The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

Rating: 6/10 (3 April 2016)

The first of a two-part adaption of Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay, the concluding entry in The Hunger Games sequence, this movie follows the recent trend of splitting the last of trilogies into two. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem justified in this case. The movies are divided prior to the Mockingjay/District 13 assault on Panem – or, in other words, the good bit. Which makes much of this movie essentially a build-up to its sequel. Lawrence is her usual brilliant self as a conflicted Katniss, who is called upon to portray a full rainbow of emotions and does so effortlessly. Her relationship (broadest sense) with Gale (Hutcherson) is played down, and in his few appearances Peeta (Hemsworth) steals the scene. Haymitch (Harrelson) is criminally underused but magnificent when he is given some screen time. Two major casting decisions affect this film greatly. The first is the inclusion of Effie Trinkett (Banks) who doesn't appear in the first half of the book. She takes the place of Cinna's erstwhile prep team; her stage presence and characterisation is much stronger in the previous movies, and it was a very good move to give the lines to her. By contrast, Julianne Moore is miscast in the role of President Coin. She lacks the commanding gravitas to play the fearsome leader; the ilk of Judi Dench would have been much better suited to the part. Her dialogue with the likes of Katniss and Plutarch (Seymour Hoffman) falls flat. James Newton Howard's score is marvellous, with the haunting mockingjay rift and The Hanging Tree adding an eerie sound. The interspersion of the song with Peeta's address to Panem is one of the few rousing moments. There's every chance Part 2 will be a terrific film as it has brilliant source material and an excellent cast to perform it, but Part 1 is a real disappointment. The action-free instalment did not require the time it was given, and there was no climax or payoff. Collins' novel has not been done justice, so let's hope the odds are very much in Part 2's favour.