2013, 12, Directed by Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Sam Claflin
Behind every good franchise is a sequel to remember; a
second outing superior to its original, seguing comfortably into the third (or
fourth, fifth et al.) instalments, cramming in more than before, but balancing
the load to a manageable degree. Let’s not be misled in believing all sequels
are good… hell, more fail than achieve the goal of continuing the success of
its predecessor (with many not even warranting a second outing in the first
instance.) But before this becomes an essay on the sequel, and how Toy Story 2 is probably the best the
world has seen, let’s revert things back to the franchise in question: The Hunger Games.
Based on Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of teen lit, The Hunger Games was an unprecedented
smash when it landed in 2011, translating the Battle Royale-esque plotline to screen with fervour and furthering
the rise of then-rising star (now superstar) Jennifer Lawrence. In her first
role since her Silver Linings Playbook
Oscar win, sequel Catching Fire starts
pretty much where we ended up with heroine Katniss Everdeen a winner of the
Games in the eyes of Panem (alongside Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta,) an influential
sign of rebellion in the eyes of the lower Districts and a problem that must be
dealt with in the eyes of President Snow (Donald Sutherland.) From the
intrusive opening shot of Everdeen, we’re squarely behind her every move from
start to an equally as intrusive closing shot. From her secret hunting
rendezvous’ with childhood would-be sweetheart Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to her
victory tour induced makeover courtesy of affluent ‘team’ leader Effie Trinkett
(Elizabeth Banks,) Lawrence carries near every moment of this entire film.
Gary Ross’ predecessor provided a mere glimpse into the
world of Panem and the inhabitants of the impoverished District 12, but its
Francis Lawrence’s privilege to provide his audience with an expansive
viewpoint of this snapshot of Panem, a place rocked by Everdeen and the two
fingers she so openly raised to President Snow and the Capitol at its climax.
It’s the unwilling acceptance of the fact that openly embracing her actions
will more than likely end with a bullet to the head (shown with striking effect
in a brilliantly-edited scene where the two victors visit the District
inhabited by the devastated family of Rue, the young companion of Katniss’ in
the Games.) Missteps present themselves through the the odd line that may cause the eye to roll – pretty
much exclusive to the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale – and save
for a few scenes, Katniss’ mother and sister – the safety of whom she’s so
desperate to preserve – barely feature.
Yet the secret to this adaptation is a well-juggled
structure, with many of the book’s plot points featured but with convenience to
the running time; Lawrence is the viewpoint of the audience – her shock is our
shock, her emotion is our emotion. Not only this, but an eclectic off-beat
cast clearly having the most fun they’ve had (scene-stealer Banks, Stanley
Tucci as flamboyant TV host Ceasar Flickerman, Woody Harrelson as sozzled
mentor Haymitch;) such is their success that it’s almost chilling when
characters like these face the facts and fleetingly show their knowledge that
times in Panem are changing…
It’s when the exceptionally imagined final hour occurs (the less said
the better) that Catching Fire burns (I had to) up the rulebook and establishes itself as a breathless equel to remember; thus elevating
this franchise to a status head and shoulders above the rest.
4/5
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