The Fault in Our Stars

Plot - Hazel Grace Lancaster (Woodley) is sixteen years old. She is smart, witty, sarcastic and occasionally moody. She loves her parents, but also gets very frustrated with them. In fact she is your average teenager in every way. Except that she has terminal thyroid cancer. At the behest of her mother (Dern) she attends a support group for cancer sufferers, entirely convinced that it will have nothing to offer her. It is there however that she meets Augustus Waters (Elgort), a fellow cancer sufferer who may well be the love of her life. Striking up a friendship a strong bond is quickly formed between the two. As their feelings for each other begin to grow they embark on what to them feels like an epic romance; a romance that includes a trip to Amsterdam, health relapses, the crushing disappointment of meeting their favourite author (Dafoe) and heartbreak.

Before I start allow me to hand this over.


That's right, I'm relinquishing my man card. It seems only right given that this film is apparently aimed at 14-year-old girls and yet not only did I willingly watch it, not only did I enjoy it but yes I may even have teared up a little bit (don't judge me! I'm in a vulnerable place right now.)

Yes it has some glaring flaws but on the whole I just found it to be a rather tender and touching film that had a witty script and was beautifully performed. Addressing the flaws first, the film does have a tendency towards cheesiness, although to be fair I don't think it ever really crosses over into full-on melodrama. Perhaps the biggest issue is that it can come across as rather pretentious at times, this is particularly true of the Augustus Waters character who really doesn't talk like any 18-year-old guy I've ever come across. To call him precocious wouldn't come close to covering it. He talks in a very literal, over-written style. So many of the sentiments that come out of his mouth aim to be words of deep wisdom but instead feel like mere platitudes; so much so that I think he could have a good sideline as a writer of fortunes for fortune cookies. Although to be fair to him, with a name like Augustus Waters your parents have pretty much pushed you in the direction of pretentious douche right from the start!

Even if his character is written somewhat questionably Ansel Elgort is largely able to overcome it thanks to a natural performance of easygoing charm, even if he does struggle to sell some of the character's more precious dialogue. Terrifically impressive also was Laura Dern as the mother of the cancer-stricken Hazel. I think she does a great job of conveying what it must be like to be a parent to a terminally ill child. She does her best to stay strong and positive for her child but we can see just how fragile she is, fearful that every second will be her daughter's last; caught between trying to ensure she lives every moment to its fullest but also trying to protect her. Along with Sam Trammell as her husband, Dern shares some lovely, really honest feeling scenes with Hazel. They actually make for some of the best and most touching scenes of the whole movie.

The undoubted star of the film is in no doubt however, it's Shailene Woodley. I've got to say that I kind of fell in love with her during the duration of the film. To begin with she remains physically attractive despite sporting breathing tubes for pretty much the entire time, but it's a lot more than that, it's to do with her performance and the qualities she imbues Hazel with. She captures a beautiful balance between the fear and fragility that comes with her condition, but also the great strength and courage she tackles it with. She really is just adorable, as is the relationship between her and Elgort's Augustus. They have such a sweet chemistry together. Since the film's release people have been bandying her name about in regards to the possibility of an Oscar nomination. Due to the nature of the film itself I'm not sure it will happen, but if it did I certainly wouldn't complain because I think she is rather excellent.

If there was one thing that I feel perhaps holds the film back a touch it is the direction of the inexperienced Josh Boone. At times I feel he struggles with the pacing and on occasion the tone. He seems much more comfortable in the first half when the film plays more like a quirky, offbeat romantic comedy, than he does when things take a darker, more sombre turn. And the actual look of the film is pretty unremarkable; it could easily pass for some made-for-TV movie. Faring better I feel is the script of Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber. Setting aside the issues over some of Augustus' dialogue I found it quite a sharp, witty offering. In the opening hour the film comes off sort of like a teen cancer version of (500) Days of Summer, which isn't all that surprising given that Neustadter and Weber were responsible for that film's script as well. Their script helps to ensure that the film avoids being as depressing as you may expect; that's because the film is not so much about grief because it unfolds with the characters in a place of acceptance. Hazel and Augustus have come to terms with their mortality and openly talk about their thoughts on the afterlife and discuss their respective eulogies. The film may have a touch of manipulation to it, but they help to keep it from ever crossing over into exploitation.

One of the main factors which will determine people's enjoyment, or lack thereof, is how they feel the issue of cancer is addressed and portrayed. I'm a little bit torn on it. On the one hand I'm sure some people will feel it rather glamorises cancer. After all while we see background characters clearly suffering the effects of cancer; bald people who are obviously undergoing chemotherapy or their friend who loses his eyes, Hazel and Augustus themselves could probably still be strutting their stuff in the latest Gap ad. The film does however show some constant consequences of the disease; for example we never see Hazel without the breathing tube protruding from her nose and frequently see the difficulties she has lugging about her oxygen tank. In the grand scheme of things however these struggles seem rather minor inconveniences of such a horrible disease. When it comes to Hazel the more serious ramifications of her cancer are seen in flashbacks to her childhood, and are presented in slow motion and soft focus to minimise the power and pain. What this does mean though is that towards the end of the film when one of them does suffer a serious episode and it is presented in a slightly more graphic, matter-of-a-fact way the contrast means that it comes across as quite distressing and upsetting.

I'm aware that everyone else on her may well hate this film, and on another day I myself may not be all that keen on it. But on this particular viewing I feel I was just in the right mood and place for it. I was perhaps in a bit of a low mood and was just looking for something sweet and touching. I was open to being emotionally manipulated. And even if I didn't actually cry I think it sort of played into that thing of how it can be good and cathartic to cry. While I didn't, just the fact that it made me feel something and made some kind of emotional connection with me was enough.

So come on, bring on the hate!

Conclusion - I have been very fortunate in that neither myself or anyone I know has been diagnosed with cancer. Had I had not been so lucky then perhaps I would have felt differently about this film and its portrayal of the disease and those affected by it. As it is I found The Fault in Our Stars to be a witty, humorous, acerbic and touching film. It also happens to be a very well-acted piece, topped off by a terrific performance from Shailene Woodley that confirms her ascent to stardom.

PS - Just heard back from the Association of Men and they have accepted my resignation.