Insurgent ups the ante and succeeds
FILM | Chuck Koplinski
Smart, slick and superior to its predecessor Divergent, Insurgent does what every good adventure tale must, namely give us characters we care for as the whole world goes to hell around them. This is something often forgotten by directors who are only in pursuit of making things blow up real good. Thankfully, Robert Schwentke ain’t that guy. While he has a good eye for choreographing elaborate action sequences, of which there are three here, he’s not so blind as to overlook the relationship that develops between the film’s two attractive leads or the movie’s dire warning about the loss of individuality in the face of a paranoid government, a theme that grows much darker this time around.
The sequel picks up a mere five days after the end of Divergent as Tris (Shailene Woodley), her brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort), her boyfriend Four (Theo James) and the duplicitous Peter (Miles Teller) are hiding out in the Amity farming community, waiting for things to die down. Seems their impromptu uprising against the government didn’t sit too well with the powers that be, especially Jeanine (Kate Winslet) who was left wounded and humiliated. However, there’s far more driving her to bring Tris and the others in as her troops have recovered a mysterious box that, once open, will reveal a message from the founding fathers that she thinks will solidify the government’s grip on society. Unfortunately, only someone who is Divergent can crack the code. No fair guessing who holds the key…
With a healthier budget, Schwentke is able to deliver a film that looks better than Divergent. Clear and crisp where the previous entry was overcast and murky, this lends a more energetic feel to the movie, something that’s heightened by the young cast. Woodley continues to prove she’s a force to be reckoned with, bringing a convincing sense of sass and athleticism to the role that goes a long way towards making Tris a heroine to be reckoned with and rooted for. She’s complimented nicely by James who gets to spread his wings here a bit, showing a more vulnerable side this time around, much less dark and brooding. The sparks that fly between these two are genuine, and if there’s one thing the Divergent films have over the Hunger Games movies it is that they provide a strong female and male lead.
Credit Schwentke for the film’s crisp pace as he positions three well-done set pieces in such a way to avoid action fatigue yet keep the tension high. Equally impressive is the script itself, which provides a nightmare vision of mental intrusion and physical trespass that’s unnerving. Whereas Divergent had the feel of throw-away entertainment, Insurgent succeeds for the most part in being a serious screed against a government that would intrude upon and abuse its citizens for its own gain. It’s a welcome and sobering turn that makes for a far more meaningful and memorable movie.
Contact Chuck Koplinski at [email protected].
