And I thought the second “Hunger Games” movie was intense and emotional!
Although “Mockingjay – Part 1” contains no actual Hunger Games, the threat of death remains at every turn. The events of “Catching Fire” occurred only a short time before this movie begins, so little information needs to be told to the audience. However, you have to see the first two movies in order to understand most of this one. And it’s worth it.
After destroying the Hunger Games and shaking the confidence of the Capitol and its leaders, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is rescued and taken to the so-thought “destroyed” District 13.
Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her friends, Gale, Finnick and Beetee, Ktniss becomes the Mockingjay, a symbol of rebellion for the people under the oppression of the tyrannical President Snow (Donald Sutherland).
Francis Lawrence returns as director of this film having previously directed “Catching Fire,” and I don’t think this film would have worked without him in the director’s chair. Changing directors after every film can hurt the execution of the overall vision. Francis Lawrence brought the second book to the screen in a way that perfectly captured the emotional and mental struggles of the characters.
For “Mockingjay,” Lawrence once again delivered a solid movie that is approachable for anyone regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Anyone can understand the themes and commentaries throughout–if they saw the first two movies, of course.
But he didn’t do it alone.
First, the script is tight and runs very smoothly. Because the final installment is split between two movies that total about four-and-a-half hours, some scenes can be drawn out a bit more as sections of the book would have been. You’d think this would make parts of this movie drag, but it’s the exact opposite.
The audience can experience what’s going on at the same pace as the characters without being rushed due to time constraints. Yes, some scenes do go on for a while, but this is part one of two of a story about a revolution. There should be build up and tension. Scenes should run a bit longer to show just how high the stakes are for these people.
Second, the cast is phenomenal. Everyone did well in the previous two films, but they all show off their very best for this movie. I highly doubt any of the actors phoned it in because the emotion and exhaustion is right there on the screen.
Jennifer Lawrence is one of the best young actors of the 2010’s, and the experience she gains with each new role is evident in her performance of Katniss. When she was rescued from the games in the last film, Katniss’ friend and ally Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) is taken to the capitol to be used as propaganda against the rebels.
When Katniss sees what torture and brainwashing Peeta has gone through, Lawrence is at her best giving us a mortified Katniss. Learning that he has been reprogrammed to turn against her and the cause, she is heartbroken for all the world to see.
After losing her home, her friends, and her hope, Peeta’s aligning with the capitol is the last straw for Katniss, and Jennifer Lawrence shows us with a powerful performance.
The saddest part of the movie is seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman. Thank goodness they completed most of filming before his untimely death, because I don’t know what the filmmakers would have done without him.
His role as Plutach, a previous Capitol employee working with the reels, is tough to watch. The character is passionate about the cause, and it is seen in Hoffman’s face how important the role was to him because he had a passion for acting like no other in the 21st century.
Through all the other great character actors, from Woody Harrelson to Elizabeth Banks and from Julianne Moore as Coin to Donald Sutherland as Snow, the dedication to this story blooms. And it’s all because of their acting.
Of course, the brilliant portrayals come from an already excellent script which comes from an already excellent young adult novel. Overall, there isn’t a wasted person on screen at any time.
All the elements in the movie work because they full enforce the story and the characters. With that said, it looks great, too. I believe this is a post-apocalyptic world and these people have lived and died here for a long time. The atmosphere is real and present throughout.
The music is very powerful as well. It doesn’t play throughout the whole film, but when you hear it, it completely adds to the scene. It conveys emotion by using a sense other than sight. And it’s beautiful.
Anyone who liked the first and second movies will like this one, too. The characters continue to develop, there is an ever-growing plot that becomes more interesting with each scene and the world is believable in every sense.
I can’t wait to see what the final film has in store. For now, this third installment is a powerful and memorable beginning of the end.
Quigley Films Unlimited 