It has been eight years since audiences saw the final chapter of "The Hunger Games" franchise. Now, with a prequel to the original trilogy, a new film has finally arrived. Readers and audiences alike have been waiting for some sort of backstory to several of the characters or something to that effect. And now, it the surprise of many, we get the backstory of the President of Panem, Coriolanus Snow. At first, when it was announced that he would be the main protagonist of this new novel and film, I was mad at first with the fact that there was going to be a way we see Snow as a good guy, decades before he would turn into the autocratic tyrant we know from the original trilogy and film series. We have come to love the adult portrayal of Snow by the terrific Donald Sutherland, who in my view, has always been the perfect actor to play this character with such raw poise and dedication with such a maniacal tone that we can not help but look away.
In the new film, the actor who plays the young Coriolanus Snow growing up in the Capitol as a student and becomes a mentor in the games is British actor Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid). I had not heard of him before the announcement of his being cast as the lead. Suffice it to say, he blew me away with this performance of the iconic character. Blyth plays the corrupt young future tyrant with the kind of charisma that we get from Donald Sutherland. His performance in the new film is incredible and one of the best performances of the series. Starring alongside Blyth, is Rachel Zegler (the West Side Story remake). Her role as the love interest and main female lead is fantastic and magnetic.
Her role as both Snow's love interest and as a tribute in the games is stunning. Her songs in the film are also one of the best parts of this film. She emulates the type of energy Jennifer Lawrence had before her. Being set 64 years before the events of Lawrence's Katniss, this new heroine, Lucy Gray Baird, is portrayed stunningly by Zegler and it shows. Zegler's rendition of "The Hanging Tree" is imbued with folk and soft country vibes. Though I prefer Jennifer Lawrence's version, Zegler does a great job at the song. I would say that my favorite song that Zegler does in the film is "Nothing You Can Take From Me." That is from the novel as not seen in the original trilogy series. I would love to see more of her character but that is all for now. I thought that the overall vibe of the film was musical-type while also being one of the more political and survival types, adding more to the context of the rest of the films. Rachel Zegler adds to the toughness of the heroine arc set by Jennifer Lawrence, with magnetism and power in a defiant rebel role.
Co-starring alongside Blyth and Zegler are Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria). Their roles as Volumnia Gaul, the head game maker, the creator of "The Hunger Games", and rounding out Schafer as Snows' cousin Tigris. There is something remarkable with these additions to the film. Davis's wickedly cruel character is one of the most exciting parts of this film and it's awesome to see her put the novel's amazing villain at the center of the film as one of the forces that would catapult Snow into the man he would be. Dinklage plays the role of Dean Highbottom, another mentor, and later enemy of the young Snow. His performance is dark and powerfully charged just as much as Davis's character. Last, is Hunter Schafer's role as Coriolanus's cousin and also a future stylist in the Hunger Games, Tigris. Her sympathetic, sisterly-like role to Blyth's Snow adds a sense of gentleness and grace, something that makes the future ruthless leader somewhat less unlikeable. This ensemble cast makes a name for itself and does the franchise justice by being as groundbreaking and brilliant as the original films did. In addition to this cast are some firsts I have seen in any mainstream film. Other than Peter Dinklage, is a groundbreaking star who also has a disability. Next, there are three tributes in the film that are played by actors with disabilities, one has Down Syndrome, one is blind and the last tribute is an arm amputee. So this is great in regard to inclusion in media.
Returning to direct is Francis Lawrence. He brings back the forceful depth of creativity that we got from "Catching Fire" and both parts of "Mockingjay". Audiences and readers have said that this film is as great as "Catching Fire" and the best one since that one. I could not agree more. I think that this film ranks in a close second for me, with "Catching Fire" still being my favorite film of the series. Lawrence shows us once again how much we loved the films he helmed before and we love it even more with this prequel.
Also returning to the franchise is composer James Newton-Howard. His score from all four of the franchise's films was incredible to fit the tone and mood of one another. What is especially great about having him as a composer again is that he adds nods to the other films' scores to this film. Most notable is the track "Snow Lands on Top" in comparison to "Victory" from Mockingjay Part 1. These comparisons add to the suspense and darkness that we know from the previous scores. With this new one, the score is just as incredible and forceful as the others in the franchise.
This film is nothing short of phenomenal. The addition to the series is fantastic and makes me fall in love with it all over again just as I did when the original films first debuted. This film adds to the series as a large and powerful addition in which it lives up to the legacy of the rest of "The Hunger Games" films in large part due to the dark story and great cast.
Rate: A
Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman and Hunter Schafer
Director: Francis Lawrence
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for strong violent content and disturbing material)
Runtime: 2 Hours and 38 Minutes
Synopsis: 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem. THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray's charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.
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