Rachel Zegler manages to shake off Jennifer Lawrence’s shadow in The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. (Photo: Murray Close/© 2023 Lionsgate via Corazón Films) (Murray Close/Lionsgate via Vértice 360)
The hunger Games returns to the cinemas Ballad of songbirds and snakesa prequel that focuses on the character of Coriolanus Snow, the villain previously played by Donald Sutherland and now returning Tom Blyth. The film, which opens November 16, chronicles his path to power alongside Lucy Gray Baird, a District 12 homage played by Rachel Zegler who he will serve as a mentor and with whom he will achieve his goals in the Capitol. Returning to this universe feels quite nostalgic, especially with a story that expands the context of the films and books we loved so much a decade ago. However, we cannot deny that comparisons are inevitable given the importance that Jennifer Lawrence maintains in the legacy of the saga. Fortunately, there is good news.
Although the success of the four films The hunger Games Although the literary saga’s good reception was supported by its good reception, there is no denying that the films’ rise to the top was also due to their cinematographic virtues, which include the charisma and talent of their leading actor. Jennifer Lawrence. The actress had already turned heads with films like Deep Winter, for which she received her first Oscar nomination, but it was her performance as Katniss Everdeen the one responsible for making her an icon of modern popular culture.
At first it might be difficult for us to imagine this return to Panem without Jennifer Lawrence eat up the screen. We might even have doubts and wonder if Rachel Zegler, whose character shares the same characteristics as Katniss, could have reached a similar level, so that the prequel conquers us in the same way as the original films. Comparisons inevitably play a role, because Zegler is no Lawrence and it’s hard not to miss him, but this prequel He manages to make the actress of Latin American descent shine all by himself and we leave the cinema forgetting about Katniss Everdeeen and wanting to know more about Lucy Gray Baird.
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In my first impression, I don’t think Rachel Zegler does particularly well in the early stages of Ballad of songbirds and snakes. Portraying her character as an homage to District 12, just like Lawrence’s character, leads us to judge her as an imitation without the same depth. We first see it in her unfair and manipulated decision to take part in the Hunger Games, where the sadness we felt when we saw Katniss volunteer to save her sister from almost certain death is present again . Furthermore, he maintains the same anger, although he interprets it with more direct and provocative nuances.
Later, this is evident in Lucy’s care for others during her stay in the Capitol and the celebration of the Hunger Games, one of the most defining characteristics of the protagonist of the original saga. However, once “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” comes into play and the film attempts to address the dilemmas of media spectacle through this deadly show, The perception changes completelyBecause At this point, Rachel Zegler has an ace up her sleeve that Lawrence didn’t have.
In addition to Snow’s path to tyranny, the prequel also focuses on how the Hunger Games became the breathtaking mass spectacle we saw in the first two installments. In this plot, the character of Lucy, who was part of an artistic family who toured the country as a singer before the uprising, plays a major role, as Snow, who was nothing more than a mere student at the time, wants to use her own ability, to use music to rally support and convince the Capitol to turn the games to television. And we already know how well Zegler manages to stand out in the musical field.
We’ve already seen her shine in the remake Love without barriers by Steven Spielberg, and Disney didn’t hesitate to bring her in for the remake Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, his great classic par excellence, in which his vocal abilities will once again be in the foreground. In this sense, As soon as Rachel Zegler takes the stage and begins to show off her voice, Lucy Gray Baird shines with a power all her own.She conveys such a pure energy and such a captivating essence that she automatically makes us forget Katniss Everdeen.
Zegler and the Hunger Games team knew this was the key difference, which is why they made every effort to highlight this as much as possible. For the beginning, The actress’s voice during performances is not recorded in the studio, which is usually common with musical performances in films. Instead, the voice we hear is captured live from the set, making it seem more real and sentimental, connecting us more emotionally to the character.
Rachel Zegler is making us leave the theater because we want to see a spin-off of The Hunger Games centered around her. (Photo: Murray Close/© 2023 Lionsgate via Corazón Films) (Murray Close/Lionsgate via Vértice 360)
On the other hand, as the actress said in an interview for Variety, she worked hard to develop these sequences. She tries to channel the essence of artists like Dolly Parton and taps into the naturalness with which she sings every day. “We channeled a group of people: Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Joan Baez, to name a few. That was really the voice we were trying to find,” Zegler said. “But singing live is my bread and butter, it’s something I’ve done my whole life, so it was really nice to be able to impart that skill to my colleagues on set.”
This figure of the artist becomes important from the second part of the film, where we attend the Hunger Games celebrations and, like the residents of Panem, are fascinated by his talent. ANDIn other words, the prequel makes us excited to see another spin-off that focuses on it. And the third act is a true interpretative masterpiece for Zegler, in which she, now freed from the shadow of Jennifer Lawrence, resorts to the containment of her emotions, her skill with music and her natural charm to have her voice recorded Franchise.
I have to say that the Ballad of songbirds and snakes I didn’t think it was a great movie. It’s complicated by the excessive 157 minutes, the problems of inconsistency that Suzanne Collins’ book already presented, and the fact that it feels more like the same thing. But (and fortunately) in the acting department, with Rachel Zegler at the helm, accompanied by Tom Blyth, Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage, the product has managed to improve.
AND We have such strategies to thank for thathighlighting and emphasizing the protagonist’s ability to use music to create an emotional connection with the viewer.
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