Arguably this years most highly anticipated film is good, but nothing has really caught fire for me. Mockingjay Part One picks up directly after last years beloved and highly acclaimed Catching Fire, where Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), now within District 13, is convinced by President Coin (Julianne Moore) to become the inspiration of revolution against The Capitol.
I am a big fan of the Hunger Game franchise, and although I haven't read Suzanne Collins' novels, the movies have became a important part of my life as a whole. Since the first picture me and my lovely girlfriend have waited in high anticipation to see the next instalment in the franchise, and Mockingjay was no exception. Catching Fire for me had set the bar so high, and whereas Mockingjay isn't a bad picture, this sequel seems to have lost the tremendous momentum that its predecessor had gained.
The title suggests the main cause for this problem, with the infamous 'Part One' lingering over this picture like a bad smell. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but I think that due to splitting a book that has a Wikipedia summary that is 8 paragraphs long into two films is somewhat detrimental to the film as an experience. In some ways it provokes a sense of a cash grab more so than what is right for this individual film. For instance, there are scenes that feel a bit repetitive and rather than focus on the wider world the films seems a bit niche, almost like they did not have enough source material to play with surrounding the events of this film.
However, note how I don't say that the choice for a two part conclusion is not bad for the overall story of the film. In my opinion, although hurting Mockingjay Part One as a stand alone picture, the split will only have a superbly positive effect on the concluding instalment due next year. Francis Lawrence, along with screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong, has created impressive set up that will only enrich Part Two. The character development here is quite enticing and will only raise the stakes of the second instalment because of how invested we now are in the characters and story.
Jennifer Lawrence again hits a home run with the role she has made her own over the past three years. Lawrence is tremendous at balancing the complexity of the reluctant hero, a trait that elevates the character of Katnis to a more compelling role. But for me the stand out performances, perhaps on the same level as Lawrence, are Donald Sutherland, as President Snow, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, as Heavensbee.
Firstly, Sutherland as President Snow is such a terrific villain for this franchise. As dictators come he seems to have the despicable blend of Stalin and the addictive compelling nature of Christoph Waltz from Inglorious Bastards, and what comes across on screen is a wonderfully complex villain that will stand the test of time in my eyes. Sutherland's masterful mix of composure and menace is a stroke of genius, perfect casting in every sense of the word and Mockingjay Part One displays the brilliance of his role tremendously.
Also, Hoffman in the role of Heavensbee is really the heart, soul and emotion of the film. In a role that will sadly be his last, it is certainly a performance that demonstrates the brilliance that Hoffman brought as an actor to film in general. There is one scene in which his reaction are so believable and moving that one can't help but be placed in the heat of the moment. I do wonder how much of the second film the actor, who tragically overdosed this year after a long struggle with drugs, had filmed, as his presence will be evidently missed in the next instalment.
Obviously we also have the introduction of Jullianne Moore as President Coin, a role which was for me okay but nothing more. She fits the role well, but her performance is somewhat passive and easily swamped by the surrounding roles, however I am curious to see where her role progresses to in the next film.
The use of imagery here is also a brilliant trait that the film possess, and perhaps why it has been so controversial in some nations. The symbols of rebellion, along with the images of mass desperation and uprising, are quite breathe tacking and thought provoking to say the least. It is therefore no surprise that Mockingjay Part One has been banned in nations such as China and Thailand. Although this can be seen that the picture is doing its job in terms of challenging authoritarian regimes these bans will only hinder the films financial success, especially due to the mass market that is the Chinese movie going audience now not being able to contribute to the films box office numbers. Because of this many people have stated that Mockingjay will now not be able to over take Transformers 4: Age Of Extinction as the highest grossing film of 2014. Hopefully this will not cause Lionsgate Studios to turn down the activist nature of their most beloved project for the final, and perhaps most vital, instalment.
Overall, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One is a perfectly fine movie. I never once was bored by it, but in many ways I was never blown away by it either. This is by far the most different picture of the franchise, being more political thriller rather than action film. This is by no means a negative as the focus on propaganda is intriguing. The problem with Mockingjay Part One is that ultimately the picture is destined to be filler, a starter before the main course. This is what devalues the film as a individual picture which, at the moment, is the only way we can judge Mockingjay Part One. However, I cannot wait to see the conclusion and perhaps that was really the only goal that this film set out to achieve, so yes role on twenty fifteen.
My Rating: 7/10
Imdb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 66%
Did You Know?: According to Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence would purposely eat foods with garlic or tuna fish before any kissing scenes between the two.
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