Film review: ‘The Hunger Games: The ballad of songbirds and snakes’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

The dystopian sci-fi film series, The Hunger Games was hugely successful and a cultural touchstone for many young cinema goers (but not so much this reviewer).  Through those films, Jennifer Lawrence established herself as a major star playing heroine, Katniss Everdeen who, in a post-apocalyptic future, competed in the eponymous televised teen gladiator death matches and battled the fictional nation of Panem’s sadistic leader, President Snow (Donald Sutherland).  Arriving with far less fanfare than the original films, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is based on Suzanne Collins’ 2020 novel, is the prequel to that series. While better than the dismal Fantastic Beasts or Jar Jar Binks-era Star Wars films, this patchy and at times very clunky effort unfortunately continues the dodgy prequel trend for major film franchises.

Set 64 years before the original Hunger Games films, Songbirds And Snakes is essentially a Snow origin story (or at least the first part of one). Here, orphaned 18-year-old university student Coriolanus Snow (British actor Tom Blyth) the son of a once wealthy and powerful family but now impoverished, hopes to earn a scholarship to support his adoptive Grandmother (Fionnula Flanagan) and cousin, Tigris (Hunter Schafer).  Snow’s only path to the prize is to mentor a Hunger Games contestant to victory in the 10th running of the brutal event.  He doesn’t count, however, on becoming romantically attached to the young woman he’s mentoring, the feisty singer, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler, West Side Story).

For some, the original film series’ combination of post-apocalyptic action, romance and teen female empowerment was thrilling. While it tries to recapture those elements, Songbirds and Snakes, which is directed by original series regular, Frances Lawrence, just doesn’t click.  The main reason is that, despite all they go through, Snow and Lucy’s romance and personal dramas lack emotional punch.  This in part due to some sluggish pacing and bouts of robotic dialogue but also a lack of chemistry between the leads.

Tom Blyth is hardly a compelling central figure as the young Snow. He occasionally conveys internal conflict and doubt reminiscent of Tom Felton’s Draco Malfoy in the later Harry Potter films but he mostly seems to be grasping for the right approach to the character.  His transformation from decent chap to oily villain isn’t convincing and most of it happens in an awkward rush toward the end of this very long film.  Also, disconcertingly, at one point he has his hair cut off and becomes a dead ringer for Eminem.  Zegler is ballsy as Lucy but her performance often feels forced including her extremely unconvincing Southern accent.  The folky bluegrass songs she performs are ok but delivered with a bit too much American Idol showiness.

As in the original series, there’s a gaggle of oddball supporting characters. Jason Schwartzman is perversely enjoyable as the comically creepy Hunger Games host Lucretius Flickerman, an apparent relative of Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman.  Peter Dinklage seems overly earnest, though, as the unfortunately named Casca Highbottom, co-creator of the Hunger Games who decides Snow’s fate. Also, Viola Davis is way over the top as the crazed, snake loving Dr. Volumnia Gaul, the director of the current tournament.

While the film stumbles when it comes to plotting and character drama, it mostly succeeds on a technical level.  It often looks great with imposing Stalinist cityscapes and detailed interior designs and architecture that provide a striking contrast to the verdant forests and sprawling bucolic fields of the districts.

Because it’s focused on establishing the world of Panem and the character backstories, the Hunger Games tournament itself is only a part of the film.  This time the games are played in a huge domed building in Capital City rather than the technologically tricked-up forest of the first film.  It feels a little limited although this segment provides a few moments of pulse pounding action while reminding us of the horror of putting young people in such an inhumanely brutal situation.

Maybe reconnecting with their beloved world will be enough for Hunger Games devotees to overlook Songbirds and Snakes’ considerable flaws but it’s very unlikely to make fans of those not already seduced by the franchise.

Nick’s rating: **1/2

Genre: Drama/ Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction.

Classification: M.

Director(s): Frances Lawrence.

Release date: 16th Nov 2023.

Running time: 157 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

 

Related Posts:

tagged with , , , , , ,