Sunday, November 24, 2013

Review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire


Middle chapters are where it's at for movie franchises. It's where George Lucas' galaxy far far away deepened every character's arc with The Empire Strikes Back. It's where Christopher Nolan delivered the best superhero movie of all time in The Dark Knight. Now Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games novels receive a superior adaptation with Catching Fire. No disrespect whatsoever to the first movie, which I enjoyed very much, but with this second outing, every facet has kicked up a notch, from acting to writing to direction. Much like those other movies I mentioned, this one also ventures into darker territory, which is especially noteworthy considering the "Young Adult" source material. Taken as a whole, Catching Fire delivers a fuller, more satisfying experience than any 2013 featuring superheroes. Chew on that for a minute.

From the get-go, we know we're in for a different experience. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), fresh off of becoming the first ever co-winners of the Annual Hunger Games, are having difficulties adjusting. Katniss suffers from a form of PTSD, while Peeta yearns for an actual relationship with Katniss rather than the "for the cameras" romance that played to crowds so well a year ago. As victors, they're obliged to embark on a victory tour through the 12 outlying Districts, where President Snow (Donald Sutherland) quickly becomes displeased with how the citizens of Panem view Katniss as a symbol of hope and governmental defiance. Determined to quell a possible uprising, Snow and newly-appointed Game Designer Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) introduce a wrinkle for this year's Hunger Games: pit 24 surviving champions against one another and hope Katniss is eliminated in a way that tarnishes her image.

The competition itself is structured like a Hunger Games All-Stars of sorts, but that's far from the only way in which Catching Fire ratchets up its game. Early in the film, we're forced to reassess the events of the first film and how truly despicable these Games are. Crowds of immaculately dressed citizens of the Capitol city are captivated by the annual blood-sport, but what about the casualties involved, not only the fallen Tributes, but the grieving families and former victors who must live the rest of their lives as government pawns? Catching Fire offers abundant commentary on death vs survival and argues that perhaps those who died fighting might have gotten off easy compared to those who live with the complex emotions of anger, grief, and trauma.

The switch in directors (from Gary Ross to Francis Lawrence) and screenwriters (Simon Beaufoy and Michael Ardnt taking over for Ross and author Suzanne Collins)  proves an invaluable upgrade. Lawrence unflinchingly marches Catching Fire into darker territory, depicting scenes of violence and beatings that come close to R-rated in nature. During the games themselves, Lawrence keeps his camera still so that we catch glimpses of every dodge and blow. The structure of the competition provides abundant tension; Katniss and Peeta have no choice but to form an uneasy partnership with "allies" including the athletic Finnick (Sam Claflin), the sour-tongued Johanna (Jena Malone), and tech-savvy Beetee (Jeffrey Wright). And while there's a love triangle present (with Liam Hemsworth's Cayle as the third wheel), it's a lot closer to Empire's Luke/Han/Leia in tone and maturity than Twilight Saga's Edward/Jacob/Bella, a fact many of us should be extremely grateful for.

Is there a hotter actress in Hollywood right now than Jennifer Lawrence (I'm talking career-wise as opposed to looks, although the latter certainly helps)? She's every bit as good here as she was in her Oscar-winning role from Silver Linings Playbook; Katniss is not only a mentally and physically strong heroine, but Lawrence's portrayal gives her more depth than in even the first film. Every returning supporting player, from Hutcherson to Hemsworth to a once again hilarious Woody Harrelson, is in peak form. Donald Sutherland pulls off a convincingly despicable villain without going over-the-top. And among the newcomers, the best and brightest is Jena Malone, whose character makes quite the entrance during her first scene involving an elevator.

Catching Fire ends with a brutal cliffhanger; some viewers might feel cheated until they use just a little brain power to remember that A) this is only the second film of a four-movie cycle, and B) Collins' novel ended the same way. Lionsgate made the right call in releasing this film in November rather than the overcrowded summer marketplace; it's superior mainstream entertainment, crafted with respect for its characters and its audience, and it will maximize its viewing potential. I eagerly await the final chapters of this captivating sci-fi tale.

Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

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