At the cinema: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
What looks almost certain to be the biggest blockbuster hit of the year so far (beating The Lego Movie) is now in cinemas. If you’ve read Mockingjay, you’re probably wondering how the events of the first half of the book – basically, Katniss, now with the rebel faction in District 13, stars in some propaganda films, and demands the rescue of Peeta from the Capitol – have been successfully turned into a whole film. And you might also be thinking that the motivation for splitting the final Hunger Games book into two movies is more commercial than creative. We don’t doubt that the ploy originated in a fairly cynical place, but, to be fair, the creative outcome is pretty damn impressive. Firstly, Mockingjay: Part 1 offers something different to the previous Hunger Games movies: a political thriller that deepens characters, rather than relying on a big action finale. Secondly, it sidelines the likes of Liam Hemsworth’s Gale (he’s still there, looking pretty, not doing a lot) and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta in favour of the Oscar heavyweights: Philip Seymour Hoffman again as Plutarch Heavensbee and Julianne Moore equally impressive as new character Alma Coin, leader of District 13. Of course, it’s still the Katniss show, and Jennifer Lawrence owns this movie. Mind you, we’re still much more excited about Part 2, which arrives in a year’s time.
On DVD: 22 Jump Street
Comedy sequels are a challenge. There’s something a little wearying about serving up the same comic premise all over again: freshness is so important to the genre. That said, this year has delivered two really good ones in the shape of The Inbetweeners 2 and this sequel to 21 Jump Street. This time Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are in college, and once again they are tracking down the source of a party drug that has already killed one student. Hilariously, Schmidt goes into a tailspin of jealousy when Jenko gets too close to his new fratboy buddy. Equally hilariously, their surly boss Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) goes into meltdown when it turns out Schmidt’s new girlfriend is none other than Dickson’s daughter. Newcomer Jillian Bell, who really comes into her own in the film’s action climax, is one to watch.
On TV: Love & Other Drugs (Friday, E4, 9pm)
Jake Gyllennhaal is currently in cinemas in Nightcrawler, playing a lowlife Los Angeles freelance cameraman, filming bloody crime scenes and accident scenes and flogging the footage to a sleazy local TV news channel. He’s brilliant in it as the most amoral character he’s ever played. Four years ago, he showed a more charming and moderately less reprehensible side in this romantic comedy-drama about a Viagra salesman who ends up dating a spiky artist (Anne Hathaway) who downs meds to stave off early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Respect to both actors for the uninhibited sex scenes – evidently no overbearing agents demanding no-nudity clauses on behalf of their star clients. This film hardly enjoys a glowing critical reputation, but for fans of Jake and Anne, it’s recommended.