Movie Review: "The Hunger Games"

The Hunger Games

Directed by: Gary Ross
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth,
Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci
Rated: PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens

The odds were definitely in their favor: after much hype and anticipation, the first adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ popular book series The Hunger Games had one of the highest grossing weekends of all-time, setting a record 155 million dollars in just three days. Technically speaking, Gary Ross’ adaptation is one of the purest examples of modern cinematic style: Tom Stern shoots almost the entire film with handheld close-ups, Stephen Mirrione edits the film together with rapid and harsh jump-cuts, and the minimal score by James Newton Howard pushes the film only when necessary. Academy-award nominee Jennifer Lawrence , who is a rising star in my book, is a perfect choice, as is all the casting (perhaps with the exception of a somewhat dull Lenny Kravitz), while the great Stanley Tucci has the most dynamic performance as Cesar Flickerman, the television host of the games.

The film faithfully follows the novel, which depicts an evil dystopian (and post-religious) society that annually forces 24 teenagers to a life or death survival in a wilderness arena where the elements and contestants try to kill the each other off, as a reminder that they are still under the big government’s rule. The match is broadcasted across the country, and the citizens are forced to watch it. Its like 1984 meets Gladiator with The Truman Show. The plot follows Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), who volunteers in her younger sister’s place to fight in the Hunger Games. Along the way, she meets Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) the boy chosen to represent her district. Peeta is similar to Katniss in many ways: he is likewise a selfless person and holds human life in high regard, yet Katniss has trouble befriending and trusting him, knowing that they will eventually be enemies in the arena. This psychological instability and life-or-death situations is what drives the story.

Most criticism is of the film’s violence, which is disturbing, both from a physical and psychological standpoint, but this is the point of the film. Unlike the movie Gladiator (where we are given a message on the terrible ramifications of violence as entertainment, but are then entertained by the story’s use of violence) Hunger Games actually condemns violence, both in message and in form. The action and deaths in the arena are never glorious or titillating, though it is still graphic. Be warned, this is not a film for children, and perhaps not even young adults.

While surviving the arena is the external plot, the inner struggle of Katniss and Peeta really give Hunger Games it’s depth; how does (or can) one keep their humanity in an inhumane time and place? What is the value of humanity? Is it like Gale says to Katniss, that killing humans is not so different than killing animals? Or, as Peeta suggests, that there is value to humanity? These are the questions that are raised and, without spoiling the film, Katniss and Peeta’s answers to them show that selflessness and holding humanity and others in high regard is far stronger, braver, and more powerful than any accomplishment one can have on the battlefield.