault In
Our Stars’ (TFIOS) has a particular place in my heart. As I’m an unashamed fan
I went to a preview ‘Fan Screening’ on 12th June a week before the film’s general
UK release on 19th June.
‘The Fault In
Our Stars’ is the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen-year-old coping
with long-term thyroid cancer. At her mother’s request she begins to attend a
cancer support group and meets Augustus Waters, an boy who had osteosarcoma
which is in remission but has led to the amputation of his leg. The two bond
over the book ‘An Imperial Affliction’ and, as they get closer, try to seek out
the Author to find out what happens after the story ends.
Just a disclaimer,
I am a massive fan of this book. I’m going to try my best to be objective but,
if a little bit of fangirl sneaks in, you’ve been warned.
On the surface
(and definitely on the posters) ‘TFIOS’ looks like it’s going to be a Nick
Sparks film. Factor in the cancer element and to all the world it might look as
though you have ‘Dear John’ meets ‘My Sisters Keeper’. This could not be
further from the truth.
‘TFIOS’ is smart, witty, romantic and never somber. I
won’t lie, there is a level of melancholy to the film but it doesn’t come off
as depressing, I think it’s dealt with beautifully. Crucially this is not a
film ‘about cancer’ it’s a film about people with cancer, falling in love. I love that illness isn’t what defines
this story and it is ultimately hopeful.
‘TFIOS’ has
stayed remarkably close to the source material. A few characters are left out
and some events aren’t realised at all, but the tone of the book is still there,
as are all the essential plot points. Aside from the fact that if they had mucked the story around, thousands
of TFIOS book fans would storm the headquarters of 20th Century Fox like Gaston
and the villagers in Beauty and the Beast, the story doesn’t need any embellishment.
The book always struck me as very cinematic and it’s translated to screen with
the greatest of ease thanks to the writing of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber.
It borrows some key dialogue directly from the source but for the most part the
script is new and appropriately clever and lovely.
As much as I
loved the film, it isn’t without it’s missteps. One scene where Hazel and
Augustus visit the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam is a little jarring. Hazel
has difficulty breathing and has to wear a nasal cannula to give her oxygen,
unfortunately the Anne Frank museum doesn’t have a lift so she has to climb the
stairs to get to the famous attic. This is a huge struggle for her and she has
to keep pausing for breath, over the top of these moments the director plays in
audio of a girl reading extracts from Anne Frank’s diary about struggle and
hope and how it sucks that sometimes young people have to go through some
really awful situations. This did feel a little like the film was jumping up
and down shouting,
“HEY! HAZEL AND
ANNE FRANK BOTH HAD TO GO THROUGH SOME SHIT BUT THEY REMAINED POSITIVE PEOPLE!”
Thankfully this
is the only point where the film tries to ram any kind of message down your
throat. The movie ponders the question of what it means to love someone when
you know you have restricted time and the futility of trying to limit your part
in the emotional suffering of those around you. As you may well have heard, the
story doesn’t so much tug on your heartstrings as punch them repeatedly in the
face (word to the wise, don't forget the tissues), but this really is balanced out by the humour laced throughout. It has a
dry wit and a darkly comic undertone, meaning that, despite the bountiful tears shed, the characters are by no means self-pitying.
John Green’s creations
are perfectly cast. Nat Wolff has a small but very funny role as Augustus’s
friend Isaac, a testament to the fact you can lose your sight but you don’t
have to lose your sense of humour. Laura Dern and Sam Trammell are the caring,
understanding, funny parents we would all like to have (Dern especially is a
delight) and Willem Dafoe is perfectly miserable in his supporting role as
Hazel’s favourite Author.
Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort head up the roster
as Hazel and Augustus and I really couldn’t think of anyone better to do the
job. Elgort brings to life everything that I adore about Augustus; his charm,
his wit but also the innate goofiness that’s captured so perfectly in a scene
where he goes on his first flight in an aeroplane.
Hazel is a
character I really love and she’s the key to this whole story. She’s perfectly
realised in a gorgeous performance from Shailene Woodley. There’s a quote about
Hazel in the book, “She walks lightly upon the earth” and Woodley
nails that. Hazel is funny, smart and never mean and tries so desperately to
minimise the impact she leaves on the world. I love her and Woodley is note
perfect.
It’s really hard
for me to gauge what non-book-reading audiences are going to think. The
screening I was in was a preview screening for book fans so we all laughed and
cried and whooped and cheered in appreciation of the film and remembrance of
the book. A really positive thing I took away from our screening was that it
was almost entirely made up of girls. Obviously girls like all kinds of films, but having lots of girls turn out for a film like this with a fully developed,
witty, three dimensional female lead such as Hazel is an encouraging thing to
see in a medium thats been male-audience orientated for so long.
I thought
‘TFIOS’ was wonderful. Emotional but never depressing, sweet but never cloying
and with a gorgeous hint of gallows humour.
This film? It’s more than okay.
'The Fault in our Stars' goes on general UK release on 19th June.
Now I need some…
Reasons to be
cheerful :-)
1. New, sexy
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ posters! I’m SO excited for this film! The only
annoying thing is that I’m on holiday when it opens! I really love the
advertising campaign on this, it’s cheeky and fun and looks like it's going to be a colourful departure for Marvel.
2. So Jurassic World is a thing that's happening. Some photos have come out which is always nice (Yay! Chris Pratt's continued employment!) but the thing that interests me the most is the Director Colin Trevorrow has been talking about the plot. It's a really interesting premise and I can't wait to see it materialise next year.
That's everything I've got for today!
Goodbye till next time :-)
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
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