Director: Josh Boone
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort and Laura Dern
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have built a legacy as strong as Shailene Woodley. Ever since her rise to stardom during the 2000’s, Woodley has become a commemorated icon. Whether it’s spectacular lovers, grief-stricken teenagers or terminally ill women, Woodley has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably; Woodley’s greatest strength as an actress is her commitment. She is one of those stars that has poured her heart and soul into each and every role. Woodley has never been afraid of taking risks in her career by playing complex characters which are not likeable. An actress with a strong commitment towards her craft, Woodley has become a celebrated icon in the medium of entertainment. Through her ability to portray characters that are compelling, the actress has created movies which audiences value. Throughout her strong career, Woodley has appeared in several unforgettable movies that are definitely without a single doubt worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Woodley and admire all the movies she had made in her career. However, “The Fault in Our Stars” is my favourite. Ever since its release in 2014, Josh Boone’s movie has become a romantic classic. Packed with breathtaking production design, spellbinding storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best romantic movies ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance from Shailene Woodley, portraying a terminally ill woman that faces tragedy. Ultimately, what makes “The Fault in Our Stars” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most films about terminal illness, it tackles strong themes which everyone will relate to. A riveting masterpiece about heartbreaking terminal illness, there are several strong reasons why “The Fault in Our Stars” is a movie that is definitely without any doubt worth seeing.
Based on the beloved book, “The Fault in Our Stars” tells the story of a terminally ill girl that falls in love in doomed affair. Shailene Woodley portrays Hazel Lancaster, a teenage girl which is diagnosed with cancer. Hazel has adopted a pessimistic attitude towards life feeling she will never be able to beat an illness which impacts her mood. However, Hazel’s life changes when she falls in love with a teenager in her therapy sessions. Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort) is a joyful teenager with terminal illness that falls head over heels for Hazel. Sharing a common love for art, Hazel and Augustus form a strong bond that can’t be torn apart. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Hazel begins to wonder whether it’s possible for her to ever recover from Cancer. Facing a dilemma, Hazel begins to question whether she will find love in a world where her frightening terminal illness causes trauma.
Josh Boone is fascinated with the struggles of teens. Before he made “The Fault in Our Stars”, Boone was well-known for making films about teens. His movie “Stuck in Love” offered a bold portrait of teenagers stuck in love. With “The Fault in Our Stars”, however, Boone created his first terminal illness film. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt o adapt a celebrated book about terminal illness affecting the lives of teenagers but he succeeds tremendously. Using stunning cinematography, Boone captures a terminally ill teenage girl seeking to discover her identity. Visually, the movie is a stunning feast for the eyes as breathtaking as cancer groups which Hazel seeks to materialize. Boone successfully uses montages to capture a terminally ill teen girl going about her daily routine. For instance, montages enhance the routine scene. During this unforgettable scene, Hazel discusses her everyday routine of attending therapy groups involving Cancer. Montages are tricky to use in movies. Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” claimed that montages elevate movies about families. James Ponsoldt’s “The Spectacular Now” demonstrated that montages enhance movies about spectacular teenagers. However, it works tremendously in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Boone captures the intense hardships adolescents facing terminal illness are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Fault in Our Stars” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the film is well made. Boone effectively uses production of hospitals to capture the lives of terminally ill teenagers facing tension. Throughout the film, Boone uses hospitals to capture tensions that terminally teens face. For instance, settings of hospitals enhance the emotional breakdown scene. During this unforgettable scene, Hazel is rushed to the hospital in an emergency when she can’t breathe. One appreciates hospitals capturing the hardships which teens suffering from cancer are enduring. Hospitals are tricky settings to employ in films. Nevertheless, they work tremendously in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Mike Mogis’ music is essential towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tender atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that terminally ill teenagers bear. Through powerful production design, Boone captures terminally ill teenagers facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “The Fault in Our Stars” is an adaptation that is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and successfully uses voice-over narration to convey terminally ill teenagers that experience tension. Boone’s screenwriting strength is his abilities to capture tension faced by terminally ill women by voice over narration. Throughout the movie, Boone effectively uses narration to capture the lives of teenage girls with illness facing doubt. For instance, narration elevates the opening scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Hazel recounts her memory of growing up as a terminally ill girl since she was once a young child. Through breathtaking narration, Boone captures the hardships that terminally ill teenagers go through. Voice over narration is a complicated technique to use in films. As claimed by Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, narration elevates prison movies. Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” demonstrated narration enhances classic gangsters movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a superb screenplay, Boone captures the lives of terminally ill teenagers which face a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Shailene Woodley delivers one of her greatest performances as Hazel. Woodley first gained appreciation for playing action heroines in the divergent series. With “The Fault in Our Stars”, however, she took on her most emotional role. It isn’t easy to portray a terminally ill teenager that falls in love in a doomed relationship but she succeeded immensely. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: charming, emotional and vulnerable in her most touching role. It’s a commemorated role that gave the actress a chance to showcase rare emotional range she hadn’t shown in her career. With strong expressions, she captures the angst, grief and resentment of an anxiety-ridden teenager that suffers from a devastating terminal illness. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors working today.
Ansel Elgort is extraordinary as a terminally ill teenager that falls in love in a doomed affair facing disaster. While Woodley gets a shower role, Elgort is also excellent as a teenager that endures an emotional toll. As Augustus, Elgort effectively uses his body language to create a terminally ill teen that’s compelling. Whether he is flirting with Hazel their first meeting or sharing his attitudes on terminal illness in a commemorated cancer support group, Elgort effectively uses his body language to create a teenager that is compelling. It’s a commemorated role that gave the actor the chance to showcase his natural charisma. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated young actors currently today.
Finally, “The Fault in Our Stars” would earn the praise of everyone for capturing terminally ill teens facing stars. Unlike most movies about terminal illness, it tackles commemorated themes which everyone will relate to. It discusses strong themes including identity, mental health and terminal illness that would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of the commemorated book to appreciate it. It delivers a strong message about terminal illnesses which would definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Fault in Our Stars” is one of those rare commemorated movies about terminal illness everyone would adore.
Fans of Shailene Woodley would enjoy “The Fault in Our Stars” and so will movie-goers seeking heartfelt entertainment. A captivating romantic classic, it honours an actress that has built a legacy that’s iconic.
Nearly 15 years following the publication of a groundbreaking book about teenage girls suffering from severe terminal illness falling in love in romantic relationships that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress that has created a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life women that are compelling in captivating movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 