DESEMBER_UNIKUM_WEB

Photo: IMDb
HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF
SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES - REVIEW
Alice Soleng
Writer
REVIEW
Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to the Hunger Games, and may
the odds be ever in your favour. Not only have the high-grossing
film franchise returned, but it is back with new blood, and a
storyline that will leave lovers of the Hunger Games universe with
both glee and frustration. Suzanne Collins returns as a producer,
together with director Francis Lawrence. Is this the best film in the
franchise?
The prequel of the beloved series is set 64 years before the Hunger
Games, and we follow Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as he is set to
be a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games. The film starts in
the dark years, the time where the districts
rebelled, and the Capitol’s children were
starving in the streets. The Snow family
lost their fortune but refuse to give up their
status in Panem. After bombing District
13, the Capitol ends the war, creating the
Hunger Games to punish the districts for
their rebellion. However, only ten years
into the future, nobody is watching the
games, and the mentors are introduced
to attract viewers. 24 promising academy
students are chosen for the task, with a
scholarship award on the line for the best
mentor. Coriolanus Snow, desperate to win
the award to secure his future, is given the
worst of the pack. The girl from District 12,
Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). The odds
are not in their favour, and Coriolanus
must find a way for his songbird to survive.
But at what cost?
So, what did the film do right?
A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes remains
true to the book, with a few minor changes.
The film paints the story of Snow’s rise
from hungry schoolboy to dangerous
unrepentant president. Fans of the books
will smile to themselves when they catch references to the
trilogy, and the screenwriters should receive a pat on the back for
successfully adapting the book to screenplay. Another thing the
film does right is the soundtrack. Lucy Gray’s songs were a huge
part of the book, and James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight) was
hired to bring the songs to life. Having so many songs could easily
have made the film feel like a musical, but it never crosses that line.
Rachel Zegler’s voice is powerful, yet comforting, and her delivery
of Lucy Gray’s determination is compelling. Her performance of
the song The old Therebefore is nothing short of breathtaking, and
it leaves the viewer stunned.
Additionally, I would also like to highlight some of the acting
performances in the film. As mentioned, Rachel Zegler does an
excellent job at portraying Lucy Gray’s charming wit, but the
best acting performance goes to Josh Andrés Rivera, who played
Sejanus Plinth. The desperation, plotting and empathy shown by
the character, is as it was taken straight from the book. Altogether,
the plot, the casting, the costumes, and the music makes for a great
film, but I have a few nagging points.
Firstly, the character of Coriolanus Snow
(Tom Blyth). While Blyth is a great actor,
as a book reader, it was easy to catch on to
the fact that his portrayal of the character
lacks complexity. Blyth is excellent at
portraying the decisiveness and the allure
of Coriolanus, but he fails at conveying the
doubt and insecurity Snow feels throughout
the plot. Certain scenes leave me longing for
more depth, and it feels like his backstory
was left behind.
Secondly, the pacing of the film is off. As
one could expect the highlight of the film
is the actual Hunger Games, which takes
place during the second part of the film,
The Prize. My attention was kept during
the first two parts of the film, but during
the third, The Peacekeeper, some scenes
felt unnecessary dragged out. Of course,
the ending picks up the pace again, and I
can’t say the third part lacks interesting
events. Yet, I feel the film could have been
shortened a bit, to match the other films in
the franchise.
So, is it the best film in the franchise? No, I would not say so.
It’s a great addition to an already amazing series, and I would
recommend going to the cinema and watch it. It shows us a tale
of hope, desperation, and love. Most of all, it teaches us one thing
about Coriolanus Snow and society.
“We all do things we’re not proud of to live”.
DESEMBER 2023 UNIKUM NR 10 35