Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of novels was finally adapted onto the big screen in 2012, with Collins herself writing the screenplay alongside Director Gary Ross, both of whom gave us a version of The Hunger Games which expanded and retooled the first novel into a powerful, effective, and affecting viewing experience, one which quickly saw the story become the new “it” (kind of) trilogy in cinema. We are now nearing the end of 2015 and the final chapter has arrived; The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 brings closure to the story of Katniss Everdeen (played in the film series by Jennifer Lawrence) and how she attempted to transform the nihlistic, dystopian world introduced by Collins in 2008, allowing us to see how these final moments unfold and try capture the same dark, emotional devastation that closed this literary universe in 2010. This is achieved, but with mixed results.
Mockingjay Part 1 will mainly be remembered for how it dealt with the issue and utility of propaganda and how media posturing is the weapon of choice in totalitarian power plays. While characters like Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch Abernathy were frustratingly pushed further and further into the background, we got to spend more time bouncing between the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Plutarch Heavensbee and Julianne Moore’s President Alma Coin, drifting from the structure of the original Hunger Games into something closer to a familiar “us vs them” revolt. However, between the big dramatic beats and vigorous performances, “Part 1” felt flat when compared to the first two films, and it remains the fourth best of the four cinematic works.
From a defiant winner of the Hunger Games, to breaking the “Quarter Quell” and becoming the face of a revolution, Katniss enters “Part 2” a vulnerable and shattered mess, stemming from Peeta Mellark’s (Josh Hutcherson) capture and eventual indoctrination by The Capitol and President Snow (Donald Sutherland). She’s angry for Peeta and afraid of him at the same time, and Lawrence lifts this anguish beautifully, instantly drawing us back into the fascinating, complex heroine Katniss has become. Eventually, the shades of a headstrong Katniss re-appear; she’s wistful yet completely dedicated and confident, stepping out from the often puzzled, bitter shell she was in Mockingjay Part 1 and into the shoes of someone with an end in sight, setting her aim on Snow and The Capitol despite President Coin and her desire from a more patient approach to overthrowing the establishment.
Uniting with several other districts and beginning their journey to The Capitol, and ultimately Snow’s mansion, those who have been labelled rebels form a small detachment to accompany Katniss to her goal, initially – seemingly – without knowledge of the actual end-game our protagonist has in mind. The film rushes and stumbles over itself in an effort to bring Peeta back into the picture, slowly changing his character throughout the course of Katniss’ self-determined mission to keep some dramatic tension there. Though the film ultimately fails at this, with Peeta proving more of a narrative misstep than anything else, an especially frustrating thing to watch unfold when Peeta has been at the heart of the story ever since he and Katniss made history in the Hunger Games universe.
Along with Finnick Odair (Sam Clafflin) and several other characters, Katniss and Peeta navigate The Capitol in an attempt to reach Snow; this is where the brunt of the film lies and it’s way of beefing up the action, at which Director Francis Lawrence excels. As Finnick points out, we’re thrust into a Hunger Games styled gauntlet by following Katniss into The Capitol, where game-makers have been tasked with setting elaborate (and often horrifying) traps (referred to as “pods”) which are triggered by motion and unleash all types of hellish, lethal situations.
Francis Lawrence’s work on the franchise ever since Catching Fire has been consistently ambitious, and just what the films have needed to stem into the blockbuster mold. His rich, detailed shots are particularly essential in “Part 2”, where he builds each action sequence with agility and a frantic pace. He runs through this undeniably bleak game of war with ferocity, making sure to stop when he needs to augment the evil ingenuity of these so called pods, even if they aren’t all that exciting when compared to the Hunger Games or Quarter Quell.
The desolate, subterranean dump that The Capitol has become mirrors much of the film’s narrative as it creeps into darker and darker territory, culminating in something surprisingly a bit too complex and depressing for younger audiences, playing several melancholic notes before we quietly close the book on Katniss’ story.
Collins always intended for this tail-end to be about the hopelessness of war, and screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong certainly help carry that point along. The revelations of the film are as cynical and confronting as anything I’ve seen in recent mainstream cinema, but some of the bigger moments feel rushed and lose their edge for the sake of accessibility, quickly presenting us with shock and then dropping it just as fast.
Review Score: THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is in Australian cinemas as of 19th November 2015
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