FIRE BURNS BRIGHTER IN THE DARKNESS.
After surviving another Hunger Game, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is in District 13 where the rebel leader, President Coin (Julianne Moore), wants to turn her into the Mockingjay, a symbol of the resistance. The third and fourth films in the franchise cut the last novel into two. A pointless decision creatively (as we know from earlier Harry Potter and Twilight examples), but this first part still makes everything work, as it skilfully brings emotional depth to a story that also has a lot of action. Once again it benefits from a strong performance by Lawrence, but Moore is also good as the rebel leader, unable to become the inspiration people need.
2014-U.S. 123 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Francis Lawrence. Novel: Suzanne Collins. Song: “Yellow Flicker Beat” (performed by Lorde). Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman… Julianne Moore, Donald Sutherland, Sam Claflin, Stanley Tucci, Jeffrey Wright, Natalie Dormer, Jena Malone, Mahershala Ali.
Trivia: Released in 3D in selected areas. Jodie Foster was allegedly considered for a role. Followed by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015).
