The Hunger Games

This week I am reviewing the film The Hunger Games starring the lovely Jennifer Lawrence. This film is the first in a series based on a novel trilogy of the same title. Prior to the films inception I had read the trilogy, and as in general, I was skeptical of the film because I always favour the novel. Considering this bias, I was rather impressed by the film. In particular, I really did love Jennifer's portrayal of Katniss Everdeen. Initially, I was unsure of this choice, but after finishing the film I could not imagine another actress playing the role. This series is based on a dystopian world where there has been much ruin to world as we would know it today, and there are no countries but districts. Different from today, each district is poor, only the "Capitol" is wealthy. This is where the acting government or ruling forces live, and control the rest of the world. Each district is responsible for different industry and it's production. Examples include District One, where our main character Katniss Everdeen is from, is responsible for the "Luxury" industry which consists entirely of mining for precious metals and platinum. District Two is responsible for gold mining, District Three for Technology particular computer hardware, Four for fishing, Ten for livestock and so on. These districts benefit very little from their work as the vast majority of all product goes to the Capitol. In the midst of this oppression, a televised annual event called the Hunger Games takes place. This event is a battle to the death which takes place in a different virtual environment each year, consisting of different members of each district which are selected based on the number of times they have needed government/capitol support to feed their families. Katniss Everdeen proves to be a heroin in this film, standing up for her family and District and going against the wishes of the Capitol in her trial of the Hunger Games. I found this film to be a fair portrayal of the novel and overall I enjoyed it. I would give this movie three cupcakes!
Check out the trailer below!

Gravity

This week I am reviewing the vastly underrated film, Gravity. Now, I say underrated here referring specifically to the public, critics loved the film. I may also want to narrow the "public" down to some men in particular in my personal social circle. Viewing the film, these men were not able to keep focus or stay interested in the film, possibly because they have very short attention spans, and also possibly because there were no car chases or gun fights. Before I digress too far here, I will educate and inform these members of the public and all alike on the wonders of this film. 
Sandra Bullock, who I adore, is Gravity, as stated by the director of the film in the past Academy Awards show, to which the Miss Congeniality (fitting for her character) star became visibly emotional. Bullock performs with such intensity and emotion that, if you are not only partial to car chases and gun fights, you cannot help but become riveted, and emotionally invested in the outcome of the film. 

Although the film does surround at most two characters and takes place entirely in the same or similar environments of space, I was blown away by the film, the ending perhaps especially. That being said though, as Bullock is the main character, and for much of the film the only character, it was really her performance I was hooked on. The emotional aspects of her personal life added to the dialogue of the film was presented as a memoir. Her journey through past, to thoughts and doubt of the future, and back to living in her current distressed environment are presented in a way that made me feel as if I was witnessing a private moment between Bullock and her experiences in life. I found myself praying fiercely that her journey would end well. That type of emotional connection to a film and fictional character can not be achieved in many films, nor can it be presented by many actors or actresses. The weak moments, strong moments, sad moments and incredibly happy moments make this film one of the best I have seen. I had not witnessed such a real performance in a long time, and it was refreshing to see such talent in a person who has had some past troubles and issues, and has only blossomed into a successful better, happier version of herself beyond them. 

I give this movie one cupcake because, especially if you happen to be in a relationship with a typical male, the point may be fully grasped by another viewer, and the cry is a very necessary part of viewing this film. Don't forget to check out the trailer below!

Dallas Buyers Club

Today my film of choice to review is Dallas Buyers Club. I hope I am not always completely transparent in which reviewed films I enjoy the most, I do not wish to be completely biased in my opinions after all, but this movie was fantastic. The film itself is controversial in its storyline and ultimate goal to voice concern for the medical retail industry, and of the American medication approval system, the FDA or Food and Drug Administration. As all medication needs to be approved by this administration before it can be administered or sold to the public, there is much controversy surrounding the procedures and policies that allow some forms of medication to be approved, and others not. The controversy itself suggests that the approval is skewed by visions of financial gain when products are introduced to the administration. 
Dallas Buyers Club highlights the opinion of controversy, and shares insight with the public into a struggling community battling AIDS in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The story follows our main character, Ron Woodruff played by Matthew McConaughey on his journey to fight his illness and find medication by the FDA that improves his health, lessens his symptoms, and creates a comfortable quality of life. The medication McConaughey finds is unapproved, but the medication being administered in hospitals is given in doses too high to be beneficial, resulting in a breakdown of the patients already weakened immune system, resulting in death. The main character finds ways to administer this unapproved drug to others facing the illness, and thus Dallas Buyers Club is given life.

The role is played to perfection my McConaughey and leads viewers to be drawn into the emotional aspect of every person battling the illness, and especially to the LGBT community fighting for equality and respect in the midst. The friendships developed through the help and advocacy brought to the LGBT community by McConaughey is touching, real, and necessary to be brought to life in film. This film is moving, controversial and incredibly interesting.
I give this movie 4 cupcakes! Tune in next week for my humble opinion on film, and watch the trailer below!