“THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1” Predicted To Earn $150 Million on Its Opening Weekend (NOVEMBER 21 IN THE U.S.)
The most-awaited first part of the penultimate
chapter of the world’s bestselling YA novel adapted to screen “The Hunger
Games: Mockingjay –Part 1” stands to be the top movie choice at the box-office
this coming week and is expected to earn at least US$150 million on its opening
weekend in a report by Hollywood Reporter since becoming the top-selling title
of the year to date from ticket sales reports from Fandango.com and
MovieTickets.com.
Likewise, www.boxofficemojo.com predicts that
“Mockingjay” will be the highest-grossing movie of the year at the domestic
(US) box-office and is further predicted to earn $385 million when it finally opens
November 21 (in the US). The movie opens
a day earlier in the Philippines- November 20.
In
this latest instalment, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” the story
begins as Katniss has just been rescued from the destruction of the Quarter
Quell. She awakens in a shocking world she didn’t even know existed: the deep,
dark underground of supposedly annihilated District 13. She quickly learns of
the devastating reality she must face: District 12 has been turned to rubble;
and Peeta is being held, manipulated and brainwashed by President Snow in The
Capitol. At the same time, Katniss’s eyes are opened to a secret rebellion
rapidly spreading from District 13 throughout all of Panem – a rebellion that
will place her at the center of a daring plot to hack into The Capitol and turn
the tables on President Snow.
Acclaimed
actress Julianne Moore adds to the amazing stellar cast in the movie as
President Coin, as Katniss takes on the public role of the Mockingjay, she is
asked by President Coin to appear in a series of “propos” – viral propaganda
videos that District 13 uses to communicate with and inspire rebels across
Panem.
District 13’s steely leader is the
enigmatic Alma Coin, a major new role taken to its full potential by one of
today’s most sought-after dramatic actresses: Award-winning actress Julianne
Moore. “What amazed me about what
Suzanne Collins did with the books is that she wrote a story that has so many
substantive things to say about who we are as human beings, how we relate to
one another and what standing up for what’s right means,” says Moore. “I was
intrigued by Coin because I was very interested in her evolution as a leader.”
Like so many Hunger Games fans,
Moore has come to feel a deep connection with Katniss. “What everyone responds
to in Katniss is that she carries this moral ambiguity. She doesn't always know
what the right thing to do is, so she must act more from her impulses,” she
observes. “She’s very much about the idea that you can change your destiny –
and other people’s destinies – through your actions.”
Katniss and President Coin start off
on shaky ground. Katniss doesn’t trust anyone in authority anymore, but Coin is
equally skeptical of Katniss. “Coin is reluctant,” Moore explains. “In the
beginning, she’s reluctant to use her as a mouthpiece because she believes that
Katniss is too damaged as a person to be able to do the things that they need
her to do, but she also identifies this girl as someone who’s done quite heroic
things and has galvanized the revolution.”
Because Coin is largely seen through
Katniss’s eyes in the books, Moore had the freedom to create much of her
interior from scratch. “In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Coin sees
herself as a very practical revolutionary, someone who is focused on making the
best decisions for her people and for the people in the other Districts.
Francis and I talked and while we wanted Coin to feel very real, we also wanted
her to be someone who is really hard to get to know.”
Director Francis Lawrence was
thrilled with how Moore fused with Coin in her performance. “Coin’s singular
vision to unite all of the districts in a massive rebellion is no small
undertaking, especially when most of the districts have no idea that District
13 still exists. She has to be a tough leader,” the director notes. “Her
relationship with Katniss is very complicated as well. Julianne has done an
amazing job shaping the character.”
“She goes into the propos feeling
like a pawn, like the Mockingjay is just a symbol she’s not connected to or
passionate about,” Lawrence says. “The whole idea of the propos is to get
people fired up, to band together – so Katniss faking at being something that
she’s not doesn’t work. It’s only when she sees the human cost in District 8
that a true spark is ignited. The more she sees, the more it becomes a personal
fight for her.”
Lawrence was thrilled to have the
opportunity to work with Julianne Moore in the role of President Coin. “When I
heard she was going to play Coin, it was the most exciting, unbelievable news
in the world. I think Julianne is one of the greatest actresses of all time,
just absolutely phenomenal. She was even more impressive in person. She is such
a sweet family woman and also hilarious. Working with her was a dream come
true.”
While Lawrence and Moore got along,
their characters have a cool tension between them. “Their relationship is
complicated. They share similar ideals, but with all she’s been through,
Katniss feels she cannot fully trust her,” Lawrence comments. “President Coin
can see how important Katniss is to leading this rebellion, but she also
doesn’t believe Katniss can actually do it. She’s still suffering from
post-traumatic stress and President Coin is skeptical that using Katniss is
something that she can actually control.”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part
1” opens November 20 in Philippine cinemas (nationwide) from Pioneer Films.
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