Film Review|| The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1

The third film of the wildly popular franchise, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1" has a dark and ferocious tone, making it increasingly explosive. As the franchise has matured, so has its subject matter. The narrative is no longer about a girl who stood up for her little sister, but instead about a young woman who stood against a tyrannical government and its leader.

Rescued from the horrors of the Quarter Quell, the film opens, with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13, a world she'd previously thought destroyed by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Capitol. And yet, despite being forced into hiding, District 13 and its citizens have not only survived, but thrived. It’s a well-ordered society; led brilliantly and meticulously by President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore). Without excess or frivolity, District 13 contrasts sharply with the over-saturated colors and superfluous settings of the Capitol.

So unlike the lush greenery and vast wildlife that we've grown accustomed to seeing in the previous films, District 13 is gray and muted. The rigid order of living underground, along with the confining walls and tunnels of District 13 provide the perfect prison-like backdrop for Katniss’ uncertainty and uneasiness.

As Katniss battles with her ongoing depression, she finds herself unable to connect with those around her. She is constantly at the very edge of her sanity, unsure about her decisions and those of the people surrounding her; especially without Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who has been a constant presence in her life since the beginning of The Games. Katniss’ sister, Primrose (Willow Shields) is the only one that seems to be able to breakthrough to her. Realizing that Katniss is in the position to make requests, since District 13 is counting on her to become the Mockingjay, Primrose convinces her to demand that Peeta be rescued from the Capitol.

This film is not at all the action-packed thriller that we’ve become accustomed to in this franchise. Instead, it’s a slow progression; a psychological analysis of Katniss as she struggles to become the symbol of a revolution. Continually mistrusting of those around her, terrorized by President Snow, and manipulated by President Coin, Katniss is obviously a pawn in a much larger game; one she is not sure that she’s willing to play any longer. The residents of District 13 are unsure of what to make of her. President Coin’s right hand man, Boggs (Mahershala Ali) is skeptical of Katniss immediately, and remains uncertain that she is the right person to lead the revolution. Torn between her conscience and the people of Panem, Katniss also finds herself stuck between her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and the boy she’s grown to love, Peeta.

Director Francis Lawrence, beautifully constructs a war film around a major facet of war and revolution: propaganda. After all, how are leaders of revolution born, if not for the way in which they captivate and mobilize their followers?

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'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' Cast & Director Dish on Winding Down the Franchise

At a recent press junket, Shadow and Act was present as the majority of the cast of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1," spoke about the series and their experiences.
Here are some of the highlights:

Francis Lawrence (director), Nina Jacobson (producer), Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Julianne Moore (President Alma Coin), Donald Sutherland (President Coriolanus Snow), Natalie Dormer (Cressida), Mahershala Ali (Boggs), Sam Clafin (Finnick Odair), Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen), and Jeffery Wright (Beetee Latier) were present for the conference.

On "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1"
Francis Lawrence: This half of Mockingjay is really about Katniss discovering what she means to people; all of the districts. And really taking on the responsibility of her role in this revolution. It gave us the opportunity to explore one of the facets of war, which is propaganda.

Fascism vs. Freedom and being caught in the middle. On the political and social sophistication of the books and films
Jennifer Lawrence: Katniss is representing the consequences of war. It’s not that she doesn’t believe in what President Coin wants. It’s not that she doesn’t believe that the Capitol is a terrible government that is only good for the one percent. But war is complicated, and it affects everyone on both sides. I think for Katniss being caught in the middle is feeling pain from both sides. There really is no right way to start or end a war.

Julianne Moore: When I read [the books] I was really struck by the political allegory, and that is very unusual in YA. The thing about dystopia is that what is posits is whether or not we have free will as human beings. And for adolescents in particular, that’s a time when that idea is looming pretty large because you haven’t had free will. You’re in your parents’ house and you’re looking to… who you’re going to be as human being.  So here you have this central character who is trying to decide who she is going to be personally, and who she is going to be politically; and it’s fascinating.  It’s really wonderful. Suzanne Collins also sets up this idea about the difference between freedom and totalitarianism, and how you move from one system to another. I think it’s amazing and it speaks to not just me, but millions of people.

Donald Sutherland: The allegory is evident. When I first read the script I truly wanted to be apart of this project  so that I could look back at the end of my life, which is very close, and say I was a piece of this. Because for me how she has presented this dilemma to young people, and demanded from them a resolution; demanded from them participation that could change things. Because the world that my generation is leaving everyone is a disaster in every respect; politically, socially and economically. I hope that it would be a catalyst for young people. To get them off the seat of their pants …that someone from Occupy or wherever use these films to generate from young people an energy that  will take them into the voting booths of the United States in 2016 and make people responsible, politicians responsible for their words and their actions.

On the lack of physical action scenes in the film
Jennifer Lawrence: There was a lot less action in this movie. [Katniss] is in a very different place emotionally at the beginning of this movie, and the Games have completely changed her. She has to completely rebuild herself.  There wasn’t time for much action. Instead, there was just time for her reaction to everything.

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Interview|| Mahershala Ali Talks 'Hunger Games,' 'House of Cards,' Dream Role, Race in the Industry

In "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1," Mahershala Ali plays Boggs. He is introduced to us as President Coin’s (Julianne Moore) right hand man. After Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) assumes the role of the Mockingjay, Boggs becomes her personal bodyguard.
At a recent junket for the film, we spoke with Ali about working on the project, "House of Cards," his dream role, and race in the film and television industry.

Aramide Tinubu: First, I’d like to say congratulations on all of your success.  I’ve been watching "House of Cards" and I’m obsessed with "The Hunger Games," like the majority of America.  I’d like to start off by asking how you prepared to become Boggs. At the 2013 Emmy’s, you spoke about working to truly understand the characters that you portray. Boggs has always lived underground. How did you prepare to become him?

Mahershala Ali: One of the first things I wanted to do was change how I felt in my body. I couldn’t change my look because I was finishing up "House of Cards," so I couldn’t grow out a beard, or grow hair or anything like that; which I would have ideally loved to do. It felt appropriate for the character at the time. So, the best thing I could do was begin to lift weights a little. I had worked on slimming down in the last couple of years just to be able to look like a businessman in a suit for "House of Cards." So now, I wanted to feel a little bit more present and just different in my body, so I picked up like five to seven pounds, so I was working out quite a bit. And then, going to work, I kind of just changed the environment for myself, sonically. There were a couple of albums I would listen to in my trailer to put me in the headspace of District 13.  So I was listening to this Method Man album "Tical," which came out in like ’94 or ’95.  It just sounded appropriate for the piece it sounded like "District 13" to me; in that time, and in this building rebellion.  So then I just build. The work that I do with all of my characters is have some sense of where they come from.  I kind of create my own story for myself. What’s going on with my parents, are they alive?  Or family, do I have children?  Do you see those things or not? All the mental work that I have to do to be present and give off a sense of truth that can connect with the audience.

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