GENRE:
Adventure Drama
RATING:
PG-13 for strong violence content
RUNTIME:
2 hours and 37 minutes
PLATFORM:
Movie Theatre
STARRING:
Rachel Zegler (West Side Story, Shazam!:
Fury of the Gods)
Tom Blyth (newcomer); Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, Asteroid City)
DIRECTOR:
Francis Lawrence (Catching Fire, Mockingjay,
Slave 4 U)
WRITERS:
Michael Lesslie (Assassin’s Creed)
Michael
Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3,
The Force Awakens)
PLOT:
It’s the 10th Annual Hunger Games and Snow is tasked to be a mentor
to a strong female from District 12.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Read and enjoyed the novel.
STORY STUFF: This is an interesting backstory for Snow. I found myself rooting for him some of the time. The pre-Hunger Games prep is always interesting with a number of different strategies at play. The actual Hunger Games is well done in its constricted arena with Snow on the outside. The last third of the film (like the novel) gets boring quick. The excitement is lost as they have to show Snow slowly transitioning to someone darker. I would have rather seen some political maneuvering instead of rebel stuff. A great first two thirds though.
ACTING STUFF: Blyth plays Snow well at the capitol. He looks like someone who would eventually become Donald Sutherland. I liked watching him figure things out for personal gain but also for the girl. Zegler is wonderful as Lucy Gray Baird. She has a beautiful voice and is full of energy and life. I hate Viola Davis. I just don’t like her in films. Even though I’m not supposed to like her, I’d rather someone else play the part. Peter Dinklage isn’t given much to do but be a pissy Tyrion Lannister. The real standout is Schwartzman as Lucky Flickerman. Every line out of his mouth is gold. You can tell he is having fun and that allows us to have fun. His comment on the drones is great and his mantra “See what happens when you do stuff?” made me laugh out loud. I still smile thinking about it.
ARTISTIC STUFF: The look of the film matches the high production value of the other Hunger Games films. The big fail however is Snow sporting a close shaved haircut, white shirt and blue jeans. Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? What were the costumers thinking? I half expected Snow to do a rap battle or something. What a shame, especially as most of the other costumes look great, like Lucy Gray’s dress.
VERDICT:
Four stars out of five
SEE IT IF:
You like The Hunger Games trilogy.
UPCOMING REVIEW: Napoleon, Please Don’t Destroy film
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