ICONIC DEC 2014 | Page 20

Minutes Well Spent This message is for President Snow…How Gutsy! You have to love Katniss Everdeen. As much as it was feared that history would repeat itself and that we would face a non thrilling end to this great saga… Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) came through. Part 1 of the finale to The Hunger Games was just as thrilling as the first two films and I dare say more so. The stakes are higher, the battlefield is larger and the enemy is finally President Snow. Let the games begin! The performances by this great cast were excellent. Let’s begin with our star Jennifer Lawrence. This diamond continues to shine. Playing both the reluctant heroine and the face of the revolution, Miss Lawrence is amazing. Giving a master class in balancing opposing emotions for the camera she was incredible. Non verbal expressions are my favorite and she is a genius 19 It’s Christ Or Nothing in this art. Rest in peace Mr. Hoffman. This fine performer will be missed. His poise on the screen is rare. It is almost effortless how it seems he captures a character and makes it his own. Plutarch Heavensbee could not have been played better. Donald Sutherland, in a role that seems to fit him like a tailored suit, excels here also. President Snow is menacing, sadistic and pure evil. Donald Sutherland portrays all this to perfection…somehow there’s a compliment in there. Julianne Moore playing the role of President Coin, is completely untrustworthy. As she should be. Kudos to the make up team for the work with Ms. Moore’s eyes. It just seemed that they pierced through the screen and cut into the room like an icy breeze. Appropriate for her character. Special recognition goes to the sound editing team. The audio was extraordinary. At times I felt as if the action was literally in the room with me. The deafening sounds of the aircraft, explosions and the gunfire were simply delightful. Panem has come to life again, and it looks as if it fell from the pages of the book. I cannot wait to see the finish to this incredible journey, not because I wish it to end, but because the wait is as brutal as the Games themselves. May the odds ever be in your favor. Grade A