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- Will 'Hunger Games' Land Jennifer Lawrence On A-List?
'She is going to be on top of the celebrity charts for a few years now,' one expert tells MTV News.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Jennifer Lawrence
Photo: Getty ImagesEarning $19.8 million at midnight screenings and predictions of a $125 million weekend for "The Hunger Games" have essentially secured a future for the franchise, so now one of the more interesting questions coming out of the opening is: What does this mean for Jennifer Lawrence?
As the star of "The Hunger Games," Lawrence will inevitably be one of the people given credit for its huge success and, from there, move into the realm of "bankable" actresses. While headlining a huge blockbuster certainly helps bolster an actress' career prospects and offers for future projects, it will be Lawrence's incredible performance as Katniss Everdeen that secures her new status as a Hollywood A-lister and bona fide star.
With the now-guaranteed success of "The Hunger Games" under her belt, Lawrence's next project choices are going to be the ones that decide what kind of star she is, according to David Poland of Movie City News.
"She is going to be on top of the celebrity charts for a few years now, but it's easy to piss that away with a few bad choices," he said. "My sense is that she wants to be stimulated and not just take the money and run. So she could end up getting dozens of low-budget, high-quality films made or do 'one for them, one for me' or try to be the first Bond villainess. Doors are open. But she's young, and her identity is still forming."
Beginning that identity formation with "The Hunger Games" is a pretty solid start. Who didn't get goose bumps during the trailer when Lawrence broke away from the crowd at the Reaping to volunteer herself for the Games? "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute." It's an incredibly memorable moment, and its resonance stems directly from how emotionally believable Lawrence is. For as contentious as her casting was, Lawrence silenced critics with two sentences.
At its core, "The Hunger Games" is a crowd-pleaser. It follows a strong female character, is full of action and arguably ends with the best possible outcome. There's a reason so many people of different demographics love it. As the hero of the story, Lawrence automatically becomes the person people associate the quality of the film with, and there's a good reason for that.
It's important to remember that when we're talking about Jennifer Lawrence, we're talking about "Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence," an honor she earned for a brutal role in "Winter's Bone."
There was never a question that Lawrence could act, and in the actual film of "The Hunger Games," she grounds a fantastical premise with a relatable and deeply realistic performance that goes beyond the usual requirements of a tentpole movie. Even though we're barely three months into 2012, based solely on the quality of her performance, Oscar consideration for Lawrence isn't entirely out of the question: She's that good.
With "The Hunger Games," Jennifer Lawrence has left behind the realm of "indie cred" and has entered rarified air: a highly bankable, capital A actor.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related Photos Переслать - 'Hunger Games' Strikes A 'Perfect Balance,' Experts Say
Three 'HG' webmasters break down film adaptation for MTV News.
By Kara Warner
Josh Hutcherson in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: LionsgateDid you know that "The Hunger Games" is finally out in theaters? That's a rhetorical question — of course you did!
We've all been following the hugely anticipated film since the beginning, and now we can bask in the glow of its predicted success and the general delight of fans everywhere, not to mention the very positive reviews.
Now, MTV News turns to our most trusted "Hunger Games" experts to find out what they think about the adaptation:
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss
"If anyone had any lingering doubts about whether our Oscar-nominated leading lady could do the role of Katniss Everdeen justice, those doubts took an arrow to the heart. There were a lot of standout moments in her performance — her soon to be iconic 'I volunteer!,' her emotional breakdown after the loss of Rue — but for me, the highest mark of Jen's understanding of Katniss came at the end when (spoiler) she and fellow tribute Peeta are about to commit a double suicide on live TV. In that scene, everything we know about Katniss — her strength, her desire to protect the people she loves, her bravery and the first flicker of rebellion — show through. Unlike the lovelorn Peeta, who uses his final moments of life to appreciate the girl he loves, Katniss has eyes only for the Capitol, looking not at Peeta, but into one of the invisible cameras. This isn't about love, it's about survival, and Jen gets that." — Shylah Addante, Down With the Capitol"Jennifer was fabulous! Every moment she was onscreen, which was a lot, was just phenomenal. She did a great job of showing how much Katniss cared about her family but was emotionally blank to everyone else." — Jessica McKenna, The Hob
"Jennifer as Katniss is beyond amazing. The depth in which she portrayed Katniss is unlike anything I've seen before. It was all about the subtle things Jennifer would do that made the biggest impact. Whether it was Jennifer visibly trembling right before the arena, getting this panicked look in her eyes when Prim's name is called at the Reaping, her grief at the death of Rue or her look of defiance when giving the three-fingered salute to the people of District 11, I found myself feeling how Katniss must be feeling and left utterly speechless at Jennifer's portrayal of this character. I've said it before, but I think it's definitely worth saying again: Although this fandom doesn't like to identify itself with teams, if I did have to pick, I would definitely be Team Katniss all the way." — Sheila Cordero, HG Girl on Fire
Josh Hutcherson as Peeta
"Insofar as Jen is Katniss, Josh Hutcherson is Peeta. I believed everything he did was motivated by his character's signature pure-of-heart naiveté. Josh ensured that Peeta wore his heart of his sleeve but was careful to ensure that he didn't cross into clichéd romance territory. Scenes like the rooftop and the cave, where he had to play soft to Katniss' hard edge, could have easily been awkward or out of pace with the rest of the film, but Josh gave Peeta a backbone that gave his character's romanticism a solid foundation." — Addante"From the first time we see Josh onscreen, I was convinced I was looking at Peeta. He nailed Peeta's quiet strength and kindness." — McKenna
"Over the course of the last several months, I've become increasingly impressed with what I have seen of Josh Hutcherson and truly believe he does embody many of the characteristics of Peeta. Watching him bring this character to life, I can honestly say Josh is an outstanding actor. He brought me to tears as he fought back the tears while he was being driven away from District 12 and heading toward the Capitol train. During Peeta's interview with Caesar Flickerman, I found myself rooting for this charming guy who you couldn't help but smile back at, then internally going 'Awww' when he admits his crush is the girl he came to the Games with. But perhaps what I loved the most about Josh as Peeta was the silent communication he had with Katniss. Whether it was him rubbing medicine on Katniss' cut, putting a hand on her cheek or a simple touch of her braid, I couldn't help but find myself falling for the boy with the bread." — Cordero
The Supporting Players
"Wes Bentley's portrayal of Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane gave incredible context to the Games and their entertainment value in Panem. He, by far, had my favorite scene in the film when his character realizes that he's gone from young hotshot TV producer to a dead man — proof positive that it's not just the tributes playing for their lives in Panem." — Addante"Stanley Tucci was a scene-stealer as Caesar. He expertly jumped from a sympathetic, hard-hitting, Barbara Walters-esque interviewer to an über-hyper, Richard Dawson-ish game-show host and back again second by second." — McKenna
"For me, the biggest and most pleasant surprise of all was Willow Shields as Prim. Her scenes with Katniss at home and during the reaping just break my heart. She displayed a depth to her character that is rare in an actor as young as she is. I really felt her fear when her name was called and then her agony as she is carried away by Gale once Katniss volunteers. Willow amazed me." — Cordero
Page-to-Screen Adaptation
"One-hundred percent, this is the best page-to-screen adaption of a film I've seen. It gave the perfect balance of what longtime fans of the series would be excited for, but knew where to trim things down to make the movie work. The best example of this is the infamous cave scene, which, in the book, stretches on for page after glorious page of Katniss and Peeta kissing, enjoying sponsor gifts, and seducing the nation into believing their love story. In the movie, however, we get one kiss and a couple very intense moments of connection from the star-crossed lovers, and that's all we needed. Had Gary Ross pulled an 'Eclipse' and stretched out every lingering glance and hung onto each word of dialogue, I have no doubt that it would have felt out of place and cheesy in a movie that, otherwise, is very pragmatic and real." — Addante"The overall adaptation worked really well. Like many fans, I wasn't thrilled with some of the finer points that were left out of the screenplay. However, it all worked in the end and didn't really miss anything that was cut. Plus, the scenes they created for the movie with President Snow and the Gamemakers really helped round out the story and provide additional insights to viewers." — McKenna
"I think that Gary Ross and [author] Suzanne Collins did a wonderful job of adapting this book into a movie. Their use of Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith as announcers and commentators about the games was brilliant and a really smart, creative way to bring some of the backstory and terminology into the movie. I loved the added scenes between President Snow and Seneca Crane because it helped to lay the foundation of how Katniss ultimately becomes the symbol that sparks the rebellion and will help people who haven't read the books understand that there is more to this story than just a young girl's survival in the Games. I also enjoyed some of the changes they made to Peeta's portrayal in the movie. I loved that Peeta was not portrayed as helpless in the final battle with Cato. It really showed him to be more of Katniss' equal and not someone she is continually trying to save." — Cordero
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - Can 'Dark Shadows' Be A Franchise?
'Hunger Games' fever has us wondering about the prospects for Tim Burton's adaptation.
By John Mitchell
Johnny Depp in "Dark Shadows"
Photo: Warner BrosEveryone has "Hunger Games" fever, and it's understandable; the film is absolutely everywhere, critics are saying it's pretty good and star Jennifer Lawrence's candid, funny interviews are a welcome change from the uncomfortable sit-downs granted by, um, some other YA adaptation stars when their films hit the big screen.
Anyway, "Games" just crept into theaters, and talk of the sequel is already ramping up. Filming on "Catching Fire" is set to begin later this year, and a November 22, 2013, release date is already in the books. That got us thinking about our own little mini-obsession: "Dark Shadows."
While it's nowhere near as fervent or large as "Games," "Shadows" has a devout following too, and if the film is a hit at the box office, which seems quite possible if not bet-on-it likely, at least one sequel would be justified. And with an extensive catalog of 1,225 episodes, there is plenty of plot for, well, as many follow-ups as Tim Burton could come up with.
But the approach the director has taken with the film makes us wonder if it's the sort of thing that could sustain a franchise.
Let's talk this out. First, the direction Burton has chosen to take with the film has already divided fans. Over on MTV Movies Blog, we asked readers whether they liked the "Shadows" trailer, and the reaction was pretty much split down the middle. Just over half of those who voted (52.35 percent) were into the trailer, checking our "Love it! Burton knows what he's doing" box. That leaves 47.65 percent of respondents who instead "Hated it! Burton is ruining everything!"
It's a pretty radical reinvention, to be sure, and the trailer reminds us most of the big-screen version of "The Addams Family." "Addams," of course, was a sitcom to start with, and all director Barry Sonnenfeld really did was turn up the volume on the weird. Much of the humor derived from people reacting to the macabre-but-good-natured family of weirdos, and the film was a hit — a big enough hit to merit a sequel.
The "Addams" sequel didn't connect quite the way the first film did, perhaps because the shtick that was so fresh the first time around had worn out its welcome. So even if it's a hit, will people really want multiple "Shadows" films once the novelty has worn thin?
The thing about (good) sequels is that they generally require emotional investment from the audience to be successful. We want to know what happens next with Katniss in "The Hunger Games." There's an entire mythology attached to Bruce Wayne in the "Batman" films. It's hard to form that connection when the characters are hyper-realized and a little bit caricatured.
And though there is a definite mythology to "Shadows," Burton has opted to ignore it in favor of some brave, maybe even fun, stylistic choices he no doubt hopes will make the film unique and set it apart, both from the series itself and from anything else hitting the big screen this summer.
But zany absurdity is hard to maintain across multiple films. By the time the second "Addams" movie came around, the crux of the joke — playing off other people's reactions to the goth family — was a bit tired, so they had to put Wednesday and Pugsley into an awkward situation (summer camp) to try and keep it fresh.
Had Burton hewed a little closer to his source material, this wouldn't be a concern, but in taking such liberties with the style of "Shadows" he kind of backs himself into a corner when it comes to whatever comes next. He'd have to up the ante in some way for a sequel, but since he's already operating so over the top, is that even possible?
We're super excited for "Shadows" but we're just curious if — unlike "Hunger Games" fans — we should learn to quell our excitement that there may be more films coming. After all, maybe there's a reason we only ever got one "Beetlejuice" (hey, wait a minute ... ).
What do you think, "Shadows" fans? Did Tim Burton blow his shot at a franchise by making his "Shadows" so niche? Let us know in the comments below and tweet me @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!
Check out everything we've got on "Dark Shadows."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Переслать - 'Mad Men' Season Five: 10 Things You Need To Know
Brush up on what ad man Don Draper and the ad folks at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce have been up to as the AMC show returns Sunday after 17-month hiatus.
By Josh Wigler
Jon Hamm in "Mad Men"
Photo: AMC"Mad Men," like the advertising world it revolves around, is a busy show. Lots of comings, lots of goings, lots of inside baseball, lots of Jon Hamm getting drunk. Making matters even more complicated is the fact that the 1960s-set AMC drama has been off the air for dangerously close to two years, thanks in large part to contract disputes between the network and "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner.
Now, "Mad Men" is finally set to return for its fifth season on Sunday night. But, as is often the case with the show, don't expect Weiner and company to welcome you back into the world of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce with an instruction manual. If you don't remember what went down in the last few seasons of the Emmy Award-winning show, that burden rests entirely on you.
So if you're behind on your "Mad Men" know-how, or simply need a refresher before Sunday night, don't sweat it: Keep reading for 10 things you need to remember about season four going into the weekend's big season-five premiere.
» Transformation was the name of the game throughout season four, particularly for Don "Don't Call Me Dick" Draper. The eternally elastic ad man spent much of last season contemplating his new identity as a divorcé, a Manhattanite and a newly minted partner at his struggling new agency. In the end, he found himself back where he started, but in slightly different surroundings: once again on the cusp of marriage, this time to his French-Canadian secretary, Megan Calvet.
» Don't remember Megan? She's the one with the teeth. Hard to forget. Trust me, she'll be even harder to forget after Sunday's season premiere.
» Peggy Olson was always a badass, but she was even more of a badass in season four. Her weird love affair with crazy drunk Duck Phillips came to an end, exchanged for a new budding romance with off-beat underground journalist Abe Drexler. At work, Peggy was one of few SCDP employees pulling their weight, but it wasn't just her professional work that brought her notice; she also engaged in one crazy long night with Don, resulting in newfound respect and appreciation between the two "Mad Men" leads.
» Meanwhile, Pete Campbell, the father of Peggy's little-seen baby, stepped into fatherhood himself once again, this time within his own marriage. He and wife Trudy welcomed a baby girl by the end of season four, a bright spot in what was otherwise a fairly dull year for the envious Pete. Though he's technically a partner at SCDP, Pete is only a junior partner, a comparatively lesser status he's constantly reminded of by main rival Roger Sterling.
» Speaking of Roger, the silver-haired glad-hander spent season four in an identity crisis that never really resolved itself. Feeling his importance in the ad world slipping away, particularly with the loss of his one-and-only major client Lucky Strike, Roger began lying to his coworkers and devoting more and more time to his personal memoirs, "Sterling's Gold." The memoirs are certainly gold all right, though not for the reasons Roger hoped.
» Roger's other main event in season four: reconnecting with longtime on-again, off-again lover Joan Holloway, who found herself pregnant as a result of their one-night stand. With both Roger and Joan having spouses to consider, the two agreed it was best for Joan to have an abortion. In the end, she didn't go through with the procedure — and by the end of season four, her military-serving husband Greg was led to believe that he's about to become a proud new dad. Developing, as they say.
» In other parent-child woes, the Draper household was a mess in season four, even looking beyond the Betty/Don breakup. Betty once again dealt with depression as her daughter Sally began acting out in shocking and increasingly sexualized ways. Her marriage with new husband Henry Francis was not all it was cracked up to be, which she owned up to in a season-closing scene opposite Don ... a confession that came right before Don broke the news to Betty that he had proposed to his secretary Megan. Poor Betty, she never wins.
» Speaking of Don and Betty's kids, remember that young actor who played their son Bobby? He'll look a little different in season five.
» "Mad Men" season four saw several other disappearing acts: There was no sign of Paul Kinsey, not a trace of Sal Romano and only a few quick (but hilarious) glimpses of Duck. But hey, at least Freddy Rumsen made a comeback in season four after wetting himself in season two's "Six Month Leave." This show can be grim, sure, but there are a few happy endings.
» In short, lots and lots happened in season four, more than we can summarize here. The short version, though, is that "Mad Men" is a complicated, intricate show with lots of moving pieces and parts, all of them extraordinarily fascinating. Grab a scotch (if you're of age), pay close attention and I promise you will find out what the money is for.
Are you looking forward to the "Mad Men" premiere? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @roundhoward.
Related PhotosПереслать - 'Hunger Games' Fans 'Blown Away' At Midnight Showing
Early reports predict midnight box-office totals of more than $18 million.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Stacey Sommer
Josh Hutcherson in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: LionsgateWith midnight showings of "The Hunger Games" sold out for weeks in advance, expectations for the highly anticipated film were even higher for those brave enough to journey to theaters in the middle of the night. Thankfully, Katniss Everdeen and the rest of the tributes did not disappoint.
Early reports for the midnight box-office totals predict returns north of $18 million, according to Variety. Those figures put "The Hunger Games" in contention with "The Dark Knight" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which earned $18.5 million and $22.2 million at midnight, respectively. Early predictions for the weekend total estimate "The Hunger Games" earning $125 million.
MTV News caught some rabid fans on their way out of the first showings of "The Hunger Games" in New York City, and most of them couldn't have been more pleased.
Joanna Cruz said she was left "speechless" and was "on the edge of my seat the whole time." Some took their praise ever further. Judith Cruz called it the "the best movie ever." "I can't wait to see it again," she said. "It was awesome. I cried at certain parts."
Though most of the people we interviewed expressed their love of the movie as a whole, a few couldn't help but point out that they missed some scenes that ended up on the cutting-room floor. "I loved it. I thought it was awesome," Elena Lerner said. "It wasn't completely true to the book — they left out a few scenes — but overall, we were both freaking out in our seats. It was so good."
Josh Solomon felt similarly. "I thought the film was very good, well done," he said. "It missed a couple scenes from the book. It missed spots, but I thought it was done pretty well."
But for one fan in particular, the movie could never live up to the book. "I don't know how I feel about it. When I read a book, I get very in-depth, and I felt like they missed a lot of what was in the book," Samantha Cohen said.
On the other hand, Esther Portyansky said that the movie was a reminder of why she liked the book so much in the first place. "It was incredible. I was absolutely blown away by it," she said. "I read the books last summer, and I think I'd almost forgotten how amazing they were, frankly. The movie more than did it justice."
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - 'Breaking Dawn - Part 2' Trailer Teases 'Beautiful' Vampire Bella
Kristen Stewart's red eyes left one fan 'speechless' at the midnight premiere of 'The Hunger Games' in NYC.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Stacey Sommer
Kristen Stewart in "Breaking Dawn - Part 2"
Photo: SummitNEW YORK — At midnight Friday (March 23), fans had two things to be excited for: the premiere of "The Hunger Games" and the trailer for "Breaking Dawn - Part 2." The full trailer made its debut ahead of "Hunger Games" and, in it, not too many big, action-packed reveals are made, but one thing's for sure: Bella is in full vampire mode.
"I think the 'Twilight' trailer was really interesting," Esther Portyansky told MTV News at a screening in New York City. "Usually trailers are more about the plot, but I think the people that are gonna watch know what happens in the last one so it was more character shots and getting people's attentions. Vampire Bella was very beautiful. I liked the red eyes."
The film has amped up Twilighters' excitement for the November release. "I was so happy. I am so excited," Elana Lerner said. "I saw the first part of 'Breaking Dawn' at 12, and I will do the second one again. It looks awesome. That last part of the trailer, where she looks like she's about to pounce on that animal, was nice."
Joanna Cruz added, "I'm speechless. I really don't know what to say about that. It was so quick. It didn't even give what was going to go on in the movie, all we saw was the red eyes."
That tease was enough to whet Stephen Carrasco's appetite. "It looks cool. I didn't read any of the books, but I saw the films and I'm excited to see it," he said. "It looks good. Those contacts are awesome — work the red-eye thing."
With more trailers expected to drop before the premiere later this year, Carrasco wants to see "more killing," and Portyansky agreed that she'd love to see more action. "The next 'Twilight' trailer, I think I'd like to see part of the showdown among the vampire coalitions, 'cause as much as the character shots are really good, I'm definitely looking forward to the action."
Directed by Bill Condon, the final movie in the "Twilight" franchise will hit theaters on November 16. A teaser for the trailer hit the net earlier this week.
Did you see the "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" trailer? What did you think? Leave your comment below!
Check out everything we've got on "Breaking Dawn - Part 2."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related VideosПереслать - 'The Hunger Games': The Reviews Are In!
Critics praise director Gary Ross' 'rich realization of the book's many worlds,' from District 12 to the Capitol as film hits theaters.
By Eric Ditzian
Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: Lionsgate"It didn't surprise me, which was good," Jennifer Lawrence told MTV News of her first viewing of "The Hunger Games."
We suppose that makes sense, seeing as Lawrence is the face of the YA adaptation and that the responsibility of bringing heroine Katniss Everdeen to the screen is, dauntingly, hers alone. But we confess, it did surprise us. There were pitfalls aplenty for director Gary Ross. He could have succumbed to "Twilight" fever and played up the story's simmering-in-the-background love triangle. Cowering in awe or fear of the series' million of fans, he could have been excessively deferential to the source material, declining to expand the "Hunger Games" world beyond Katniss' first-person narration. Or, more simply, Ross could have just made a crappy movie.
None of that came to pass. Our worries were unfounded. In "Hunger Games," Ross has given us not only a kickass adaptation of a beloved book, but a kickass movie, full stop — an opinion shared not only by MTV News and Lawrence but by the vast majority of critics. Read on for a deep dive into "The Hunger Games" reviews.
The Story
"The greatest triumph of 'The Hunger Games' is Ross' rich realization of the book's many worlds: District 12 is painted as a reminiscent Southern mining town, haunting and vibrant; The Capitol is a utopian metropolis obsessed with design and flair; and the Hunger Games battleground is a sprawling forest peppered with 'Truman Show'-esque additions. ... For fans, the script hits every beat, a nearly note-for-note interpretation of author Suzanne Collins' original novel — but those unfamiliar shouldn't worry about missing anything. Ross knows his way around a sharp screenplay (he's the writer of 'Big,' 'Pleasantville' and 'Seabiscuit'), and he's comfortable dropping us right into the action." — Matt Patches, Hollywood.comThe Adaptation
" 'The Hunger Games' works almost better as a movie than a book; its pacing is slightly and effectively altered (the movie's a little more than half over by the time the Games actually start), its visuals striking, its close-in filming style parallels the intimacy of the first-person book. And it carefully walks a difficult line: How do you tell an essentially violent story without glorifying that violence?" — Moira Macdonald, The Seattle TimesThe Performances
"As Katniss, the extravagantly talented Jennifer Lawrence renders her character with surgical precision. Her defiance against the Hunger Games' overlords is instinctual. Her stoic composure in the face of danger doesn't come so naturally; when it slips we see the vulnerable girl clearly. Lawrence delivers an absolutely assured performance but she's hardly the whole show. As her fellow competitor Peeta, Josh Hutcherson moves persuasively along an arc that begins in conflicted feelings and deepens to friendship, loyalty and love. Donald Sutherland is subtle and sinister as President Snow. ... Stanley Tucci makes a vile, vampire-like impression as the Games' on-air master of ceremonies, sporting a navy blue 17th-century periwig and pearly, carnivorous teeth." — Colin Covert Minneapolis Star TribuneThe Dissenters
"Was it wrong to expect something more from 'The Hunger Games' other than pajama-party fodder? Suzanne Collins' dystopian sci-fi novel — the first in a trilogy — was rife with potential for a bold, daring entertainment that blended dark satire and social commentary with big action beats and thrills. Instead, what director Gary Ross opted for is an earnest, plodding thumb-sucker — a sugar-coated pacifier to appease the screaming hordes. This is a science-fiction movie of the blandest, most generic order, technically adequate but devoid of any wit or insight or anything more substantial and lasting than the cool image of Jennifer Lawrence wielding a wicked bow and arrow." — Rene Rodriguez, Miami HeraldThe Final Word
"Just wow. Since launching this site in 2009, I've been anxious and excited to someday see the film version of 'The Hunger Games.' I expected some level of 'Hollywood' — pointless changes, glamorization, fakeness, and always had that nagging worry that the movie would be a huge disappointment. After seeing it I can say ... this movie is amazing. Fans of the books and non-fans alike will be entertained, intrigued, and moved by Gary Ross' film version of Suzanne Collins' novel." — Kimmy West, Mockingjay.netCheck out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - Kristen Stewart To Make 'Micro-Cameo' In'K-11'
Stewart will have a 'small' voice-over role in the transgendered prison film, which is her mother's directorial debut.
By Jocelyn Vena
Kristen StewartIt seems that "K-11" is once again a family affair. The film's director, Jules Stewart, has managed to find a role for her superstar daughter, Kristen Stewart, who had previously exited the film. Her brother, Cameron, will also be in the film.
Jules told E! Newsthat even though shooting on the film is complete, KStew really wanted to lend her support to the film, noting that Stewart's part is all done in voice-over.
"Kristen has always been supportive of 'K-11,' but you'll have to look very hard to find her. It's a micro-cameo," her mom told the website. "We'd already finished shooting the movie, but Kristen still wanted to be a part of it in some way."
The news of the cameo first broke on Jules' page, when she wrote, ""Excited to say that a final stage addition to @K11OfficialFilm is Kristen playing a small role. #K11"
So, who will K-Stew be playing? She'll play Goran Visnjic's secretary. The story follows his character, a record producer who binges on drugs and alcohol. He eventually finds himself in Los Angeles County Jail and in the section of the jail occupied by gay and transsexual inmates, run by one of the inmates named, Mousey.
Stewart had been attached to the film before dropping out last year. Her "Twilight" co-star Nikki Reed had also been attached to the film at one point. This film, which marks the directorial debut for Jules, also stars D.B. Sweeney ("Hard Ball") and Portia Doubleday ("Youth in Revolt"). There's no release date for the film yet, but it may be premiering at the Berlin Film Festival.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Переслать - 'Hangover Part III' Due Next Summer
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis are all onboard for the final film.
By Gil Kaufman
Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis in "The Hangover Part II"
Photo: Warner Bros.Nothing beats a classic movie trilogy. And while nobody is rushing to compare "The Hangover" to "Star Wars," director/producer Todd Phillips is aiming to end the hugely successful morning-after comedy franchise with a third and final chapter next summer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips confirmed on Thursday that "The Hangover Part III" will indeed wrap up the series when it's released next summer.
"We're going to surprise a lot of people with the final chapter we have planned," Phillips said. "It will be a fitting conclusion to our three-part opera of mayhem, despair and bad decisions." The movie is slated to hit theaters on May 24, 2013, hoping to capture some of the same box-office magic that the second installment grabbed when it launched on that same weekend in 2011 on its way to a massive $581.5 worldwide gross.
Additional good news came with the confirmation that after extensive negotiations, stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis are all onboard for the third go-round. To date, the first two movies have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, a rarity for an R-rated comedy franchise. It was such an unexpected smash, in fact, that the Reporter noted that Warner Bros. studio didn't even sign the stars to option deals for sequels because no one expected the original 2009 film to gross more than $467 million. That resulted in the "wolfpack" trio getting "hefty" raises for the second film and a reported $15 million each for the third movie.
Phillips will again work on the script with "Part II" co-writer Craig Mazin, but he would not tip his hand as to where the third movie will take place. The magazine reported that a recent draft of the script indicated that it was set in Los Angeles and that it deviated from the "what happened to us last night?" formula of the first two films.
Cooper recently lent credence to the script speculation when he revealed in a December interview, "We adhered to the formula in the second one, for those of you who've seen it, and the third one, which would close the whole sort of trilogy, which now it would be a trilogy — even though we thought we would never make a second one, let alone anybody see the first one — I think it will take place in Los Angeles and maybe not adhere to the structure. It might be different."
Do you think 'The Hangover Part III' will be as good as the original? Leave your comment below!
Переслать - 'Hunger Games' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know!
It's been a long road to Panem; MTV News takes a trip down memory lane as the adaptation hits the big screen!
By Kara Warner
Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: LionsgateHappy "Hunger Games" release day! What a long, bleak and dystopian road it has been so far.
We've been waiting for this day so long and with so much hope and hype that it feels like we've been through the Reaping ourselves. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we have compiled a cheat sheet of everything you need to know about the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' beloved best-selling novel.
The Prologue
Back in spring 2009, just several months after the book's well-received publication, Lionsgate won a bidding war for the rights to translate the gripping tale from page to screen. The next big question was, of course, who would be chosen to portray the impoverished "girl on fire" fighting for survival in a seemingly unjustly ruled society?The Reaping
The highly publicized search for the perfect Katniss Everdeen featured a healthy list of young A-list actresses vying for the role, including Chloe Grace Moretz, Abigail Breslin and Hailee Steinfeld, all of whom were admitted fans . Finally, in May of last year, the suspense ended with the announcement that "Winter's Bone" star and Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence had won the role.The rest of the "Games" puzzle pieces fell quickly in place, with "Pleasantville" helmer Gary Ross in the director's chair, who reportedly beat out David Slade ("Eclipse") and Sam Mendes ("Revolutionary Road"), and rising stars Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson claiming the roles of Katniss' best friend Gale Hawthorne and the dependable "boy with the bread" Peeta Mallark. Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and Wes Bentley would all later join the cast in the film's key supporting roles of escort Effie Trinket, mentor Haymitch Abernathy, District 12 stylist Cinna and Seneca Crane, respectively.
The Production Games
Once the film's March 23, 2012 release date was announced, production shifted into high gear in the forests of North Carolina. In spring 2011, we got our official first look at Lawrence in character, followed thereafter by glimpses of Hutcherson and Hemsworth. And although the matter of making the film was serious business, we later discovered that the castmembers had lots of fun on set, particularly Hutcherson, who told us the humorous tale of his successful, but sneaky, practical joke he played on Lawrence. After that, we were very happy to treat fans to MTV's exclusive first look at footage of Katniss in action during the VMAs.The Fan Fervor and Whirlwind Promotional Tour
Once production wrapped, we did our best to track down the stars for their thoughts about their roles and the filmmaking process. Lawrence told us all about her training regimen and admitted that all her hours spent with an archery coach were "really fun." Hutcherson shared his perspective on the intense audition process and how he felt he is"so right" for the role.These little teases and costume reveals were enough to tide us over until we scored multiple sit-down interviews with the castmembers and the mall tours began, all leading up to the star-studded Hollywood premiere, for which we provided in-depth coverage via our live stream.
With early ticket sales breaking records andbox-office predictions very high, all that's left to do is wait and watch as the engrossing story of Katniss and company continues to catch fire.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - 'Hunger Games' Box Office: How Hot Will It Blaze?
Film experts predict Lionsgate's aggressive marketing will boost dystopian drama to at least $125 million in its opening weekend.
By Amy Wilkinson
Elizabeth Banks and Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: LionsgateFilm experts have long expected the Girl on Fire to set the box office ablaze, but the question of just how hot "The Hunger Games" will burn when it opens Friday continues to be a moving target.
Early tracking numbers suggested the dystopian drama would earn about $70 million in its opening weekend — a figure only slightly higher than the $69.6 million opening of "Twilight." But in the ensuing weeks, with increasing hype and positive reviews bolstering its outlook, those estimates have nearly doubled.
MTV News spoke with two box-office experts: Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com, and Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com, who both predicted the Jennifer Lawrence-starring flick will earn around $125 million its first three days.
"Since there have been no previous 'Hunger Games' films to measure the fanbase, it is hard to tell where it will end up this weekend," Pandya explained. "It may go even higher, especially if fans see it more than once by the end of the weekend."
But die-hards — those who've read and re-read Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel upon which the movie is based — won't be the only dollar-drivers, thanks in large part to Lionsgate's aggressive marketing strategy. "They knew from the beginning they can't just cater to the fanbase," Contrino explained. "It's a good starting point, but you need to entice people who haven't read the books."
Pandya agreed: "Lionsgate has done a great job marketing to non-fans. I'm not part of the book readership, and the TV spots I've seen really created anticipation for me."
Another factor working in the film's favor — one which will likely help the series' first installment best the initial "Twilight" outing — is its broader appeal.
"Guys are going to show up. The 'Twilight' films skew heavily female, and that's what has stopped them from being even bigger than they are," Contrino said. " 'The Hunger Games' doesn't have to overcome that obstacle."
All of which is to say that "Hunger Games" is in no fear of not reaching the $100 million overall domestic goal Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer set as the benchmark for whether the sequel, "Catching Fire," should be greenlit. So, mark your calendars for November 22, 2013, because Katniss' victory is all but a foregone conclusion.
How well do you think "The Hunger Games" will do this weekend? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - Ol' Dirty Bastard To Be Played By Michael K. Williams In Biopic
Photo: Getty ImagesПереслать - 'Hunger Games': Why The Movie Beats The Book
In this week's 'Hunger'-focused episode of 'Talk Nerdy,' we compare the soon-to-be-released film to Suzanne Collins' novel.
By Josh Wigler
Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: Lionsgate"The Hunger Games" are upon us at last. In the land of Panem, this would not be news worth celebrating. In our day and age of modern movie-going, however, the arrival of Gary Ross' cinematic take on Suzanne Collins' dystopian novel is anything but bad.
Indeed, "The Hunger Games" is more than "not bad" — it's great. It might even be exceptional. In fact, I'm ready to call it: Respectfully, I strongly feel the "Hunger Games" movie is better than the "Hunger Games" book. Before you kill me, hear me out, and I'll try to walk you through my reasons.
» In the movie, you see everything. Though the book unfolds entirely through the perspective of bow-wielding heroine Katniss Everdeen, the "Hunger Games" film is free of that point of view and allowed to explore other characters operating much further away from our lead. If you were wondering how Haymitch wrangled sponsors in favor of Katniss during the games, wonder no more — the movie has the answer. What's Gale up to while Katniss is busy fighting for her life? You'll see. Cutting free from the Katniss POV allows for a freer story, opening the already huge world of "Hunger Games" in an even huger way.
» Purists, don't sweat it; you won't miss Katniss' narration. Yes, experiencing everything from your front-row seat inside Katniss' mind is a huge draw in the books, and it works in that medium. Here, we get our Katniss fix by different means that make more sense on film — namely, through Jennifer Lawrence's performance. An amazing, emotional, impactful performance, I might add. Initial controversy aside, the decision to hire an Oscar-nominated actress to play the lead role in this young-adult action/adventure was the greatest call made by the "Hunger Games" team. Lawrence lets you into Katniss without ever once telling you exactly what's on her mind. She plays the character in such a way that you see her brilliant moves coming but are still surprised to see how her actions unfold. Lawrence is Katniss, and she becomes her without revealing a single thought out loud. It's impressive stuff. Also, the Katniss perspective — her overwhelming emotions and thoughts and experiences — still comes through, not just by way of Lawrence's work, but also Ross' ability to weave different elements together, from sound to cinematography and beyond. Katniss' experience is a dizzying one, and even without her thoughts beside you, you'll experience plenty of that same dizziness firsthand.
» Katniss aside, the real human star here just might be Seneca Crane. Wes Bentley delivers a great turn as the gamemaker, who has a smaller role in the "Hunger Games" novel, but a crucial, movie-opening part to play in Ross' film. Without Katniss' perspective, we're allowed to spend time with Seneca not just in the control room — which is completely awesome and another point in the movie's favor, by the by — but also opposite President Snow. Bentley and Donald Sutherland share several scenes that do not exist in Collins' novel. Including these moments in the movie helps pave the way for what's to come in subsequent "Hunger Games" movies like "Catching Fire" and the rumored two-part "Mockingjay." In other words, Seneca's increased screen time is a huge boost for the overall "Hunger Games" mythology. It also doesn't hurt that he has the greatest beard in the history of the universe.
» The Capitol. The Cornucopia. Rue's song. The cave scene. Heck, even the muttations, weird as they are. All of these things, written about vividly in the books, come to startling life in Ross' hands. You get all the familiar beats and scenes and interactions from Collins' fantastic tale, faithfully rendered to the letter. But the subtlety in the director's adaptation, helped along greatly by the cool score from James Newton Howard and T-Bone Burnett, elevates what was great about the source material to brand-new heights. That's what you want from an adaptation — elevation, enhancement — and to that end, "Hunger Games" succeeds fantastically, in ways "Twilight" and even "Harry Potter" never fully achieved.
» It also comes down to personal preference. I don't worship the book the way others do, but I'm definitely a fan. For me, the movie just popped in a way that Collins' original narrative did not. "The Hunger Games" brings the world you fell in love with to the big screen and proceeds to bust it wide open in unexpectedly beautiful and tragic ways. All of it stems from a great book, yes — but it all builds to an even better movie, in my humble opinion.
Do you think the "Hunger Games" movie is better than the book? See what our panel of experts thought in this week's "Talk Nerdy," and hit me up with your own thoughts in the comments or on Twitter @roundhoward!
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - Lenny Kravitz Explains 'Subdued' Cinna In 'Hunger Games'
'All his expression comes out in his creations,' musician-turned-actor tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutcherson in "The Hunger Games"
Photo: LionsgateFor those of us who've been following each and every production detail of "The Hunger Games," the casting process was perhaps the most intriguing element to dissect and overanalyze.
One of the most interesting casting announcements was Lenny Kravitz landing the role of sensitive, sympathetic stylist Cinna. When MTV News caught up with Kravitz recently, we asked the Grammy-winning musician-turned-actor to tell us how he ended up with the role.
"How hard [did I go] after it? I was on the other end of the phone, that's about it," he said. "I wish I had a great, struggling story, but I was working on my album when Gary Ross called and said, 'I'd like you to do this movie, "The Hunger Games," ' and so the first thing I had to ask was, 'What is "Hunger Games"?' because I honestly did not know. He told me and I downloaded the book that night, read it, called him back promptly the next day and said, 'Thank you very much, I'll be there.' "
Kravitz said Ross was inspired to contact him after seeing his performance in "Precious."
"He liked the performance in 'Precious' and thought that Nurse John and Cinna shared some similar qualities as far as being nurturing characters, and that sold him," Kravitz said. "So I was very fortunate."
What sold Kravitz on accepting the role was what also made a lot of us obsessive fans of "The Games": author Suzanne Collins' captivating story and relatable, respectable characters.
"Here I am, I'm recording all day in the studio, I'm tired, it's probably 2 in the morning, I'm finished. I pick up the computer, and already your eyes are tired, and I'm starting to read this thing. And I was so tired, and I didn't want to keep reading, I wanted to put it down, but I couldn't," he recalled. "It really kept my attention, the story kept building. That sold me right there: the storytelling. It really all comes down to that."
Although readers of the book came to know a more flamboyant version of the character as created by Collins, Kravitz and Ross decided to tone him down just a bit.
"One of my first questions to Gary Ross was, 'How far do you want to go with this?' and at the end of our conversation, we both agreed that it would be more interesting to make him more subdued, to play him more like [fashion icons] Yves Saint Laurent or Tom Ford, more classic," he said. "[Cinna] wears his waistcoats and his flats, and all his expression comes out in his creations. He's got his little bit of gold eye shadow, but yeah, he's pretty subdued."
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
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Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsПереслать - 'Katy Perry: Part Of Me' Concert Movie Won't Be 'Cheap'
Perry tells MTV News that fans will see 'exactly what I mean and feel and think about everything.'
By Kara Warner, with reporting by James Montgomery
Katy Perry
Photo: MTV NewsKaty Perry shared a lot with us on Wednesday during "MTV First: Katy Perry," like how hard she worked to get in shape for her military-themed video for "Part of Me," when we might hear that duet with Rihanna, and some great new details about her upcoming 3-D concert movie.
"It's closing the chapter on Teenage Dream, but it's giving you such an inside perspective," Perry said when asked what fans will get out of the moviegoing experience this summer. "This film, you're going to see it from my best friend/buddy perspective, you're going to see exactly what I mean and feel and think about everything."
Perry went on to say that because she went through so much personally and professionally during her most recent concert tour, she wanted to share those experiences with her fans.
"That tour was so life-changing to me. I learned so much, I went through so much along the way," she said. "I'm not necessarily trying to prove anything to anyone, but not only will people really hands-down know me after they see this film, but you'll see me as the Dorothy wearing the red ruby slipper and at the end of it all I'm the [Wizard of] Oz as well."
Perry also promised that while there will be a few fun theatrics in the film to make the best use of the 3-D cameras, none of them will be of the clichéd or cheap variety.
"Listen, I've [worked on] most of this film for a very long time and the word 'cheap' was not in the vocabulary," she said. "But, hello, it's 3-D. You're going to get hit with a lot of sh--."
Are you planning on seeing "Katy Perry: Part of Me" in theaters? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsПереслать - 'Hunger Games' Actress Isabelle Fuhrman Wanted To Play Katniss
'I went in and actually auditioned for her, but I was too young,' recalls the 15-year-old, who plays District 2 tribute Clove instead.
By Amy Wilkinson
Isabelle Fuhrman
Photo: MTV NewsFew film roles in recent memory have been as hotly contested as the bow-and-arrow-wielding heroine of Suzanne Collins' dystopian "Hunger Games."
A year ago, it seemed every working actress in Hollywood under the age of 25 was auditioning for the role of Katniss Everdeen — a part that eventually went to Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence. But director Gary Ross was able to utilize at least one would-be Katniss, namely Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays District 2's vicious tribute Clove.
"I saw myself as Katniss, but I think everyone does when they read the book, because that's the character that you related to so much because you're seeing the whole story through her eyes," Fuhrman told MTV News recently. "From page one, I was like, 'Oh, I want to be Katniss so badly.' That's what I wrote in [a] letter to Gary, how much I wanted to play Katniss. I went in and actually auditioned for her, but I was too young because I [was] 14."
Of course, Fuhrman said there are no hard feelings between her and Lawrence, whom she described as the "perfect" Katniss. In fact, landing the role of Clove came with the bonus of learning a new (potentially lethal) skill: knife throwing.
"I'm not going to be modest right now: I'm very good at it, and I'm very proud of that," Fuhrman said with a grin. "That was so hard to learn how to do, because there is a lot of physics involved with it. The knife goes three knife-lengths each rotation, and [you have to] how much force you want to put into it so it lands with the blade in versus the butt. It was difficult, to say the least, because I did training for about only two weeks before we started shooting, so I had to pick it up pretty quickly."
You can witness Fuhrman's nifty knife skills when "The Hunger Games" opens Friday.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - Robert Pattinson's 'Cosmopolis' Trailer: Five Key Scenes
Pattinson shoots his own hand in the teaser, signaling a return to director David Cronenberg's subversive roots.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Photo: Alfama FilmsThis year's unlikely MTV Movie Brawl champion, "Cosmopolis," doesn't have a set release date for the U.S., but a foreign teaser trailer showed up online on Thursday (March 22). The adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel stars Robert Pattinson as a young multi-billionaire who tries to get a haircut, but ends up on a wild ride in his limousine instead.
Canadian horror master David Cronenberg directed the film, and the (NSFW) 30-second trailer signals a return to his extremely subversive roots.
So make no mistake: We're not in Forks, Washington, anymore.
Here are the five key scenes from the teaser trailer for "Cosmopolis."
Ready, aim ...
Well, you can never accuse the "Cosmopolis" trailer of misleading the viewer. The crazy begins as soon as the trailer starts, when a naked woman aims a laser-guided stun gun at Pattinson's chest and he encourages her to shoot. It's a move that says, "Listen, this movie and this trailer are going to be insane. Brace yourself. And Twilight fans, enjoy shirtless Edward while you can, because he's about to get shot with a stun gun."Fire!
We never see the naked woman fire the stun gun at Pattinson, but immediately after, he takes a shot at his own hand with an actual gun. And we see everything. Cronenberg has never shied away from violence or graphic material in general, and the shot certainly reminds us of that. Considering the kind of gore on display in "A History of Violence" and "Eastern Promises," a point-blank gunshot to the hand might be just the beginning.That poor woman!
It's bad enough that Pattinson's character, Eric Packer, does all of these terrible things to himself, but the trailer gives us a glimpse of his wife, played by Sarah Gadon. Sure, it's great that her husband looks like Robert Pattinson, but who wants to put up with the guy shooting himself in the hand and having sex in a limo with someone else? "Cosmopolis" marks Gadon's second Cronenberg movie, having just starred alongside Michael Fassbender in "A Dangerous Method."There's a better place for that
Yes, what you're seeing would be a quick shot of Pattinson urinating in the back of his limousine. With so much of the action in "Cosmopolis" taking place over the course of a day, mostly within that car, you have to imagine that Eric's going to have to relieve himself once in a while. You have to applaud Pattinson for taking on what looks like a fearless role after riding so long on a franchise that succeeded on its familiarity.And suddenly, a giant rat
The easiest way to make a strange trailer even stranger? Throw in a giant rat. We're not entirely sure what's going on here, but it looks like a group of people are carrying a large, fake rodent through the middle of Times Square. Yeah, we don't get it either.What do you think of the "Cosmopolis" teaser trailer? Leave your comment below!
Related PhotosПереслать - 'Hunger Games' Soundtrack Boasts Civil Wars 'Survival Song'
'It's not a fairy tale. That's what we loved about the books,' John Paul White tells MTV News about movie's music.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Matt Elias
The Civil Wars
Photo: MTV NewsTo accompany the highly anticipated theatrical release of "The Hunger Games" this week, the movie's soundtrack, The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 and Beyond, also hits the streets.
Featuring a wide-ranging list of musicians including Neko Case, Arcade Fire, Maroon 5 and Kid Cudi, the album's themes and sounds pay homage to the story's subject matter of rebellion and war, as well as the film's setting in a dystopian version of the Appalachian Mountains, thanks to lots of twangy guitars and a handful of country ballads.
One of the soundtrack's most frequent contributors, the Civil Wars, spoke to MTV News about the opportunity to appear on the film's album. They not only are on its breakout single with Taylor Swift "Safe & Sound," (Swift also recorded another track, "Eyes Open"), but their own song "Kingdom Come" also appears on the soundtrack. Both of their tracks are dark, slow and lamenting, and neither member of the Civil Wars could have realized how big the franchise was until they hopped on board.
"I don't know to this extent [that we thought it was going to be big], but it seemed perfectly primed to fill the next gap," John Paul White told MTV News. "And what excited me about it was it wasn't your typical young adult romance. There was some dark underlying things to it, some pretty heavy situations. I just fell for the plot and it was obvious why other people did too. I think it actually earns it [and all the attention]. I don't think we knew the size of it until doing this and realized how rabid people are for this first release."
For their work with Swift on "Safe," they knew they wanted to draw out a darker side of the normally optimistic singer.
"We had all read all the books and we were all fans of all the books and I think we knew with us being a part of the equation that it was probably going to be a little darker than she normally does, which she was fully a part of the idea," White explained.
"The books are not the cheeriest. It's not a fairy tale. That's what we loved about the books," he continued. "We talked about characters we liked and relationships that we dug, but it all kept leading back to some sort of lullaby. But we didn't want you to know who's talking to who. There's probably four different relationships in the books that can fit that theme. Even if you've never read the books, you can make it have some sort of parallel in your life as well, and that was the priority for us."
And when it came to their solo contribution, Civil Wars' other half, Joy Williams, explained that they didn't stray too far from that philosophy. "T-Bone [Burnett] called us up ... we both jumped on [the opportunity] having been aware of the book. Out came this sort of, in my opinion, it sounds like this quiet survival song and almost this mantra you sing over to yourself. I'm excited about [the song and the soundtrack] and excited about the company [we keep on it]. I think the soundtrack's going to be really solid and we're just stoked to be a part of it."
For fans wanting to hear the eclectic mix of tunes that made the final cut on the album, the music website Rdio is offering tributes the chance to listen to it for free. The T-Bone Burnett-produced soundtrack is also now available in stores.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosПереслать - Dr. Dre To Produce Horror Movie 'Thaw'
Movie focuses on ancient evil unearthed from a glacier.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Dre
Photo: Getty ImagesDr. Dre knows beats and he's one of the best at verbally eviscerating his enemies. But now the reclusive rap icon and music mogul is getting ready to enter a whole new arena of battle: the slasher movie.
According to Variety, Dre is set to co-produce the horror thriller "Thaw" for the Crucial Films movie banner. The script for the film will be written by Vik Weet, with a story focusing on an "ancient evil that emerges from the rapidly melting ice in the Yukon."
Variety noted that Weet curiously has also written another script for an as-yet-untitled thriller, to be directed by action veteran Renny Harlin about the investigation into the 1959 Dyatlov Pass incident, where nine experienced hikers were found dead in Russia's Ural Mountains.
Dre is no stranger to the movie business, with a résumé that includes acting appearances in the 1996 heist flick "Set It Off," as well as turns in the comedy "The Wash" and cop drama "Training Day." He announced a deal in 2007 to team with New Line Cinema's Crucial Films to produce a series of dark comedies and horror films and "Thaw" would be the first effort under that compact.
The move into movies is just one of the big deals Dre could be cooking up. According to reports, HTC, the company that bought a majority stake in his Beats By Dr. Dre brand of headphones line -- which he co-founded with Interscope boss and "American Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine— is in talks to acquire the popular online music service MOG.
And, of course, Dre is also still working on his long-promised Detox album. Rick Ross recently told MTV News that he had joined the likes of Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Nas as a contributor to the top secret project.
"We making some things happen, man— we just gonna see where the pieces fall," Ross said. "But we most definitely putting in major work.
Related ArtistsПереслать - 'Hunger Games' Brought Elizabeth Banks To Tears
'It's the greatest movie of all time,' actress declares to MTV News.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Elizabeth Banks at the "Hunger Games" premiere
Photo: Getty ImagesAs an enormous fan of "The Hunger Games," Elizabeth Banks got to live out any book lover's dream by starring in the film adaptation. The end result, in Banks' objective opinion, was nothing short of the best movie ever.
"Totally unbiased, as if I was just off the street: It's the greatest movie of all time," she declared. "It's really good."
Banks spoke with MTV News' Josh Horowitz about her emotional experience making the film and the real-life inspiration for her portrayal of Effie Trinket.
Spoilers ahead.
After seeing the completed film, one of the scenes that stuck out for Banks was Rue's funeral, shortly after she's killed in the Games. "I always knew that Rue's funeral would be amazing. I mean, it's one of my favorite parts of the book," Banks said. "I think everybody loves the relationship between Katniss and Rue, and her funeral is exactly how I imagined it, just really beautiful. That she sings to her is amazing, and it's so emotional. It's a five-hanky moment. There's some serious bawling happening by dudes in the theater."
Being a part of the actual filming of the story didn't make watching the final product any less emotional for Banks. Even she couldn't help but shed a few tears. "When watching it, I totally cried. I cried making the movie, seriously," Banks said. "When we were shooting the Reaping, and the very first time Jennifer [Lawrence] came out and said, 'I volunteer. I volunteer.' I think it was rehearsal; we weren't even shooting yet. I was like, 'That's the most amazing thing.' "
As with all adaptations of books, not everything can be as the reader imagines. But Banks said that made "The Hunger Games" even better. "There were a couple things that weren't how I pictured it, but I'm not even sure that I pictured Effie's hair the way Effie's hair ultimately ended up being, but I love everything," she said. "It was better than what I thought. That's what I loved about it. There were a lot of things that were a lot cooler than I thought they'd be."
To bring Effie to life, Banks worked closely with crew to create a truly unique villainess. As it turns out, the secrets to Effie's origins lie in Hollywood history. "I had amazing collaborators, first of all, Gary Ross. Gary said, in his mind's eye, he always imagined Effie's face was like Joel Grey in 'Cabaret.' If you remember, he had really white skin, cracked and messed up, just kind of grotesque," Banks explained. "Because Effie's a villain, we really wanted her to be a little villainous in that way, so that was our jumping-off point."
Similarly, Banks owed the inspiration for Effie's theatrical voice to one of the screen's most iconic leading ladies. "[The voice] was very much inspired by Rosalind Russell's 'Auntie Mame.' I really felt like Effie is everyone's 'Auntie Mame,' just an outrageous person who says all of the wrong things and has all these crazy friends and lives a very extravagant lifestyle that's beyond her," Banks said. "She's one of my favorite performers, and it's one of my favorite performances. She just has that great New York Broadway accent in the film, so that was my jumping-off point for Effie."
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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