Oscar Countdown 2014: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

This year probably has the best group of acting nominees in recent memory. Any one of the 20 men and women could win, and very little would complain if they do (only in that some are more deserving than others). Because of this, we're doing a special four-week event, in which we break down each of the acting categories and their respective nominees. This week, we're diving into a category soaked with some of the greatest villains, transformations, and eccentric personalities of the year. Today, we're looking at the category Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Here are the nominees:

Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips

From taxi driver to Oscar nominee in a year: the Academy loves awarding this category with newcomers. And Abdi gives a fascinating first performance. In Captain Phillips, he plays the story's antagonist, but is far from being a bad guy; Abdi makes Muse sympathetic and relatable, making the audience empathize with his character's tough situation. The audience does not root for him necessarily, but they certainly get where he's coming from. And in a thriller's villain, what more could we ask for? Barkhad Abdi sinks his teeth into this role, and even awarding him a nomination is praise enough. I'm so glad that the Academy recognized his talent (even though they virtually ignored his co-star, but that's another story...).
OSCAR CHANCES: LOW-MEDIUM


Bradley Cooper, American Hustle

His nomination is hardly a surprise, considering how much the Academy adored American Hustle. But in such a competitive year, it's nice to see Cooper's talents being recognized once again. For two years in a row, he's been nominated for his work on a David O. Russell picture, and this year's Richie DiMaso is a completely different kind of crazy. Obsessive, determined, and violently unstable, Cooper's portrayal of an out-of-control FBI agent is certainly worth the attention. He holds his own amidst a highly talented ensemble, and could end up walking away with one of Hustle's four acting nominations (though not likely). Richie DiMaso is a character you both love and hate, and is a fun character for the surprisingly talented Bradley Cooper.
                                                             OSCAR CHANCES: MEDIUM




Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

After being robbed of an acting nod in 2011, Fassbender's reunion with Steve McQueen on 12 Years a Slave has earned him much-deserved praise and his first Oscar nomination. Michael Fassbender is an incredibly powerful actor, able to dominate a scene with his gentleman-like charm and beast-like ferocity. In this slave drama, he plays a brutal slave owner named Epps, who becomes the bane to Solomon Northrup's existence. A staunchly racist, bible-thumping driver with problems of his own, Epps takes villainy to a whole new level. Fassbender is the vessel by which to guide that villainy, and will possibly be rewarded for that dedication with an Academy Award.
OSCAR CHANCES: MEDIUM


Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street

One of the biggest shocks on Nomination Day was Jonah Hill being announced as a candidate for Best Supporting Actor. Not that Hill doesn't deserve the attention, because his Donnie Azoff is an eccentric character that makes the audience roll in hilarity. Hill is becoming an odd favorite of the Academy, which voted for him two years ago for his work in Moneyball. While Hill's performance may not be as fresh as it was in 2011, no one can deny the comedian's dramatic chops. In The Wolf of Wall Street, he is wild, exuberant, daring, and almost... real. Who would have thought the guy from Superbad and 21 Jump Street would be so convincing?
OSCAR CHANCES: LOW


Ok, there are the nominees. But, wait, there's one more, right? Yes, and this is going to be the only nominee that matters. This category has pretty much the only lock of the evening, and although there are one or two frontrunners in the other acting awards, Best Supporting Actor will undoubtedly go to this man:


Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club


The 30 Seconds to Mars-frontman and hardcore method actor will take home his first Academy Award on March 2. And rightfully so- Jared Leto completely morphs into a transgender AIDs patient who helps McConaughey's Ron Woodruff to sell medicine. His role is gut-wrenchingly hilarious yet heartbreakingly tragic. But that's not what's going to win Leto the Oscar; it's his complete devotion to the role, right now to his dangerous weight loss that rivals McConaughey's own; it's this transformation and dedication to the character that the Academy loves to reward. No matter how much I love the other characters up for Best Supporting Actor, Leto gives the best performance, and this is his year to shine.
OSCAR CHANCES: VERY HIGH

But on the off chance that Leto doesn't win this award, who will take home the prize? Fassbender and Cooper are the only possible upsets, though the odds of that happening are slim. Leto deserves and will win Best Actor in a Supporting Role. However, simply having a nomination is a prize enough, and these five men should be lucky to have been included in such a great year for acting on the silver screen.

Bottom line, here are the predictions as of January 24, 2014 (NOTE: I'm giving the dates next to bottom-line predictions, because there's still lots of jockeying and stuff that can happen before the Academy Awards on March 2):

WILL WIN: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
COULD WIN: Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
SHOULD WIN: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Join us next week as we take an inside look at the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category!

Her (Jonze, 2013)

There's a reason Her's subtitle is "A Spike Jonze Love Story". 

The director, known for his dream-like films Being John Malkovich and Where the Wild Things Are, presents a romance with an only-slightly-sci-fi scenario. A man (Joaquin Phoenix), falls in love with his artificially intelligent operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). Of course, there's more than just that, but on the surface-level it's a simple look at the state of modern relationships, where a man falling in love with his computer is not such a strange concept. 

The production design is beyond beautiful, as the attention to the details is staggering. Everyone on set has earpieces that connect them to their OS's, and most of them spend their time in the background chatting away to an unknown recipient. Each actor is costumed in brightly-colored outfits, marking a possible turn in the fashion of the next few decades. And, of course, the AI's are personalized and almost human, much like Apple is trying to replicate with Siri. 

Joaquin Phoenix is perfectly cast as Theodore, the creepy and socially awkward central protagonist. He is the man that would fall for his OS Samantha, a sexy fantasy that is literally designed to be the perfect companion for him. Later in the movie, there's a majestic, Oscar-nominated song that serves as a conduit between the real emotions of Theodore and the simulated feelings of Samantha. It's a wonderful romance story, and we as the audience actually start to believe that this futuristic form of love can work. 

But being Spike Jonze, he doesn't stop there. Instead, he takes audiences on a bizarre, seemingly endless trek through nearly every phase of a relationship- the ups, the downs, the weird, the uncomfortable, the friendly, and anything in between. 

This is where Her lost its appeal for me. The concept is strong enough, and combined with the crisp writing, Jonze's film should have been a masterpiece. However, the director could not let a good thing end, so he keeps it going for no less than forty-five minutes of unnecessary and out-of-left field subplots. Every interesting idea, every wonderful concept that was established in the first half is lost by the time the meandering second part rolls around. 

Amy Adams, Her's anchor and arguably all-around most likable character, says during the film that "falling in love is a form of socially acceptable insanity". I fell in love with this film at the beginning, and thought it could have been Hollywood's most creative romance of the past decade. However, I soon discovered that loving Her would be insanity, as Spike Jonze's clear point is that falling in love only leads to heartbreak. 

It really is a Spike Jonze romance.

Three out of five stars. 

Oscar Nominations Day 2014

Happy Oscar Noms Day!

After a very interesting (albeit early) nominations announcement this morning, the race is on for the 86th Academy Awards. There have been numerous analysts perusing through this latest crop of nominees, and Movie Critic's Club is bringing you the highlights from the eventful day. We're giving you the surprises, snubs, and early frontrunners leading the pack before Oscar Sunday on March 2nd.

Some filmmakers ended their journeys early, with tight competition in 2013 leading to locked categories with little room to spare. In the end, only 20 performances make it each year, and up to 10 films can be chosen for the big prize. This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences selected nine nominees for Best Picture. But before we get to that, let's take a look at the awards season so far.

While most of you just go into awards mode on Sunday with the Golden Globes, there has been a lot of year-end film activity from various critics groups. There was widespread opinions from these city-based prizes, and 12 Years a Slave, Her, Gravity, and American Hustle charged into the lead at this time. The Golden Globes, while practically meaningless (only about 80 members vote, and they're journalists in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association), voted similarly. Specifically, 12 Years a Slave is winning Best Picture, Alfonso Cuaron is garnering prizes for directing Gravity, the Actor prize is crazy split, Cate Blanchett's Blue Jasmine performance is making her an early favorite for Best Actress, Jared Leto from Dallas Buyers Club is one of the only sure-things as Best Supporting Actor, and Jennifer Lawrence is sweeping awards for American Hustle.

Phase I of the Awards Season ended with the Golden Globes on Sunday, and now the next phase of awards begin. These are the ones voted by fellow filmmakers, like the Producer's Guild Awards and the Screen Actor's Guild Awards, and are more representative of who's going to win the Super Bowl of moviedom. Speaking of which, let's return to the day's main event: the 2014 Oscar Nominations!

No real surprises in the Best Picture category, besides the fact that there were nine candidates for the prize. American Hustle, Gravity, and 12 Years a Slave were undisputed locks, and Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, and Her weren't far behind them. Philomena and Nebraska were a little shocking, just because up to this point they weren't really considered favorites. Once again, to be nominated for Best Picture, you need 5% of the #1 choices on the Academy members nomination ballots.

Early favorites (that some expected to win, mind you) Tom Hanks and Robert Redford were snubbed in the Best Actor category, replaced by Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio. Also, Emma Thompson was shamefully ignored in the Best Actress race, replaced by either Amy Adams or Meryl Streep (I'd REALLY like the Academy to release the voting breakdown, both for the nominees and the winners, because I think this would a fascinating case study). Jonah Hill got a surprise nomination in the Best Supporting Actor field, unfortunately leaving James Gandolfini without a posthumous Oscar nod.

This year probably has the best group of acting nominees in recent memory. Any one of the 20 men and women could win, and very little would complain if they do (only in that some are more deserving than others). Because of this, we're doing a special four-week event, in which we break down each of the acting categories and their respective nominees. Personally, I think it'll be a fun and exciting way to praise each of these amazing performances.

Other Oscar tidbits from this year include the inevitable no-shows, with some movies gaining only poultry nominations. Films like Inside Llewyn Davis (2 nominations), Saving Mr. Banks (1 nomination), and Lee Daniel's The Butler (no nominations) were left in the dust of the Academy votes. In a year full of great dramas, there was bound to be a few unfortunate victims.  Meanwhile, there were a few shocking (to say the least) nominations for duds like The Lone Ranger, The Great Gatsby, and... Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (I'm not making this up).

However, today is a happy day for Gravity and American Hustle, who each hold 10 nominations a piece. 12 Years a Slave follows right behind with 9, while Nebraska and The Wolf of Wall Street round out the Best Director group. As for early frontrunners, American Hustle is proving to be a serious challenger, with lots of Academy love and deserved nominations in all four acting categories. Gravity is a technical marvel, and the biggest crowd-pleaser of the bunch in box-office and critical terms. But it's 12 Years a Slave that has been claiming the top awards, so only time will tell who will take home Academy Awards gold. There's plenty of time for jockeying, with an extended Oscar race because of the Winter Olympics.

Stick around Movie Critic's Club for weekly updates, breakdowns of the nominees, and predictions of the winners for your ballots. In the meantime, go check out a nominated movie!

Top 10 Movies of 2013

Well 2013, you've been great to us movie fans. 

After a lackluster beginning, and having to follow up from the mega-year 2012, everyone expected this year to be a bust. But then, among the ashes of Gangster Squad and Movie 43, were a few blockbuster surprises like Oz the Great and Powerful and critical darlings such as 42. No one knew how to handle the summer season, with a few predictable successes (Star Trek Into Darkness, Despicable Me 2), middle-ground surprises (The Heat, Fast & Furious 6), and flat-out bombs (After Earth, The Lone Ranger). By the Fall movie season, early predictions were tossed out the window, with one critical success right after another. This has led to an exciting onslaught of Oscar contenders, which has proven to be a very interesting race.

Now, on the cusp of 2014, it's time to take a look back on the film year that was 2013. So, without further adieu, here are the Top 10 Movies of 2013.

10. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)

A parable of financial excess, The Wolf of Wall Street is arguably one of the best Scorsese-Leonardo DiCaprio collaborations ever filmed. A pet project of the actor for years, the story of Jordan Belfort is a hedonistic look at the guilty pleasures in life, with obscene amounts of profanity, sex, and drugs lacing the film into a sinful entree. Only Martin Scorsese could turn this movie into an artful character study, making each sinful desire a necessary plot device. Wolf is shot with the same rabid intensity of the infamous day-long cocaine chase from Goodfellas, crafted into a 3-hour drama with so much to talk about. Scorsese makes us want to join this fraternity of criminal stockbrokers, reminding us why the filmmaker is so good at directing evil. 

9. Monsters University (Dan Scanlon)

It was a ripe year for animation, and many people will name half a dozen other cartoons they liked better than this one. But Monsters University stuck with me throughout them all, and for that reason, it makes my favorites of the year. It brings up several eyebrow-raising comments about the education system as a whole, a theme few kids movies tackle. MU is a fun setting with colorful characters, best of all giving fans of the original Monsters, Inc. the same style of humor and pacing. It's a vast improvement over Cars 2 that shows Pixar is still capable of making a good follow-up (even after all these years). Come for the Disney brand, stay for the hijinks, and remember it for the loving emotions behind the best animated movie of 2013. 

8. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Francis Lawrence)

Few action movies have the nerve to make audiences think a little bit. They drown them in meaningless babble and nonsensical situations, numbing them from the problems of the real world. But The Hunger Games franchise fights for just the opposite, and Catching Fire is a fine entry into this canon. Fueled by the raw energy of the novel source material, this sequel addresses political themes much better than the original installment, pitting the hero Katniss Everdeen against the corruption of the Capital and its malevolent leader President Snow. Jennifer Lawrence brings her star power into the role once again, leading a beautiful cast of talented performers. It's fast-moving, nail-biting thriller that proves how sequels can fix and improve upon the first, making us excited for future movies and the forthcoming revolution. 

7. The Way Way Back (Nat Faxon and Jim Rash)

In their own way, coming-of-age dramas can say more about a human life than anything else. Under the lens of a teenager, the world can seem a large and intimidating place, and in The Way Way Back, that world is a beach centered around a water park. Liam James plays Duncan with realistic emotion, demonstrating how much more grown up kids can be than adults. Steve Carrell surprises with an antagonistic performance, but Sam Rockwell gives the more shocking show, in easily my favorite role of his to date. It was the summer drama we all needed, and we're thankful for it's wider release than normal. The Way Way Back is an accessible, funny, and heartwarming tale about growing up, and learning how to count on friends to lead the way. 

6. Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock)

Movies about making movies may not seem appealing, but they have proven to be an intriguing genre that educates viewers on the magic of cinema. This year, it came in the form of Saving Mr. Banks, which chronicles Walt Disney's journey to secure the rights to Mary Poppins from book author P.L. Travers, wonderfully portrayed by Emma Thompson. Disney is played, for the first time, by an actor, and who else better to perform the role than American everyman Tom Hanks. With several allusions to both Mary Poppins and the Disney canon throughout the picture, Saving Mr. Banks is also a fascinating look into the creator of the supernanny, giving viewers an almost separate flick in her frequent flashbacks. It's a touching tale of acceptance, and masterfully demonstrates the lengths to which a person will go to protect their creation. 

5. Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass)

Much like Argo, Captain Phillips makes a real-life incident surprising, chilling us to the bone even though we all know how it is going to end. This is possible due to three people: Paul Greengrass, whose Bourne experience gave him the necessary camera comfortability to accurately shoot a claustrophobic and gripping story with a documentary-esk shaky cam; Barkhad Abdi, whose portrayal of the film's villain is interestingly sympathetic, giving another layer to this story that easily could be one-sided were it not for such a graceful performance; and, of course, Tom Hanks, who makes a career comeback (yes, a comeback- think of the last good movie you saw him in, odds are it was almost a decade ago) by returning to his roots of the average guy, forced in an impossible situation yet able to keep his cool to protect his crew.

4. Iron Man 3 (Shane Black) 

The best action movie of the summer is not only a superhero movie, but the most genuinely satisfying film of the season. Showing more Tony Stark than the metal hero himself, Iron Man 3 is a refreshing follow-up to The Avengers, with an original story that gave comic book fans and regular audiences plot twists no one was expecting. Robert Downey Jr. carries the film's intensity, but several other characters anchor the project in heightened cinematic technique. It remains one the best entries into the Marvel canon, and started summer with an explosion of fun that was never quite replicated. 

3. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen)

12 Years a Slave is an educational experience into not only the United State's dark past, but the disturbing potential of humanity itself. Steve McQueen, the director of sex-addiction examination Shame, brings the same canine intensity to this motion picture, a film of symbolic power told from the point of view of a single slave. This is part of the movie's appeal; Chiwetal Ejiofor has finally made his way to the center stage by portraying real-life hero Solomon Northup, who sees first-hand of slavery's brutality after losing his lifelong freedom. 12 Years a Slave does not hold back anything; all cards are on the table, from every stinging lash to every twisted lecture by Michael Fassbender's bible-thumping slave driver. If they can even stomach it, 12 Years should be required viewing for every high school student in America, to show how terrifying the U.S. once was, and to guarantee that it never happens again. 

2. American Hustle (David O. Russell) 

From the moment we first saw the trailer for American Hustle, we knew we were in for a cinematic treat. David O. Russell has slowly become one of my favorite directors, after The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook made a huge impact on their respective Oscar years. Now, he has combined the best elements of both casts to craft an intricate crime saga, delving audiences into the rich culture of the 1970's. The cast is worth the price of admission alone, and each actor gives a performance of the highest possible caliber. Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and most of all Jennifer Lawrence all prove that they are among the finest actors of our generation. It's an addicting story with the best collection of characters of the year. 

1. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron) 

Gravity is the most visually spectacular movie since Avatar, and is much better executed. In only an hour-and-a-half, Cuaron takes us on a roller coaster ride of zero-gravity entertainment, making us feel like we are actually in outer space. Gravity is a thrillingly imaginative piece of science fiction that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible, demonstrating all that cinema is and should be capable of when done perfectly. Sandra Bullock gives the greatest performance of her career, and George Clooney is irreplaceably perfect for his comedic part. From the onset of the 13-minute IMAX 3-D opening shot, the film literally took my breath away. I was shaking for hours afterwards, because I knew I had just completed one of the greatest movie theater experiences of my entire life. Or, simply put, the best movie of 2013. 

Well, there you are: the best films of 2013! I hope you enjoyed the list, and are adding these films to your Netflix queues as we speak. Just for fun, here are a few Movie Critic's Club Awards that we hope you enjoy!

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Christian Bale, American Hustle (Runner-up: Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips)

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock, Gravity (Runner-up: Judi Dench, Philomena) 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Sam Rockwell, The Way Way Back (Runner-up: Jake Gyllenhaal, Prisoners)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle (Runner-up: Margot Robbie, The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity (Runner-up: Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips)

Best Screenplay: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle (Runner-up: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave)

Best Song: "Please Mr. Kennedy", Inside Llewyn Davis (Runner-up: "10538 Overture", American Hustle)

Comeback of the Year: Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks (Runner-up: Mathew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, The Wolf of Wall Street) 

Honorable Mentions for the Top 10: The Heat, Despicable Me 2, Philomena, 42, Don Jon, The Wolverine

Flashback Friday: The Fighter (Russell, 2013)

Boxing has always been the sport of cinema. Sure, football and basketball teams coming together in the midst of adversity represents important themes, but the individual underdog's triumph just seems so much more fitted for the silver screen. Each generation has their own boxer: Charlie Chaplin from City Lights in the 1930's, Rocky throughout the 1970's, and Raging Bull's Jake LaMotta during the 1980's. Currently, Mickey "The Irish" Ward is the Welterweight Champion of the movie ring. His family's story captured the hearts of millions, and the film adaptation fought it's way to Oscar gold. With director David O. Russell re-teaming with stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams, along with the main cast of Silver Linings Playbook, in this year's American Hustle, Movie Critic's Club is taking a look at one of the director's finest achievements. Today on Flashback Friday, we're going toe-to-toe with The Fighter.

Mickey Ward is the youngest son among the nine children of Alice Ward, the matriarch and dominating presence of the family. His only brother, Dicky Ecklund, was once a promising boxer who beat "Sugar" Ray Leonard, but ruined his opportunity by becoming dangerously addicted to drugs. Dicky is known as "The Pride of Lowell", referring to his hometown which prizes fighters and the Ward/Ecklund clan.

Micky was always proud of his brother, but never knew if he actually wanted to be a boxer himself. He had the talent and brute strength, but was constantly overcast by his brother's fame and infamous behavior. After losing fight after fight, Micky was about to give up, until his girlfriend Charlene encouraged him to follow his dream. The brothers had to learn to overcome their differences and give Micky the shot at the top like they always imagined for their family.

Mark Wahlberg had sought the rights to the project for years, originally planning to produce the film with fellow Boston native Matt Damon before he learned that the Wards were already approached by Paramount. Not wanting to step on any toes, Wahlberg backed down, but Paramount later asked for him to play the lead character and produce the picture. He excitedly agreed, but with script problems and production issues plaguing the movie, the film was put on a hiatus.

It took almost four years for a director to finally be found- David O. Russell, who Wahlberg personally recommended after working with him on Three Kings. The actor convinced the producers that Russell could perfectly emulate the emotional intensity of the family drama, the power of the fight sequences, and the love between Micky/Dicky and Micky/Charlene.

Despite a nearly four year wait, Wahlberg trained relentlessly throughout that time, and while working on other projects. Every morning, he would practice boxing and exercises with his personal coach, so that when The Fighter would start filming, he would be more than ready. Christian Bale was chosen to play Dicky because of his startling ability to physically and mentally transform himself into a character. After running into Wahlberg at a party, the two became friends almost as close as the real-life Micky and Dicky.

For the role of Charlene, Amy Adams lobbied for the part, despite Russell's reservations about her nice-girl charm that "couldn't throw a punch". When she won the part, she took boxing lessons to make her sassy nature more physical. Melissa Leo dived into Alice Ward, acting as the flamboyant mother both on and off the set. Other supporting actors included cop/trainer Mickey O'Keefe, who played himself, and Jack McGee as Micky's father George.

The fight sequences were shot in three days- an extremely short time in comparison to most other films. Russell and Wahlberg wanted HBO sports crews to come in and film the realistic recreations, with the actors (Wahlberg included) staging improv fights. Their feat was successful, and as a result the scenes in the ring were highly innovative and fun to watch.

The citizens of Lowell were intrigued with The Figher, and allowed the film crews to make the movie on location. The whole town became involved with the production, and many of them make cameos in the picture. However, some were upset with the film; the sisters of Micky and Dicky were not pleased by their crass depictions, and the real-life Dicky had reservations about the way his character acted. Nevertheless, most were very excited to get the opportunity to have their tales told on the big screen.

The Fighter, after nearly five years of development, was finally released in December 2010 to critical and commercial acclaim. It solidified David O. Russell's place as one of Hollywood's finest directors, paving way for films like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the Academy Awards, becoming the first dual-win of this type since Hannah and Her Sisters in 1986; The Fighter was also nominated for Best Picture, and won dozens of other year-end prizes.

The Fighter is a highly entertaining, and very poignant, drama that is regarded years after it's release. It is the best boxing movie since Raging Bull, and has become the Rocky of recent memory. With all the themes of family loyalty, following your passion, doing the right thing, and just being a good human being, there is much to discuss about this unique biopic. However, it is the shamefully un-nominated work of Mark Wahlberg that makes this film timeless. The Fighter is arguably my favorite sports movie ever made, and it's dedicated ensemble, crisp direction, and inspirational story makes arguing that point a tough fight.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Lawrence, 2013)

Jennifer Lawrence really is the Girl on Fire.

After one of the most successful movies of 2012 brought her to global acclaim, she turned around and won an Oscar- becoming the second-youngest actress (22) ever to win Best Actress. Now, she has become America's sweetheart, and she deserves equal praise for her latest blockbuster performance.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is vastly superior to the franchise's first installment, drastically improving on all the qualities that made The Hunger Games stall. That's right, that means no more shaky-cam, more political thrills, and all the teenage angst you can possibly hope for. 

Director Francis Lawrence, taking over the reigns from Gary Ross, here crafts a masterful action picture, one that is both highly intelligent and breathtakingly epic. 

Following almost immediately after the events of the first movie, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) struggle to live in a world that supports the brutal slaughter of children. President Snow (Donald Sutherland), threatened by the image of hope Katniss symbolizes, tries to convince the "girl on fire" to speak on their upcoming Victory Tour about the glories of the Capital and the current regime. Katniss initially appeases him, but a chain of events soon sends Katniss to the breaking point with the Capital- and it's cold-blooded leader. 

Those who were waiting for more political themes will not be disappointed; the film addresses issues of government control, citizen responsibility, and the natures of honor and loyalty. Viewers will witness a more fleshed-out story, and the dialogue portions are gripping to watch. 

The cast is once again on par, and are developed significantly more than in the first movie. The supporting players are in top form, and it's almost impossible to ignore Liam Hemsworth's Gale, Woody Harrelson's Haymitch, as well as newcomers like Sam Claflin as Finnick and Jena Malone as Johanna. Stanley Tucci provides entertaining comic relief as Caesar Flickman, the eccentric Hunger Games announcer. 

The two villains are also portrayed with shocking intensity, not seen since the Harry Potter franchise ended a few years ago. Donald Sutherland emits poisonous radiation, literally turning wine into a blood-like fluid. Phillip Seymour Hoffmann is equally menacing, with a snake-like charm that evokes his slimy nature.

But it is Jennifer Lawrence that stands above the rest. She takes Katniss to crazy new heights, elevating her character in ways that audiences have come to expect from the Oscar winner. It's also fun to see her incorporate some of the personality she's come to be known for in her hilarious interviews. Lawrence is an extraordinarily talented actress, and that's all that can be said. 

Catching Fire goes beyond simple action-film cliches, instead harnessing both social allegory and striking prose to make a brilliant work of cinema. Francis Lawrence exceeds expectations in cinematography, editing, and sound.

The production design is on an epic scale, with roaring plains in one scene and high-rise buildings in the next. The coolest set, however, is the place those familiar with the book will be excited by- and it's beyond dazzling to see. The spot-on special effects only add to the awesome production value.

For fans of The Hunger Games franchise, action movies, political thrillers, Jennifer Lawrence, or fun times at the movie theaters, go see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Every revolution begins with a spark, and this one begins with a bang.

Five out of five stars. 

Flashback Friday: The Hunger Games (Ross, 2012)

For a story that features children fighting to the death, this book/film franchise has done remarkably well. After a successful trilogy of young adult novels, author Suzanne Collins decided to work with film studio Lionsgate to craft a faithful adaptation of her beloved novel. They expected a hit, but nothing in the vein of what was accomplished in March 2012. The movie would eventually grow as the highest-grossing non-sequel of all time, shattering box office weekend records and becoming the first movie since Avatar to hold the top spot four weeks in a row. It eventually led to the popularity of an Oscar-winner, and arguably the most beloved youth franchise since Harry Potter. The sequel, Catching Fire, arrives in theaters today, so Movie Critic's Club is taking a look on Flashback Friday at The Hunger Games. 

Lionsgate acquired the rights to The Hunger Games as early as 2009, and backed the film with a hefty budget and lots of marketing. Lionsgate needed a hit, as they had not turned a profit for several years. They hired original author Collins to pen the screenplay, along with director Gary Ross and screenwriter Billy Ray, and she worked to keep the adaptation as close to the source material as possible. 

The film tells the story of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a teenage girl taking care of her younger sister Primrose (Willow Shields) and distraught mother (Paula Malcomson) in the troubled District 12 of Panem. She spends her days trying to gather as much food as possible for her family, along with friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth). She is exceptionally talented with a bow-and-arrow, and is a skilled hunter.

In Panem, a terrible war caused a dystopian government to take over from the Capital. In order to quell any sense of rebellion, each year two children (one male, one female) between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, a brutal fight to the death in which there is only one survivor. Primrose is chosen at random, and in an effort to save her sister, Katniss volunteers to compete. Katniss, along with male tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), go on a journey to the Capital to train for the Games. There, they are aided by former victor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), the eccentric Effie (Elizabeth Banks), and stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz). Eventually, Peeta and Katniss enter the Hunger Games, and must fight for survival amongst trained killers. 

As the novel is told from the first person, it is limited in its discussion of other characters. As such, Collins took advantage of the ability to expand on other characters. She greatly added to Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley), the gamemaker who kept control of the tournament; his command center was also built. In the film, Crane also several conversations with President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the gardens, which do not exist in the book. Collins created these scenes to elaborate the differences between the Capital and the outlying Districts. In addition, as President Snow's character becomes the primary antagonist in later stories, it gave audiences a better opportunity to meet him. 

The casting of The Hunger Games is marvelous, and all the actors sink their teeth into these meaty roles. Jennifer Lawrence in particular delivers a heck of a performance, breaking into the mainstream and making the world fall in love with her. Josh Hutcherson gives a biting edge to Peeta, and he and Hemworth's Gale are likable male leads. The supporting characters almost steal the show; Banks as Effie is very fun to watch, as is Stanley Tucci's flamboyant commentator Caesar Flickerman. 

Filming of The Hunger Games took several months, and Gary Ross chose to implement a shaky-cam technique to heighten the authenticity. This hinders the movie, and it is very nauseating to watch the first time. While he does a good job at introducing the story, the first hour of the film (before the actual Games) is not filmed particularly well. However, the competition works with the shaky-cam method, and he does a nice job at capturing the horror of the event. A fun fact about the movie is that the second unit director, who handles some of the more easily filmable scenes to shorten production time, is Steven Soderbergh, who won an Oscar for Traffic in 2000. He notably produced the District 11 riot scenes. 

Despite questionable cinematography, the production design of The Hunger Games is beautiful. The Capital is grand to look at, as is the costuming and make-up (particularly Effie's). The visual effects are awesome, and the action is very entertaining. 

The Hunger Games opened to rave reviews and explosive box office receipts, holding at #1 for four weeks. It had the highest opening day and highest opening weekend for a non-sequel motion picture. Landing in at $691 million over a production budget of $78 million, it was a huge success for Lionsgate. The movie eventually became the ninth-highest grossing film of 2012, an outstanding feat for a film released during the dead month of March. It also made a mild impact during the Awards race, most notably garnering Lawrence a Best Actress for an Action Film prize from the Broadcast Film Critic's Association. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens in theaters everywhere this weekend, and it is likely to make a huge splash in the box office for the next several weeks. The original movie proved that people will see a movie that looks good, no matter when it is released. As the series and it's stars have only grown in popularity since The Hunger Games, Catching Fire may end up being one the most successful films of the year. 

Catching Fire, may the odds be ever in your favor.