Truthful, heartfelt and definitely worth seeing

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2014)

I hesitated for quite a while before watching this movie, exactly because of the great reviews it has been getting and because I have often been let down by highly rated movies. But not by this one. I then hesitated for a while whether I should write a review, as I don't ever do, but I have been so surprised by the mixed reactions to this film, I decided I should.
The script seems to be one of the big deal breakers for those who did not enjoy the film. Sure, I too was at first put off by Gus's character and I questioned the likelihood of the debacle with the author. However, I do not feel the film can be said to have a "nonsense, unrealistic script".
No part of this movie can or should be taken out of the context of the fact that it deals with terminally sick teenagers, who are played I think very, very well by Shailene and Ansel. Their sickness is an integral part of their lives and so the Anne Frank scene, for example, made complete sense to me, as her story forms in a way the answer that Hazel was looking for.
Cancer is an emotional roller-coaster and that is what the movie gave us: happiness, sadness, laughter, tears and frustration. Sidenote: I lost my mum to cancer when both she and I were still far too young and I can recognize much of her and the course of the illness in this movie, so I can only say I found the movie/storyline realistic and relatable.
I'm not sure I can call it a masterpiece, or the best movie in I don't know how many years, but I feel it was truthful. It's not a movie I'll say I enjoyed watching, but I'm damn sure glad I did. It is worth seeing. And it left me, at least, with something to think about.