Katniss a hero for our time
MOVIE REVIEW – THE HUNGER GAMES – MOCKINGJAY PART 1 Matt Lawrey’s MOVIE REVIEW
Every now and then you have to take your hat off to Hollywood.
Sure, the men and women of Tinseltown often produce lowest common denominator rubbish but from time to time they get their act together and create the kind of movies that no other film industry in the world would even contemplate trying to make.
The Hunger Games series is a good example.
Based on the massively popular young adult books by Suzanne Collins, the films are smart, well-acted, well-directed, flamboyant, exciting and occasionally even moving. Best of all, the second film was better than the first and, as far as I’m concerned, that trend has continued with the release of the third, Mockingjay Part 1.
Directed by Francis Lawrence and set right after where Catching Fire left off, Mockingjay Part 1 (M) opens with its heroine, the bow and arrow-slinging, authority-challenging Katniss Everdeen in a bad way.
After trashing the arena of the 75th Hunger Games, Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, is recuperating in District 13’s underground fortress.
Her home, District 12, has been bombed into extinction by the fascist creeps in The Capitol and the rebel leader, played by Juliane Moore, wants to use her for propaganda purposes.
The plan is for Katniss to become the personification of the Mockingjay, the bird that symbolises the rebellion, to inspire people to rise up against The Capitol. Not surprisingly, little goes according to plan.
From the opening credits of the first film, The Hunger Games series has been getting a lot right. Hiring Lawrence is likely to be remembered as one of the smartest casting decisions of the decade.
Despite being arguably too womanly to play Katniss, her formidable talent makes it impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.
The secret to her success? A deep well of rage that apparently sits not far below her usually composed surface, and her willingness to dive in when required.
As far as I’m concerned, seeing Lawrence do anger is one of modern cinema’s great pleasures.
Surrounding her is one of the most talented line-ups of serious actors you’re likely to see any time soon. We’re talking big hitters like Donald Sutherland, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson and the aforementioned Moore, along with lesserknown but perfectly solid performers like Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Sam Claflin and Liam Hemsworth.
And if that wasn’t enough, Mockingjay Part 1 sees the striking Natalie Dormer, from TV’s Game of Thrones and the slick Mahershala Ali from House of Cards joining the fun.
Another reason Mockingjay Part 1 works is that, like its predecessors, it respects its audience’s intelligence. The world of the Hunger Games is morally complex, politically aware, media savvy and not afraid to realistically portray human beings’ capacity for savagery – albeit in a censor-friendly way.
Another big reason is that it’s about a woman who doesn’t need a dude to define or protect her. In fact, all of Mockingjay Part 1’s female characters are strong, resourceful types. Given Hollywood norms, that’s pretty revolutionary stuff.