Philip Seymour Hoffman: Hollywood Titan

Philip Seymour Hoffman

(1967-2014)

You've heard the news. If you're a fan, you're probably having a hard time imagining Hollywood without one of its all time greats. Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of those actors who gave legitimacy to the craft and to America's film business as a whole. With a massive range, and an active avoidance of all things celebrity, he was a man who commanded respect and honor and elevated all those around him.

But, I am a firm believer that when a man's time comes, it is better to celebrate their life than it is to mourn their death. Hoffman is a person who, in his short 46 years, has accomplished so many things worth celebrating. Many of his films rank in my top films of all time. Below is a list of my favorite moments from Philip Seymour Hoffman's career. Please add your own in the comments section below.


1) Almost Famous
"Uncool"

2) Boogie Nights

"I'm an idiot" 

3) The Big Lebowski

"Little Lebowski Urban Achievers"

4) Doubt

"Is gossiping a sin?" 

5) Capote

"I did everything I could."

6) Along Came Polly

"I'm your daddy."

7) Charlie Wilson's War

"Water goes over a dam and under a bridge..."

Rest in peace. 

Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Shit Just Got Real...

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland

Strap in ladies and gentlemen. 
I have written about The Hunger Games a few times in the past, if you want to catch up on what I've already said, check out The Hunger Games: Girls Rule and Hunger Games Trailer.

If you read this blog with any regularity you'll know that I am a huge Hunger Games fan and was extremely excited for the release of this film. So excited in fact, even my job couldn't supersede my desire to see this film and I left a pretty fancy event a bit early in order to make it to the theater.

The excitement and buzz in the theater was palpable and my eagerness was mirrored back in the faces and jittering of those around me. My friends and I talked about how great it feels to have something to help fill the vacuum left by the end of Harry Potter. While the Hunger Games is certainly no Harry Potter, this franchise film has a ton of power behind it and gives us a reason to go to the theater on a weekday.

There will obviously be those who say that the Hunger Games is pulpy young adult fiction without much substance, but I am not so quick to dismiss it. Currently, young adult books and the movies they spawn are huge. They are reaching audiences of all ages and resonating with people from many diverse demographics. I have discussed my dislike of the books in past reviews, so I am not going to compare the two at length. But the movies are strong and stand quite well on their own. It is not worth reading the books before you see the movie. This story plays much better on screen than it does in print.

Right out of the gate, Catching Fire has a bit of a different metabolism and a different tone than the first film. There is a marked sense of change which can only be the result of Gary Ross being replaced by Francis Lawrence in the directors chair. Besides capturing the theme more successfully than the first film, Catching Fire was far more cinematic in its execution, and more believable as a not too distant future universe.

Austrian director Francis Lawrence (no relation to star Jennifer Lawrence), is far less experienced than Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Pleasantville), and 15 years his junior. But Lawrence comes from a different, more pop-culture perspective with films such as, Water for Elephants, Constantine, I am Legend as well as a decent collection of music videos for artists like Green Day, Britney Spears and OK Go. His sensibility works well with grandeur of this franchise whereas Gary Ross's more classical techniques were lost on a younger generation of viewers.

Catching Fire opens on the shore of an icy lake with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) crouched in silhouette against the silvery-blue forest landscape, her bow and arrows draped across her back. It was quite memorable, it's one of my favorite frames in the entire film. Katniss is unique in the current high grossing film climate, a female heroine is rare gem in a sea of male leading roles, though I see the trend changing. Opening with Katniss in such a powerful and stoic position really set the pace for this film.

It is easy to get drawn into the story whether or not you're a hardcore fan. We get a much closer look at District 12 and the nation of Panem which sets the stage for the rest of the series. In the beginning of the film Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) travel throughout the other 11 districts on a post-games 'Victory Tour.' Upon arriving in District 11, the nation of Panem, beyond Katniss's home district of 12, begins to come into focus. We see that widespread poverty, and militaristic security isn't limited to 12 and the inequality between the Capital and everywhere else is put in stark contrast.

This is perhaps one of the greatest strength of this film. Previously, we didn't get a chance to see the system that created the districts, the circumstances that lead to the inception of the Hunger Games or the political overtones entrenched in the theme of the story. However, much of that comes through in the first several scenes of Catching Fire. The source of these story elements come mostly from the dialogue scenes between President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Philip Seymour Hoffman is arguably the most significant addition to the cast. As head game maker he is vast in his talent, but he plays his character with great subtlety. While he has few scenes, with only a handful of lines, he leaves an impression. His scenes with Donald Sutherland are like watching two wise sages casually talk over glass of fine scotch. There is a calm, thoughtfulness that comes through in their scenes that balances the hysteria seen throughout the rest of the film.

I don't want to spoil too much because I am sure some of you who are reading this are waffling on whether or not it's worth the time and money to see this film. While this might not be the best movie of the year, and suffers from strange pacing and a less than inspiring Hollywood venire, it still has plenty of redeeming qualities. The biggest draw is clearly the cast. The long list of top actors and actresses from different eras is incredible and gives a significant amount of credibility to the film over all.

We are all very familiar with the leading lady Jennifer Lawrence as she is currently America's sweetheart, and my favorite person. The Kentucky born star won her first Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook last year and has been on a very unique trajectory for an actress of her age. She is not only capable of carrying a massive franchise on her back with grace and a sense of humor, she is also a truly great actress with no fear.

I was satisfied with Lawrence's performance, but it's far from her best work. Most of that comes down to the writing. I feel as if the writers were working to instill some humanity into Katniss's rather stoic personality and ended up making her look overly weepy. I hope to see the writers resist that urge moving forward as we can expect two more Hunger Games films.

One of my favorite scenes is when Katniss and Peeta arrive in Rue and Thresh's district, District 11. We see the families of both fallen tributes standing above the crowd in tears as Peeta expresses his heartfelt thanks to Rue and Thresh for their bravery and kindness. However, it is when Katniss steps up to the microphone and talks about her 'friend' Rue, and the unfairness of her death that may reduce fans to quiet sobs. Rue's face and name are used as motifs throughout Catching Fire as a symbol of deep, systemic injustice.

We also get great performances from Josh Hutcherson, who is perfect for the role of Peeta, Sam Claflin who plays Finnick Odair, and Lynn Cohen who plays Mags. I won't spoil too much about Mags because her scenes were some of my favorites and she really gives this movie the character depth it needed. Mags is mute and elderly but she volunteers herself for the Hunger Games in place of a young woman who was driven crazy. Mags is sweet and kind, and bravely saves Finnick, Peeta and Katniss in the arena and just like with Rue's death, it was such an unfair way to go.

However, the most exciting addition to the cast for me is Jena Malone, who despite tons of talent and an impressive indie resume, hasn't been involved in major studio films for the past few years. Some of her most notable films include the cult classics Saved!, Sucker Punch, Into the Wild, and Donnie Darko. Each of these films have a special place in my heart. Malone is rather underrated in my opinion and I think her role in Catching Fire is perfect.

Malone plays Johanna Mason, a previous winner of the Hunger Games who secretly teams up with other tributes to take on the Capital. Johanna is a badass, perhaps even more badass than Katniss. She is cut throat yet seductive. She is a blood thirsty killer, but compassionate. She is also angry, but uses her anger to propll herself and those around her forward. Malone is so much fun to watch and I was glad that she was used to the extent that she was. She was the unconventional choice and it paid off.

Even though I am a fan, that doesn't keep me from noticing the glaring flaws in this film. The most obvious is the writing. Although the film followed the books almost to the letter, there was very little interpretation on the part of the director which gives the film a humdrum by the book formula that isn't as much fun to watch.  The dialogue was also sloppy, unbalanced and far from effortless. The actors seemed like their mouths were full or words that weren't necessary to move the story forward. There are many scenes, especially early in the film involving Gale and Katniss that I felt the film could have done without in favor of more character development, especially for Peeta and Heavensbee.

The cinematography is unremarkable with its overly glossy Hollywood veneer. I was disappointed but not surprised, though it still took a bit of soul out of the film. There was a lost opportunity to do something unexpected, gritty, and dark especially within the arena. However the entire film was one dimensional and didn't seem to culminate into anything substantial. The film felt too perfect, too steril. The imagery lacked depth, landscapes disappeared into nothing, the technology lacked intricacy, and the people looked and moved like plastic dolls. The futuristic interpretation was a bit of an uninspired Bauhaus that lacked visual detail.

The film was focused too heavily on the overly bloated script and runs about two and a half hours. That isn't unusual for a film of this magnitude, but I didn't feel like it was necessary. They could have told the same story in two hours and cut out several scenes of dialogue if they had instead focused on the type of detail that allows audiences to draw inferences.

Overall, the film is great if you're a fan. Even if you're not a fan you'll probably enjoy at least some aspects of the film. The actors performances are good, and fun to watch. The cinematography isn't terrible and there are a few beautifully crafted scenes. But the film does feel a little bit like the middle child. Francis Lawrence is slated to finish out the rest of the franchise as director, so it feels like he paid less attention to Catching Fire and is hoping to make some real impressions with Mockingjay Part 1 & 2. I hope that's the case.


B- : Great for fans, fun to watch, good acting, but the writing is bloated, cinematography is stale, the film lacked depth.




What did you think of the second installment of the Hunger Games series? Comment Below!

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE TRAILER

Oh. My. Sweet Mother Goddess above! The Hunger Games: Catching Fire trailer is out, and needless to say I am jumping out of my chair. Any of you who know me, know that I absolutely love the Hunger Games. Prepare to see several Hunger Games updates over the next couple months.  It is a close second to my obsession with Harry Potter, and Star Wars, which have been the center of my nerdy fandom for the majority of my life. Iron Man is pretty high on my list too but, like the Hunger Games, it has been a more recent fixation. But there is certainly something special about Katniss Everdeen and her distpoic universe that just sucks me in.

I loved The Hunger Games books, despite the fact that they're not exactly the pinnacle of literary achievement. While Susan Collins's writing is a bit sloppy in my opinion, the story is strong and it's the perfect series, tailor made for the screen. While box office dollars are not the best gauge of cinematic achievement, the first Hunger Games film, directed by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasentville), maxed out at about $700 million dollars world wide, which is quiet an achievement. $700 million that was well deserved. 

The real star was clearly Jennifer Lawrence who, more than any other person involved in the franchise, has made the Hunger Games explode. I love Jennifer Lawrence. She's my favorite. Not just because of her genuinely quirky charm, but because she is an incredible actress with a wide range of skills. She has a bravery and an integrity not seen very often in the young and super famous. She's the actress who dives right in without abandon, with no apologies, and no asterisks. I respect that. The fact that she is so legit has really done wonders for the reputation of The Hunger Games film(s).

If you question Jennifer Lawrence's talent, go watch Winter's Bone. It will blow your mind. It is a film that despite the critical acclaim was still WILDLY underrated. Jennifer Lawrence's acting is just the tip of the iceberg with the film. The written and direction by Debra Granik and cinematography by Michael McDonough, are incredible. It's a beautifully articulated piece of art. It pulls Lawrence out of the Emma Watson/Kirsten Stewart teen romance territory and places her firmly in a much higher class of actress. 

Jennifer Lawrence has done Hollywood the old fashioned way with lots of, hard work, talent, charm and a healthy dose of smart-assery. The Hunger Games role was lucky, like Emma Watson's Harry Potter or Kirsten Stewart's Twilight. But Lawrence has proven herself as a quality working actress having achieved an Oscar at the age of 22 for her starring role in Silver Linings Playbook. There are people in Hollywood who work 60 years, star in dozens, if not hundreds of films, and never come close to what Lawrence has achieved before being legally able to rent a car. Let that sink in.

But there are so many other things to appreciate about The Hunger Games besides Jennifer Lawrence. I also happen to be a huge fan of Woody Harrelson, ever since I saw White Men Can't Jump when I was just a kid. He's a damn good actor with a wide range and an interesting perspective. His role as the drunken Haymitch provides dark comedic relief. There is also the adorable Josh Hutcherson, as Peeta Melark, and Elizabeth Banks, as Effy.

There are also lots of new and surprising additions to the Hunger Games cast. The most significant is clearly the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman. He, like Lawrence has really upped the legitimacy of the franchise. 

When asked why an Academy Award winning actor would get involved in what has been considered a 'teen drama' Hoffman said, "I liked the people involved. It's a great group of actors. It's a great environment. And the character was something I was attracted to. It was an interesting role. He's somebody who's part of the revolution, but you don't know it. The idea that somebody would be risking themselves in such an extreme way to join something that's dangerous because he think it's the future...that's interesting stuff, you know?" 

Also joining the cast is Jena Malone who is among my favorite young actresses. My first introduction to Malone was her role in Saved, which is a classic film for anyone in their mid-20's. She also had a very interesting role in Sucker Punch (2011), where she played a concubine/warrior in the sci-fi-esque action movie. Malone usually works in the independent arena, so to see her in Catching Fire is really exciting. 

Rounding out the star studded cast is Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Stanly Tucci and Sam Claflin. 

If you've read the books, you know that Catching Fire is when shit starts to get real. If the slaughter of children for the sake of entertainment wasn't enough, we get to see the Capital's systematic brutality towards the citizens of Panam.

While this was just the teaser trailer, I am a little dismayed that they didn't show any of the tropical area that dominates the story of Catching Fire. The images inside of the various districts are quite compelling, and the fashion is absolutely stunning. But I am hoping we get a glimpse of the arena in the next trailer. 

So, here's the teaser trailer. Bask in the glory of Jennifer Lawrence and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be released November 22nd 2013

Pictures off of google.