The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

"They don't have forever, they have each other."

Directed by Josh Boone
Produced by Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen

Screenplay by Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Based on "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Willem Dafoe

Music by Mike Mogis, Nate Walcott

Cinematography: Ben Richardson
Edited by Robb Sullivan
Production company: Temple Hill Entertainment
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date: June 6, 2014 (United States)
Running time: 125 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $12,000,000
Box office: $299,102,131

"The Fault in Our Stars" is a romantic drama film directed by Josh Boone and based on the novel of the same name by John Green. The story is about Hazel Grace Lancaster, a quick-witted and sarcastic teenager. She tries to cope with terminal thyroid cancer that has metastasised to her lungs. Believing her to be depressed, Hazel's mother urges her to attend a cancer patients' support group at a local church to make friends. One day during a support meeting, Hazel meets Augustus Waters, a teen who had suffered from osteosarcoma which caused him to lose his leg. They soon find out that they have much in common, their relations grow into something greater. However, will their illnesses let Hazel and Augustus go?

Cast

• Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster
• Lily Kenna as young Hazel Grace Lancaster
• Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters
• Nat Wolff as Isaac
• Laura Dern as Frannie Lancaster, Hazel's mother
• Sam Trammell as Michael Lancaster, Hazel's father
• Willem Dafoe as Peter van Houten
• Lotte Verbeek as Lidewij Vliegenthart
• Mike Birbiglia as Patrick

Josh Boone, the director of the film, was also known with his first work "Stuck in Love". Principal photography began on August 26, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (like "The Perks of Being a Wallflower") then the production moved to Amsterdam and began filming on October 14 and officially wrapped up on October 16, 2013. Therefore locations looks so colourful and bright.

As for popularity of the film, it depends on the John Green's book. Yes, it's pretty girlish. A romantic story of two who can't be together. Love, illness, happiness, infinity and impossibility. Because of my prejudgement I hadn't wanted to watch the film. However, then I made up my mind to try. I was really surprised when it turned out not a naive but ironic one. Contrary to my expectations "The Fault in Our Stars" didn't remind me "Now Is Good". The first one is more... believable? Even if it's just a fiction.

Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster was undoubtedly good. She conveyed the sentiment of her character impeccably. You just watch this film and believe her. Completely. Sarcastic and depressive teenager at first, then Hazel starts to see things in another light, more positive one.

Ansel Elgort. Augustus Waters. A cheerful guy who turns upside-down Hazel's world. And his one is done the same thanks to Hazel Grace. His interminable jokes and an interesting world-view captivates from the first minutes and don't let go until the end.

The character of Willem Dafoe, Peter van Houten, irritated me. I hated him. Then I started to sympathise him. But all in all, I wanted him to get out of a car. You will know what I mean after watching.

Advantages

• Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster
• Laura Dern as Frannie Lancaster, Hazel's mother

Disadvantages

• Just an other romantic film

"Strangenesses"

• Sometimes love is not enough

Clue Moments

• Rehabilitation
• Meeting with Augustus
• Travelling to Holland

Now it's time to talk about important idea of the film: a value of human life. Frankly speaking, you don't need to be ill if you want to start living right now. No! You may begin it anytime. Maybe exactly this moment, what do you think? Stop waiting for something especially when you don't know exactly what are you waiting for. It's stupid to postpone your life only because you're not ready in your opinion. You may find yourself silly, ugly, uninteresting and etc. But why don't you just do something? Hazel did even with health problems. She didn't heed any justifications, no. If there's a strong desire, there will be possibilities. Maybe it's time to take your life in hand?

It doesn't matter how many people know and remember you. This way quality is more important than quantity. I mean true love of one person costs international recognition. It's unconditionally. So save your relationships with close people in the first place. Followers in social net will wait.

Happiness. It's so momentary. Yesterday you was upset, today you're happy and don't know who you will be tomorrow. So just enjoy this moment, fully enjoy. Don't think about tomorrow. You're right here and right now. There are many chances around you, make choice and go towards to a live, not an existence.Yes, tomorrow everything will become memories. But now it's no object.

Soundtracks

1. Ed Sheeran - All Of The Stars
2. Jake Bugg - Simple As This
3. Grouplove - Let Me In
4. Birdy - Tee Shirt
5. Kodaline - All I Want
6. Tom Odell - Long Way Down
7. Charli XCX - Boom Clap
8. STRFKR - While I'm Alive
9. Indians - Oblivion
10. The Radio Dept. - Strange Things Will Happen
11. Afasi feat. Filthy - Bomfalleralla
12. Ray LaMontagne - Without Words
13. Birdy - Not About Angels
14. Lykke Li - No One Ever Loved
15. M83 - Wait
16. Birdy feat. Jaymes Young - Best Shot (Bonus Track) 

Quotations

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: Whenever you read a cancer booklet or website or whatever, they always list depression among the side effects of cancer. But, in fact, depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying. Cancer is also a side effect of dying. Almost everything is, really.

* * *

Augustus Waters: My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.

* * *

Augustus Waters: That’s the thing about pain…It demands to be felt.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: Sometimes people don’t understand the promises they’re making when they make them…But you keep the promise anyway. That’s what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: ...books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: The marks humans leave are too often scars.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.

* * *

Augustus Waters: You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.

* * *

Peter Van Houten: Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.

* * *

Augustus Waters: They don’t kill you unless you light them. And I’ve never lit one. It’s a metaphor, see: You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don’t give it the power to do its killing.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep. Slowly, and then all at once.

* * *

Isaac: But I believe in true love, you know? I don’t believe that everybody gets to keep their eyes or not get sick or whatever, but everybody should have true love, and it should last at least as long as your life does.

* * *

Hazel Grace Lancaster: I’m like. Like. I’m like a grenade, Mom. I’m a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?

* * *

Augustus Waters: You are going to live a good and long life filled with great and terrible moments that you cannot even imagine yet!

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 8/10

Acting: 7/10

Originality: 6/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10