Way More than Just a Tearjerker - A Romantic Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (25 August 2014)

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)
Rating: 4/5 stars
"The Fault in Our Stars" had amazing pre-release hype, and it lived up to its expectations by all counts. I haven't read John Green's immensely popular novel - and now that I've seen the film, I don't foresee myself reading it in the future - but if the movie has adhered closely to its source, I can see why Green's romantic yarn is so loved. The plot is centered around Hazel and Augustus, two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that Hazel's other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they meet and fall in love at a cancer support group.
Speaking solely from the film's perspective, "The Fault in Our Stars" is nothing short of a masterpiece that leaves you with a lump in your throat, teary-eyed, and an almost palpable aura of love engulfing our senses. The Direction is exceptional with a smoothly-flowing narrative that draws you completely in and keeps you emotionally engaged. The writing is of the highest quality with beautifully fleshed out characters that you genuinely care about and want to invest time in, and the dialogues are witty, satirical, and emotional without being mushy.
Lending depth and gravitas to the seamless narrative and incredible writing are the cast of talented actors - irrespective of the length of their role, every actor does a fine job and their performances remain etched in our psyche long after the curtain comes down. Laura Dern as Hazel's (Shailene Woodley) mother and Nat Wolff as Gus' (Ansel Elgort) best mate stand out among the supporting cast, while Willem Dafoe is hauntingly terrific as usual in a bit role. Ansel Elgort is easy on the eye - though he comes across as effortless charming throughout most of the film, he ends up displaying his range towards the end and packs quite a meaty punch in the dramatic and emotional scenes.
However, the sheer standout performance undoubtedly comes from Shailene Woodley, who's literally head and shoulder above the rest of the cast. Whether it is her acerbic wit, acceptance of her fate, emoting through her eyes, or delivering gut-wrenching moments through emotionally harrowing sequences and monologues, Wodley, quite simply, knocks every scene and dialogue of hers out of the park. This is an exceptionally young talent who's not only delivered an act worthy of an Oscar nomination, but it can be easily counted among the decade's best performance from an actress. Shailene Woodley is surely a superstar in the making.
"The Fault in Our Stars" brings warmth to our hearts, makes us believe in the power of true love, and shows us that even in the most trying times, life can through us an unexpected, enchanting curve ball. It is definitely one of the most touching, emotionally haunting, realistic, and magical love stories ever, and will eventually go down as one of the best romantic movies of all time.