Sorry to Thanksgiving—November is now formally dedicated to The Starvation Video games. Not solely is there a prequel movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, now in theaters, however this month additionally marks a decade because the launch of the film franchise’s greatest installment, Catching Hearth. With that, we should always all be wanting again on a very powerful second in Starvation Video games historical past.
Sure, we’re speaking in regards to the groundbreaking bare elevator scene.
A clip of this scene goes viral about every other year, so you might have seen it with out realizing the context. It’s a scene taken straight out of Suzanne Collins’ Catching Hearth novel: Whereas at an occasion to advertise the Quarter Quell (a much bigger, extra dramatic Starvation Video games thrown each quarter century), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) pile into an elevator with their mentor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). Famed Starvation Video games winner Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) flounces into the elevator proper after them, marking Katniss and Peeta’s first encounter with the spunky know-it-all.
Johanna, a feisty character who brings drama along with her all over the place she goes, spares everybody a boring spherical of introductory ice breakers. As an alternative, she asks Peeta to assist unzip her outfit—a tree, impressed by her forested district—and flaunts her bare physique to everybody within the elevator. The opposite characters’ eyes on this scene say all the things: Katniss rolls hers. Peeta doesn’t know if he ought to avert his gaze or stare at Johanna. And Haymitch, effectively, his eyes are on the prize.
This scene is a masterclass in character introductions from Collins, and on this one uncommon event, it’s a scene that’s someway higher within the film than the e-book. Harrelson, Lawrence, Hutcherson, and particularly Malone are all charming, someway every capable of convey a distinct stage of shock and awe. This second is healthier on display screen, as a result of we get to see what they’re all pondering; the e-book limits us to Katniss’ perspective.
And get this: Lawrence wasn’t even on set the day they filmed this sequence.
In a current crimson carpet interview to advertise The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Malone spoke in regards to the challenges in filming this scene. “The scenes which might be enjoyable are by no means enjoyable to do, ? Jen was sick that day, and so I ended up doing it with out Jen, so there wasn’t lots of people within the elevator,” Malone said. “However, , that’s the magic of filmmaking. You solely want a couple of seconds to create one thing that lasts.”
Whereas it did break my mind when I discovered this out—what do you imply J.Regulation wasn’t current on this historic day of Starvation Video games historical past?—the extra I give it some thought, the extra in awe I’m. The celebs had been capable of make this scene really feel so edgy, so chaotic, so monumental, even with out one of many stars on set the day they filmed. The sequence’ blazing outfits and futuristic set items are all breathtaking, nevertheless it’s this one scene that’s essentially the most masterful factor The Starvation Video games has ever given us. Malone mentioned it greatest—film magic continues to blow my thoughts.
The picture of Malone’s sly-lipped Johanna has outlasted that of each different character (save solely Katniss, maybe, in her fiery attire and iconic braid) in my thoughts. After I consider the Starvation Video games sequence, I feel first of the unbelievable brilliance of Catching Hearth—the clock area!—and Johanna’s introduction particularly. Why did she get bare? Was it to say her energy? Was she making an attempt to seduce Peeta? Johanna explains that her costume was bothersome, however to this present day, I nonetheless suppose there was one thing extra to it. It’ll all the time perplex me.
This scene has been replaying in my thoughts greater than typical currently, and never simply due to the brand new Starvation Video games flick. In current weeks, Hutcherson has grow to be a complete teen heartthrob another time, due to his position in 5 Nights at Freddy’s but additionally to the resurgence of The Starvation Video games. That’s all positive and dandy—Hutcherson was an satisfactory Peeta, and the viral fan-cams on TikTok make me nostalgic for 2013—however out of all of the Starvation Video games stars who deserve a second wind, it ought to be Malone. Her elevator entrance introduced extra to the franchise than each scene Hutcherson was in mixed.
Trying again at all of it these years later, the elevator scene showcases a quartet of good stars on the peak of their powers. Malone led the pack, however that’s to not say Harrelson wasn’t killing it over in his nook of the elevator. (I nonetheless suppose his greatest contribution to The Starvation Video games was that he wore flannel pajama pants on the red carpet, although.) Although Hutcherson and Lawrence had star turns this 12 months in 5 Nights at Freddy’s and No Exhausting Emotions, I nonetheless see them as these youngsters within the elevator. After a full decade, I can’t enter any elevator with out serious about it.
