The Hunger Games (2012)

Directed by Gary Ross

Written by Gary Ross (screenplay), Billy Ray (screenplay) and Suzanne Collins (screenplay and novel)

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson and Liam Hemsworth

     The Hunger Games film had a lot of hype to live up to after the major success of the book written by Suzanne Collins. It also came into the lime light after the end of two very popular movie franchises came to an end that same year- Harry Potter and Twilight. This dystopian themed thriller definitely filled whatever 'movies based on teen-fiction books' void, I had. Granted, I was a big fan of the series when they first came out and I read all three books in three weekends- my bias does not take away from the entertainment this film provides for any audience. 

     The movie is set in what we're to assume is the future, and catastrophe has destroyed North America. From the ashes rises a new colony named, Panem. Panem is ruled by the powerful Capitol which is rich and elegant- while the surrounding 12 districts that make up the rest of Panem are powerless and poor. Each district is forced to surrender a young man and woman for the annual Hunger Games- where 24 "tributes" fight to the death in an arena until one is left standing. This is supposed to maintain peace amongst the districts and essentially remind them who is in charge. Oh, and the best part of all this- its televised for everyone to watch! 

     The story centers around the brave Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who represents the female from the poor, coal mining district of 12. Her and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) are chosen at the annual "reaping" and are immediately snatched from their families and on a train headed to train at the capitol. Katniss and Peeta are joined by the representative for their district from the Capitol, the peacocky Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and their mentor- a former winner of the Hunger Games from their district, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). Prior to the broadcast of the games is a lot of build-up to the showdown. The tributes all get interviewed on a talk-show hosted by the eccentric Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) and also get to train in front of the game-makers where they are given a score based on how well they did. Once the games begin, its a vicious fight to the death (but not too vicious because of the PG-13 rating). Katniss and Peeta are left to fight for their lives against all odds in the arena, and the results are action packed and intense. 

       This movie brings some very interesting characters, but Jennifer Lawrence leads the pack with her heroic female lead. Katniss is a very independent young woman who is forced to provide for her family via hunting. Lawrence sheds her natural blonde hair for this film and packs on the intensity for this role. Hutcherson and Hemsworth kind of fall into Lawrence's shadow and mostly serve as pretty faces. Peeta has a rather puppy dog tendency to him which only further heightens Katniss's bravery and strength. Aside from those three, the supporting cast is a slue of recognizable names who play interesting Capitol inhabitants. Wes Bentley plays the head game-maker and supports the most intricately designed beard I've ever seen. Donald Sutherland plays the menacing, President Snow who looks like he could kill you with one glance. 

  For those who weren't already fans from the novel, I can see how the movie might be a bit slow going at first. The actual "games" themselves don't begin until about an hour into the film. There is a lot of crucial information and character development in the first half of the film, however. The build-up the games is definitely worth the watch to get to the suspense of the arena. 

I give The Hunger Games an... 

8/10

     

Hell or High Water (2016)

Directed by David Mackenzie

Written by Taylor Sheridan

Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges

     A thrilling western-crime film that will have you rooting for both sides of a gun fight at one point. The only reason I choose to call this a "western" film is for the barren, desolate landscape it takes place in- although I guess Jeff Bridges having a role in it does give it that label as well. Hell or High Water is an entertaining movie that with enough car chases and bank robberies to excite crime movie enthusiasts; and enough cowboy hats and Texas accents to excite those nostalgic of Tombstone.

     The movie begins with a bank robbery right off the bat, committed by brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster). Although the two seem amateur at this, we learn that Tanner is somewhat of a bank-robber novice having just gotten out of jail, while Toby is devoted to a non-violence method. After a couple of robberies, we learn the motives behind them which involve reverse mortgages, oil drilling and Toby's recent divorce and estranged child. While the carefully crafted robberies are happening with the brothers, we also get to see the law enforcement side of this story. Two Texas rangers are in charge of following this case; retiring officer Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and his sidekick Alberto (Gil Birmingham). These two have a very cat and mouse relationship which was humorous to watch- with Hamilton often making jabs at his partners Native American heritage. As the plot unravels, we see the real intelligence behind these devised robberies is Toby. While at first Tanner may seem more experienced and in charge, Toby is the real mastermind. 

     The acting in this movie is one of its greatest strengths. Chris Pine to me, is Captain Kirk. For him to step out of the Star Trek ship (metaphorically) and step into this intense Texan bank robber- was very impressive. This sort of role suits him very well. Ben Foster plays a verbally and physically aggressive ex-con. He is very unpredictable yet his love for his brother is often what keeps him somewhat tame. Veteran, Jeff Bridges earns a best supporting actor oscar nomination for his role as the old, smart-mouthed, laid back Texas ranger. 

     This film is more of a drama than anything aside from the thrilling car chases and bank robberies. Mackenzie and Sheridan give the audience a lot of character development to help us further understand the motives for Tanner and Toby's crimes. Hell or High Water may not be the thrilling gun-fight, car chase movie you're looking for- but it is definitely a movie worth watching. 

I give Hell or High Water a...

7/10

Hidden Figures (2016)

Directed by Theodore Melfi

Written by Theodore Melfi and Allison Schoeder (screenplay)

Margot Lee Shetterly (novel)

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae and Kevin Costner

    From St. Vincent director, Theodore Melfi comes an inspiring tale of the untold true stories of three African-American female mathematicians who all played a key role in calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into space. A heroic tale of three woman overcoming race and gender in the workplace during the 1960's Civil Right Movement. A tale that I honestly knew nothing about before seeing this movie. 

     Set in the mid 20th century, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) are three "human computers" working at NASA but are widely under appreciated as they are stuck working in an employee-temp circle with many other black women. As the race to get a man in space starts to heat up with America wanting to beat Russia, Katherine, Dorothy and Mary start to work their way up, especially Katherine, being that she's the only human computer who knows analytical geometry, finds herself working directly on the John Glenn launch into space with some of NASA's top scientists including leader of the operation Al Harrison (Kevin Costner). 

     Despite the misogyny and racial segregation of the time, these three women prevail from "colored" bathrooms and coffee pots (yes, I said coffee pots) to being some of the key minds that were responsible for John Glenn's successful manned mission into space, and his anticipated return home. Melfi beautifully tells not just a story of three extremely intelligent women working for NASA, he reminds us all of the discrimination that men and women of color went through at this time (and he does so very mildly as this film is rated PG). We are reminded that there were segregated drinking fountains, sections of the library and even schools despite the 1954 Supreme Court case, Brown vs. Board of Education which declared segregated schools to be unconstitutional. Virginia being an exception to this court ruling still had all white schools, which we see in the movie as Mary attempts to take night classes to become an engineer. 

     While this film does have a powerful message of these basically hidden NASA African-American women breaking racial and gender boundaries, it also has some refreshing humor with three working women's friendship. We get so see some quite comical car ride scenes and scenes from their personal lives which make them a little more relatable. 

     Hidden Figures brought some very enjoyable acting performances that I felt were right on this invisible cusp almost Oscar nomination worthy but not quite there. Henson's main character was a lot different from her Empire character, Cookie. She plays such a soft spoken, sensitive character prone to pushing up her glasses on her face who did have one scene where she stands up for herself in a very inspirational Cookie-esque manner. Octavia Spencer brought her usual sense of bold humor mixed with some powerful authoritative scenes. Who knew Janelle Monae could act? Being one of her first acting performances I thought she did pretty great. Oscar worthy? No... but great none the less. We also see some supporting performances in this film that are worth mentioning like Kirsten Dunst who plays the condescending white supervisor who is holding Dorothy Vaughn back. Jim Parsons also has a supporting role as Katherine's arch-nemisis Jim Stafford, who is always giving her ridiculous tasks and feeling envious of her progress. You can't like every character in the movie. 

     After seeing this movie and becoming much more informed on the impact these three women had on Glenn's launch into space, I can say I am very joyous that author Margot Lee Shetterly celebrated their story in her book. Melfi and Schroeder inventively craft their story into a brilliant film about friendship, conquering injustice, and being very very good at math. 

I give Hidden Figures a...

7/10

The Help (2011)

Directed by Tate Taylor

Written by Tate Taylor (screenplay) and Kathryn Stockett (novel) 

Starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard

     "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." These candid compliments have the power to repair any mended ego and build your self confidence and will be forever stuck in your mind like a commercial jingle after you see this film. This drama set in the 1960's is based on the critically acclaimed novel written by Kathryn Stockett and brought to the big screen by Stockett's childhood friend from Mississippi, Tate Taylor. Jackson native, Taylor makes his big directing debut with a film that tackles issues of prejudice and racism in Jackson, Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Stockett and Taylor conquer a story that has been told before in film, and make it an unforgettable emotional story that is driven by an impeccable cast that brings awareness to what was going on in this time period, with an appropriate level of humor to leaven the drama.
     Recent college graduate, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) gets her first job of writing a cleaning column for the Jackson Journal. Skeeter approaches local housewife friend of hers, Elizabeth (Anna O'Reilly) in hopes of interviewing her maid, Abileen (Viola Davis). Skeeter starts to become more aware of the injustice these maids are facing at a local card game with her socialite housewife friends lead by the iron grip of Hillie Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard). Hillie refuses to use Elizabeth's bathroom because she allows her colored help to use it. Dismayed by this, Skeeter decides write a book from the maid's point of view, with the assistance from the reluctant Abileen. Employed by Hillie Holbrook, the sassy Minnie (Octavia Spencer) very reluctantly joins Skeeter and Abileen after she loses her job for using Hillie's bathroom during a violent thunderstorm. Eventually, dozens of other maids join the battle and Skeeter gets her book anonymously published.
     The Help brilliantly tells the story of racial prejudice and bigotry through the point of view of the black maids. Normally we hear these stories from this time told by the privileged white men and women who employ these maids, and when that happens their actual stories get lost in translation. Tate Taylor brings us the remarkably talented Davis and Spencer to play these noble black maids who are experiencing issues of injustice and poverty.
     This film portrays all black people as humble and kind and all white people as ignorant and racist, with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions is Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain) who is viewed as this outcast "trailer trash" to the other bigoted socialites. Celia eventually employs the recently fired Minnie, and breaks all the racial boundaries created by society during this time. Chastain plays a role that was so fun to watch. I found myself feeling sad for her as she was an outcast that just wanted the attention of her community members, white or black. Celia Foote saw no racial difference between her and Minnie and mostly hired her to help her impress her husband as she was very new to the housewife scene.
     Aside from Chastain's oscar nominated supporting role in the film, we get a heartfelt performance from Emma Stone as the protagonist. Stone's performance is mainly fed by Davis and Spencer, as she mostly serves as the pen that records all of their experiences. Viola Davis was Oscar nominated for her leading role in the film, as Octavia Spencer gained her first Oscar win for her supporting role. I mean, how could she not win an Oscar after her delicious pie that she makes for Hillie Holbrook.  Bryce Dallas Howard's role as the venomous queen B was fun to watch as well. Allison Janney has a minor role in the film as Skeeter's mom, which was comical at some points as she played a fierce, sometimes over the top local socialite who is sick with cancer.
     The Help is dominated by strong female performances which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. It was't some fuzzy female empowerment movie about friendship. It was a powerful film covering important issues from the past, told by empowering female characters.

I give The Help an...

8/10