“Divergent” brings new actors and established stars together

by Sean Previl

With a slew of films based on young adult novels in its wake, one would expect the common attributes of the genre to be evident in the film adaptation of Veronica Roth’s best-selling novel Divergent.  Providing a hero or heroine dealing with angst, a romance and a plot that puts the main character in danger, Divergent gives viewers exactly what they paid for.  It gives viewers a movie to thoroughly enjoy, even if you haven’t read the book.

Set in Chicago in 2164, people have been divided into five separate factions, each known for a unique trait.  Abnegation for selflessness, Dauntless for bravery, Erudite for intelligence, Amity for kindness and Candor for honesty.  As the film begins, Abnegation-born Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) takes part in a test to help her choose the faction she’ll belong to for the rest of her life.  During the test, she finds herself fitting into not one of the factions like everyone else, but three, making her “divergent.”  She is told to keep it a secret as divergents are not welcome in this new world because they cannot be controlled.

As the film progresses, Beatrice or “Tris” begins her initiation into Dauntless facing both physical and psychological dangers.  As she makes friends with Christina (Zoë Kravitz) and “Four” (Theo James), also a divergent, and enemies in Peter (Miles Teller) and Eric (Jai Courtney), she starts discovering who she is in the world.

Through her initiation, however, she starts to discover a plot by the Erudite to take control of the city.  At the head of this plan is Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), an Erudite who believes control is the most important thing in the world and is trying to destroy Abnegation so she will lead the city.  Being divergents, Tris and Four are the only people able to stand up to Jeanine because they are not affected by injections she uses to control the people of Dauntless.

Taking on the lead role in her second major motion picture — the first being the critically-acclaimed The Descendants — Woodley gives a powerful performance.  As a character with doubts about herself and a need to break free of her Abnegation lifestyle, people , particularly young adults, are able to relate to Tris.

James also gives a solid performance as Four, providing the perfect amount of broodiness that’s likely to capture the hearts of most teen girls.  Yet unlike past adaptations of lead male characters, Robert Pattinson in Twilight for example, James adds a likeability factor to his character because of the chemistry he has with Woodley.

Winslet takes the character of Jeanine Matthews to a greater level of meanness in the movies.  While still cold and calculating, Winslet adds a certain malicious quality to the character.  She plays evil well and knows exactly what to do to make audiences root against her.

Courtney and Teller also back up Winslet as well-developed antagonists.  The former as the Dauntless trainer you love to hate and Teller as one of Tris’ fellow Dauntless initiates.  He gives his character a personality that makes you want to punch him.

The musical score composed by Junkie XL (The Dark Knight Rises, Man of Steel) and Hans Zimmer (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises), deftly punctuates the emotion and suspense in the film.  Even with the number of young adult films already released, Divergent directed by Neil Burger delivers a movie-going experience that is sure to delight audiences.

4/5 stars