Film Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. Rated M (mature themes, violence and horror sequence). 137 minutes. Directed by Francis Lawrence. Screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong. Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins.

It was never going to be easy. With the arrival of the game-changing The Hunger Games (2012), the epic contest between Collins’ reluctant heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and the menacing megalomaniac President Snow (Donald Sutherland) kicked off in spectacular fashion. Then came the sequel Catching Fire (2013), and then the first part of Collins’ third novel in the series, Mockingjay, released in 2014 as the first of a two-part finale. 

It is impossible to deny that with each new addition, The Hunger Games has progressively lost all of its uniqueness. Instead, in this ultra-violent and haphazard Part 2, the once complex and resourceful Katniss is reduced to a blind-sided, vengeful warrior, fixated on assassinating Snow.

With Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin) and a handful of other bodies in tow for the astonishingly high body count, Katniss chooses a ridiculously conventional route to Snow’s mansion –exposing herself and her unfortunate comrades to any number of cruel (and obvious) life-ending dangers.

The essence of Part 2’s problems lies in the commercially-driven decision to split the third book into two films. It rapidly becomes obvious that, apart from the Peeta’s character development (beautifully played out by Hutcherson), there is neither enough interesting story developments nor originality to guarantee it will survive, dramatically, as a stand-alone film.

Francis Lawrence (no relation to Jennifer), has directed all but the first film in the series. And as the sun sets over the final scene, it is difficult not to imagine that he might be feeling as though he’s arrived a little too late at what had been a fantastic party, only to discover that there’s only a cold sausage roll left.

And no more beer.

This review was commissioned by the West Australian Newspaper Group.

Film Review: The Expendables 2

The Expendables 2. Rated MA 15+ (strong action violence). 102 minutes. Directed by Simon West. Screenplay by Richard Wenk and Sylvester Stallone.

Verdict: Hollywood’s action movie royalty blow the place – and everyone in it – to bits. Better than anyone.

Make no mistake. Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jet Li are action movie royalty – and the guilty pleasure of seeing them all sharing the big screen together is impossible to resist. Between them, these men have created some of the most iconic roles in a seemingly endless list of unforgettable movies that includes Rocky, Rambo, The Terminator and Die Hard.

Film Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games. Rated M (mature themes and violence). 142 minutes. Directed by Gary Ross. Screenplay by Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray. Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins.

Verdict: Exceptional story-telling in this cinematic game-changer.

It is impossible to recall a recent film as engrossing as this absorbing, complex, richly-layered piece of cinematic story-telling. Defining, precisely, what it is about The Hunger Games that makes it so entirely watchable, will be the subject of the many conversations about its many extraordinary qualities that are guaranteed to result from the first viewing. What is unarguable, however, is the extent to which its deeply-affecting and profound cultural impact is in the process of challenging the rules of cinematic engagement around the world.

DVD Review: The Last Song

The Last Song. 103 minutes. Rated PG. Directed by Julie Anne Robinson. Screenplay by Nicholas Sparks and Jeff Van Wie. Adapted from the novel by Nicholas Sparks.

When the behemoth Avatar was knocked off the top spot on US box office list, it was by a great little film called Dear John – the story of a young soldier’s (John, played by Channing Tatum) love affair with ‘Savannah’ (played by Amanda Seyfried). Dear John also heralded an international breakthrough for writer Nicholas Sparks (whose 2004 novel The Notebook had also been adapted into a successful film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams).

The secret to Sparks’s success lies in the simple fact that he doesn’t take his predominantly younger audiences for fools – and while his books follow a faintly predictable pathway through romantic drama and all the attendant complications, there is always more than enough character development to ensure we care enough to want to know what is going to happen in the end.

Ronnie Miller (Miley Cyrus) and her brother Jonah (Bobby Coleman) go to spend the holidays with their father Steve (Greg Kinnear) at his house by the sea. The fractured family dynamics play out perfectly as Ronnie punishes her father for having separated from their mother Kim (Kelly Preston) by sulking around the place and taking him to task for his very obvious failings as a husband and father. When she meets a handsome local lad Will (Liam Hemsworth), Ronnie gradually begins to understand that love – and life – can be a great deal more complicated than she ever imagined.

Skilfully directed by Julie Anne Robinson (whose previous work consists mostly of television including episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Weeds) and beautifully edited by Nancy Richardson (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) who is obviously right at home in this territory, The Last Song is a charming, engaging and ultimately deeply moving story about the ties that bind us together in our search for someone who will love and understand us.

Cyrus (better known to practically everyone as the indefatigable Hannah Montana) and Melbourne-born Hemsworth (Neighbours, McLeod's Daughters, Home and Away) are excellent as the young leads, and the success of the film owes much to their onscreen charisma and complete lack of pretension. Bobby Coleman is superb as the little brother – and his pivotal scenes late in the film as the drama reaches its conclusion are beautifully handled and extremely moving.

Kinnear (As Good as It Gets, Little Miss Sunshine) delivers an under-stated performance as the ‘can’t-do-anything-right’ Dad, but his character’s journey through the film is ultimately revealed to have been beautifully controlled and painfully honest. The shot of him and Ms Cyrus on the verandah of his house as Jonah is taken home by his mother toward the end of the story is unforgettable.

The Last Song is a smart, surprising, rewarding, deeply-affecting film that will reward lovers of contemporary romantic drama – and it is well worth every minute of the time you spend in its engrossing company.

Pictured: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth in The Last Song.

The review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.