‘The Hunger Games’

4/5 Popcorns

Director: Gary Ross

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutchinson, Liam Hensworth, Woody Harrelson

Release Date: March 23

Where there’s a book, there’s a movie. That’s the takeaway from the success of eight ‘Harry Potter’ movies and the impending success of the final ‘Twilight’ installment set to hit theaters this fall.

As evidenced by those two literary phenomena, there’s usually a fan base prepared to consume the next adaptation, whether it’s actually good or unsurprisingly bad. Thankfully, ‘The Hunger Games’ falls into the former camp and sets a high standard for book-to-movie adaptations.

This might be because Suzanne Collins’s dystopian trilogy reads more like an action movie than typical young adult fiction. The Gary Ross-directed film takes many cues from its source material, translating Collins’ rapid writing style into moments of relentless action that make the two and a half hour runtime fly.

‘The Hunger Games’ is a pop culture phenomenon, inspiring two sequels and merchandise that runs the gamut from unofficial cookbooks to nail polish lines. For anyone who’s been living in a cave, here’s a breakdown: the Hunger Games are a fictional event in which the 12 districts of the country Panem must offer two tributes – one boy and one girl under the age of 18 – for a televised fight to the death. The protagonist Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old huntress from District 12, volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the competition.

For a premise involving children violently killing each other, it’s a wonder that ‘The Hunger Games’ squeaked by with anything less than an R rating. And it’s an even greater wonder that it stays true to its gladiatorial spirit despite its sanitization. Most violence is only implied off-screen.

Under Ross’ direction, ‘The Hunger Games’ doesn’t look or feel like a big studio movie, even in the glossy Capitol. With quieter movies such as ‘Pleasantville’ and ‘Seabiscuit’ under his belt, Ross adds an intimate sensibility that helps its larger-than-life story remain grounded.

However, he shows surprising deftness with action sequences. The opening moments of the games, particularly well-executed with swift cutaways and shaky camera techniques, prove that imagination, and not gore, can be more effective at relaying the emotional weight of children killing children.

Self-reliant, unapologetic and decisively un-boy-crazy, Katniss is the antithesis to Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan, whose frozen-faced apathy wouldn’t afford her any favors in the Games arena. As the narrator of the books, Katniss takes center stage. Played by Jennifer Lawrence, her performance as Katniss is easily the best part of the movie. She carries the film effortlessly, tackling the role with the same rawness and austerity she demonstrated in her Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Winter’s Bone.’ She played a similar character: a self-sufficient teenager who must endure life-and-death stakes while providing for her dependent siblings and ineffectual mother.

Liam Hemsworth appears as Katniss’ best friend Gale Hawthorne, while Josh Hutcherson plays Peeta Mellark, her fellow District 12 tribute and competitor. In this ‘Twilight’ era of love triangles and one-note male characters, ‘The Hunger Games’ is refreshingly absent of romantically charged storylines – save for the one Katniss and Peeta feign for television audiences in the film. Otherwise, they are more than just potential love interests; Peeta is a sympathetic foil for Katniss’ occasional coarseness, while Gale’s role expands significantly as a friend to the heroine.

Much like the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, ‘The Hunger Games’ showcases multiple heavyweight talents in supporting roles. Elizabeth Banks is pitch-perfect as gaudy Effie Trinket, and Lenny Kravitz’s resistance to play anyone other than himself works for Katniss’ subtle stylist, Cinna. Woody Harrelson, however, is a little too nice and composed to be District 12’s resident drunk and mentor Haymitch.

The film maximizes screen time of the minor characters during Katniss and Peeta’s training montage. By the time the games roll about midway through the movie, it successfully presents the high stakes of the games.

Targeting the same demographic enamored by ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Twilight,’ the movie is lightweight dystopian fare. But it’s a smart warning about the dangers of our entertainment-driven society. And with a kickass heroine to boot, ‘The Hunger Games’ is a blockbuster worth rooting for.

dataroy@syr.edu

Published on March 28, 2012 at 12:00 pm