By: debbie lynn elias
Are you hungry yet? I hope so because with THE HUNGER GAMES you are in for a seven course meal with all the trimmings, guaranteed to satisfy even the most ravenous fan. Directed by Gary Ross and based on Suzanne Collins’ best selling young adult novel of the same name, THE HUNGER GAMES is not only a faithful adaptation of the book, but excels with high production values, vivid visual imagery, thought provoking detail on topical social and political issues as relevant today as in the futuristic Republic of Panem, and a star turning performance by Jennifer Lawrence who, according to co-star Donald Sutherland is “one of the very best actors working today” and should “change [her] name to Jennifer Lawrence Olivier.”
For those of you that may have been under a rock the past few years, THE HUNGER GAMES is the first book, along with Catching Fire and Mockingjay, in what is currently a trilogy. More than 26 million copies of the series have been sold worldwide. And while classified as a “young adult” novel, according to film producer Nina Jacobson, these are “really compelling books that have found an audience that has crossed over” and “[have] the appeal and the quality to actually extend to every age, and not just the age that it was originally written for.”
So what are THE HUNGER GAMES?
It’s post-apocalyptic North America and the United States, as we know it, are gone. More decimating than the Civil War, brother turned on brother in an uprising that rocked the land now known as Panem. 13 Districts rebelled againgst the government and the rulers of the “Capitol”. When there was no more blood to spill and the dust and destruction settled, District 13 was obliterated. There was peace, but peace at a price.
Each year the remaining 12 districts of Panem now offer up in tribute to the benevolence and generosity of the Capitol, one young man and woman to compete to the death in a pageant known as THE HUNGER GAMES. The games begin on the Day of Reaping when 24 teens, a boy and girl from each District, are randomly chosen, out of a hat so to speak, by a Capitol emissary, to compete in the nationally televised Games. (Noteworthy is that your name can be in the hat more than once depending on your conduct over the past year. “Big Brother” IS watching.) As reward for winning the games, in addition to being alive, “riches beyond your wildest dreams” are bestowed upon the winner and their District.
Our story focuses on District 12 and its “Tribute”, 16 year old Katniss Everdeen. In the backwoods of the Appalachia-like depression-era District 12, Katniss has been the sole means of support for her widowed mother and younger sister, Primrose. Katniss has survived amidst the trees and forests by hunting, trapping, trading. There are days of no food. The wooden shanty in which they live leaks. Her comfort and solace comes from her best friend Gale and in her love for Prim. And then comes the Day of Reaping. Against all odds, Prim’s name is called out as the female Tribute, something Katniss cannot abide forcing her to volunteer in place of her sister. Knowing she faces death, this is courage beyond belief. Joining her as the male tribute from District 12 is Peeta Mellark who, we come to learn, has long had a puppy love crush on Katniss. But remember – there can only be one winner in THE HUNGER GAMES.
As Katniss and Peeta are swept away to the Capitol and the Games, they are mentored by drunken, former winner, Haymitch Abernathy, and counseled in social graces by Capitol emissary, Effie Trinket. Pitted against highly trained Tributes who, being more well off economically than District 12 residents, have been preparing for the Games their entire lives, Katniss must not only outrun and outlast the other Tributes, but she must outwit them as well if she is to survive. But can she do it with Peeta in the mix? If it boils down to kill or be killed, what will Katniss do?
Jennifer Lawrence is beyond reproach. As Katniss, she embodies the essence of the character, keeping her grounded in fear, anticipation and determination through tacit expression. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is beyond physically adept. Interesting about watching Lawrence is that when you focus on her face, you almost see the wheels turning in her mind. According to Josh Hutcherson who plays Peeta, Lawrence is “strong, powerful and amazing.”
No stranger to action is Hutcherson who shines as Peeta. Walking a fine emotional line through most of the film as to where Peeta’s loyalties lie, Hutcherson himself attributes to the “self-deprecating humor” which he channeled into Peeta. “Peeta doesn’t take himself too seriously. . .. I’m comfortable with that, and I can make a joke, here and there.” And through his eyes, Hutcherson genuinely convinces us of Peeta’s adoration for Katniss, despite what his actions may sometimes say.
Joining Katniss and Peeta as fellow contestants in the Games are Alexander Ludwig as Cato, Isabelle Fuhrman as Clove and Amandla Stenberg as Rue. I have to say, that off screen, these are the three most joyous and delightful your adults I have met in a long while. Enthusiastic, capable, intelligent and appreciative, look for all to be around in more prominent roles for a long time to come. When it comes to Fuhrman, just like the character’s name suggests, she brings a spicy confident attitude to Clove, one she worked hard to develop through “learning to love one of the characters that was really a bad character and then from discovering who she was and what made her so terrible and so mentally disturbed.” As Cato, Ludwig more than impresses, embodying the very traits of the real life Cato in ancient Rome – inherent superiority – a trait that is no not Ludwig. The real scene stealer though is Amandla Stenberg. As Rue, she is the heart and sweetness of the film and will without a doubt bring tears to your eyes.
Notable for all the Tributes is the impressive physical agility each brings to the table. Undergoing intensive training with ex-Navy Seals, learning sword fighting, archery, knife throwing and even tree climbing, each is more impressive than the next with their physicality.
Liam Hemsworth easily handles the “romantic” element of Katniss’s world as her soulmate Gale Hawthorne, the man who waits at home, longing for her return.
I can see no one but Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow. Commanding, quiet, confident, subtly nuanced and manipulative, Sutherland brings it all. “[Snow] expects someone to come and challenge his position. He’s very confident. His main priority is roses. You see that he looks different from the people in the community. He’s much older and he comes from a different generation.”
The most entertaining performances are compliments of Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci as Effie Trinket, mentor Haymitch Abernathy and tv host Caesar Flickerman. Each is colorful in character and costume and completely over-the top to hysterical result. Tucci is at his flambouyant best while Banks is divinely delicious not only in costume but in bringing the vacuous self-centered Effie to life. As for Harrelson, perfection.
More subdued performances come from the inspired casting of Lenny Kravitz and Wes Bentley who, as Katniss’ stylist Cinna, and tv gameskeeper/producer Seneca, respectively, are pivotal to the success of THE HUNGER GAMES. For each, so much of their character is in their costume. According to Kravitz, he approached Cinna with a “more laid-back approach. . .I decided to play Cinna in a more classic way.” And he does. Elegant. Simple. Comfortable. Just like his real life counter-part in ancient Rome, Cinna is also the man who “has integrity” and “when the revolution busts, is going to be right there.” Kravitz fits him to a tee. And just wait until you see his chemistry with Lawrence. Magical, endearing tenderness. Similarly, Wes Bentley is enigmatic and engaging as Seneca, who, in ancient Rome was known for observing and utilizing available means of persuasion through words, much like Bentley’s Seneca utilizes computers, CGI and television to manipulate and persuade the public in THE HUNGER GAMES. To create Seneca, Bentley “drew off of where we are now with reality TV. . . It’s just piercing in your brain. That piercing is what I was tapping into, with whatever they were doing to pierce into the minds of everybody.” Ironically, the make-up and hair designed for Bentley bears strong resemblance to old bas-reliefs of Lucius Annaeus Seneca of Rome.
Directed by Gary Ross and co-written by Ross, author Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray, most gratifying is that the film is a faithful adaptation of the book. While there are some things that in an adaptation must naturally fall by the wayside for the screen (e.g., diminished time with Cinna and Haymitch), there are other areas of the story which are beefed up (e.g., the role of Snow) or enhanced by visual engagement. And this is an extremely visual movie. Never diluting or softening the intensity of the original subject material, the filmmakers succeed in making the violence “feel real” and “feel urgent” through Katniss’ eyes while never making it exploitative or sensationalistic. However, on the flip side, the film downplays Katniss’ illegal hunting activities which helped her family survive but which have also given her the prowess necessary for the Games.
Impressive is that the script adroitly speaks to the oligarchical political ideologies and structure of Panem, with a knowing heavy hand quietly condemning the very modern day reality shows of our time for their manipulation of the public and fueling the feeding frenzy for mind numbing insolence and ignorance. Donald Sutherland is celebratory in his praise for the story. “It seemed to me that it was a game-changer. It had the possibility, if it were properly done, to catalyze, motivate and mobilize a generation of young people who were, in my opinion, by and large, dormant in the political process.”
One of the biggest challenges of this adaptation is that the book is told from Katniss’ point of view, much of which are internal ruminations in her head. With several ways to attack this on screen in order to retain the POV, Ross wisely utilizes a strong narrative and keen editing that relies on the structure of each scene with dialogue and other performances, particularly in addressing the relationship between Katniss and Peeta which in the book is almost completely written internally for Katniss.
THE HUNGER GAMES visual palette is a pantheon of delight. From kaleidoscopic, candy-colored costuming and make-up of residents of the Capitol to 1920’s backwoods Appalachia to the grandeur of stark cool grey granite to futuristic opulence of cool crystal and steel bathed in vibrant blues, all balanced against the topography and serenity of the green trees and babbling brooks of the grounds where the Games are out, the visual result is nothing short of spectacular. Thanks to Director of Photography Tom Stern, every visual is as stunning as the next. With a varied usage of wide and long shots to showcase and distinguish the socio-economic distinctions between the Capitol and the rest of Panem, complimented by extensive use of close-ups and mid-shots during the Games themselves, the result is engrossing. Particularly effective is the use of hand-helds during the Games which provide a “verite” feel while encompassing the multitude of “hidden” cameras throughout the forest giving the audience a 360 viewing experience.
Going hand in hand are Judianna Makovsky’s costuming (particularly with Effie and Caesar) and Philip Messina’s production design. Capitol costumes and make-up have a regal Marie Antoinette look to them while District 12 residents are 1920’s Americana right down to their Bobby sox. Production design embraces early American architecture and the grandeur of Ancient Rome with a touch of Dickensian flair interwoven in District 12.
Joyous is the score which is a blend of lush, pomp and circumstance compositions by James Newton Howard juxtapositioned against a twangy bluegrass flavor, obviously injected by T-Bone Burnett. And let’s not forget the end title song by Taylor Swift!
The world is watching THE HUNGER GAMES. You should be to. Let the Games begin!
Katniss Everdeen – Jennifer Lawrence
Peeta Mellark – Josh Hutcherson
Gale Hawthorne – Liam Hemsworth
President Snow – Donald Sutherland
Effie Trinket – Elizabeth Banks
Haymitch Abernathy – Woody Harrelson
Directed by Gary Ross. Written by Ross, Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray based on the novel by Collins.
