After all these years, we return to Panem for the prequel of the beloved “Hunger Games” franchise in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”
The film takes place decades before Donald Sutherland’s Coriolanus Snow becomes the tyrannical leader of Panem we are familiar with. Snow (Tom Blyth) is an ambitious student and the sole breadwinner for his fallen family. Determined to win a cash prize associated with helping his tribute become not just the victor but the “star” of the 10th annual Hunger Games, Snow sees an opportunity to change his odds, as well as his feisty tribute, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler).
As a fan of the Suzanne Collins series and its films, I was thoroughly entertained seeing Snow’s origin story play out on the big screen.
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is a compelling and faithful film adaptation with stunning action, a brilliant ensemble and a LOT of musical numbers. Francis Lawrence, who directed all but the first “Hunger Games” adaptation, skillfully captures the appropriate amount of electric energy and savagery needed to bring the story to life.
Divided into three sections, the film does suffer some pacing issues and feels a bit bloated, but I still found myself on the edge of my seat, even though I knew what was going to happen.
However, it is the cast that really makes “Songbirds & Snakes” a dystopian delight.
Blyth and Zegler have wonderful chemistry as the prickly “Romeo & Juliet” of Panem. The up-and-coming Blyth commands the screen, but it is Zegler who steals the show. Zegler, who was clearly cast for her insanely impressive vocal talents, is a shining star as Lucy Gray. You cannot help but fall in love with her spunk and fire.
The film also boasts standout supporting performances from Viola Davis’s villainous Dr. Gaul and Jason Schwartzman’s darkly humorous, Lucky Flickerman.
Overall, the prequel naturally fits into the franchise and you don’t have to be an aficionado to be swept away by the spectacle…kind of like how those in Panem are entertained by “The Hunger Games.”
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