The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds 2018

• Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• Based on book by Alexandra Bracken
• Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Mandy Moore, Bradley Whitford, Harris Dickinson, Patrick Gibson, Skylan Brooks, Miya Cech, Gwendoline Christie, Wade Williams
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Amandla Stenberg – Hunger Games
• Mandy Moore – American Dreamz, Romance & Cigarettes
• Bradley Whitford – The Cabin in the Woods, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Kate and Leopold, X Files, Philadelphia, A Perfect World
• Gwendoline Christie – Star Wars, Top of the Lake, Absolutely Fabulous the movie, The Hunger Games, The Zero Theorem, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
• Why? Sounded good
• Seen: 13 October 2019      

       Having just read the book and liking it, I’m curious about this.

       A strange illness affects children, either killing them or leaving them with strange powers.

       When Ruby turns ten her parents suddenly don’t remember who she is and turn her over to custody. She is sent to Thurmond Prison Camp where the children are divided into groups, each assigned a colour, each with different powers. Ruby discovers that she is an Orange with the greatest and most dangerous powers. She fools them into thinking she is a safe Green.

       She’s there for six years and escapes with the help of a young doctor (Moore) but can she be trusted? Can anyone Ruby meets be trusted? Can she herself be trusted? She has learnt that her touch can wipe out people’s memories. She can also read minds and manipulate others’ thoughts and actions.

       She so wants to trust her new friends Liam (Dickinson), Chubs (Brooks) and Zu (Cech).

       It’s a good adaption. The four kids are great. It’s a pity that Zu’s role is reduced, she’s such a sweetie. And I miss the music of the 60’s and 70’s from the book. Otherwise…

      

4 * of 5