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Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Movie Review: ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1’

COURTESY MURRAY CLOSE Jennifer Lawrence’s strong performance as Katniss Everdeen remains the highlight in the third installment of the “Hunger Games.”
COURTESY MURRAY CLOSE
Jennifer Lawrence’s strong performance as Katniss Everdeen remains the highlight in the third installment of the “Hunger Games.”

★★☆☆☆

Turning a trilogy into a movie is never easy to pull off, but splitting the final book into two films is even harder. The new “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” proves why.

While the “Harry Potter” series was able to finish with a bang in a two-part finale, its advantage lies in the fact that, unlike the “Hunger Games,” there was enough plot and material to spread evenly across two installments. “Mockingjay — Part 1” simply does not tell us enough about what’s next for the hero, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). The lack of innovative vision or revolutionary acting only serves to remind viewers throughout the movie just how little they’re being told.

The film opens with Katniss Everdeen awakening frantically in District 13, where she was taken after the previous “Hunger Games.” District 13 leaders President Coin (Julianne Moore) and Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) hope to lead a rebellion against the wealthy Capitol. Lacking a symbol to lead their fight, they hope to recruit Katniss to step into her role as the great Mockingjay. The remainder of the film revolves around a series of actions and reactions exchanged between Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) as spokesperson for the Capitol and the District 13 militants.

Director Francis Lawrence was also the mind behind the sequels successful predecessor “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” and while he continues to skillfully navigate the old thematic territories of economic inequality and its pitfalls, little else is added. The rich citizens of the Capitol are repeatedly played up with lively, colorful scenes and costumes, while the poor of District 13 are contrastingly portrayed in dark, drab scenes and attire. At the same time, the prescient issue of establishing Katniss as the Mockingjay reminds viewers of the importance that leadership plays in change and revolution.

For a film of such shallow thematic depth, it moves far too slowly. A longer duration would have been valuable had there been more subtle messages that the viewer needed time to process, but in the highly polarized dystopian world of the young adult trilogy, the themes are accordingly simple and obvious.

This lack of thematic expansion dictates that the film should progress more quickly and set the pace through the actual action of the story, rather than its underlying meaning. But in this case, the pace of the movie never lets one forget that this is only the first part of something else. The film moves at a snail’s pace with so little plot-driving drama or action that it’s difficult to believe that dividing “Mockingjay” was motivated by anything other than profit.

One would hope that the cast could offer a welcome distraction from this slow speed, but sadly, that is not the case. Hutcherson receives very little screen time, despite what has long been advertised as a major role. The few times he is onscreen are underwhelming and dosed with a hefty amount of over-the-top emotion from the young actor.

Liam Hemsworth, who plays Gale Hawthorne, does not show any improvement in the new film and continues to display a marked lack of emotional range. On the other hand, Woody Harrelson is consistently kind yet distant in his portrayal of Haymitch, Katniss’ alcoholic mentor, again proving that he was cast perfectly for this role.

The one truly impressive constant across these films is Jennifer Lawrence’s performance. Many continue to wait for the film in which this young actress will trip up and disappoint, but she will have none of it. There is not a hint of inconsistency in her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen. While it may be a more rigid role that does not allow her to reach the character depth achieved in “Silver Linings Playbook,” or “American Hustle,” there is still much to be admired in Lawrence’s captivating presence every time she is on the screen.

The new “Hunger Games” is simply unexciting and disappointing. The entire film fills you with anticipation for turning points in the plot, but they never come. Aside from Lawrence’s work, there are few technical accomplishments in this blockbuster to draw attention away from how boring the story is to begin with.

There is no harm in skipping this installment of “Hunger Games” and waiting for the second part of the final work, because it seems like the creative team has left all of the exciting punches for the very end.

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