Games ends in despair
instalment offers both a sad final glimpse of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman (a spectral presence in the film in more ways than one) and a confirmation of the star power of Lawrence. While her character’s motivations aren’t always clear, the actress gives it her all, regardless of whether the moment requires a burst of action, or emotional heavy lifting. Only in the Twilight love triangle-meetsAttack of the Clones’ romantic denouement scenes does she fail to convince. Here, it’s a performance that reminds you of the raw intensity and compelling presence of her stunning Ozarks-set debut in Winter’s Bone.
Unfortunately, the inevitable focus on her and Katniss’s character arc leaves the rest of the actors and film floundering (perhaps a result of director Francis Lawrence – no relation – having to excise around 35 minutes out of his initial cut).
It’s is strange to see the likes of Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore and Jeffrey Wright look lost, but they only get snatches of time in which to re-establish their characters (anyone new to the franchise will feel hopelessly lost as to who is who and why they’re important – other than Katniss and Snow).
Even worse, Hutcherson’s key figure just comes across as whiny and fickle, while Sutherland has never been hammier, his sneering Snow like a Bond villain from the Moore-era.
There are moments when the film briefly looks like Catching Fire (an Aliens- inspired sewer battle certainly perks things up a bit), but the overwhelming feeling is one of a paucity of action and a famine of inspiration.