I was Team Steinfeld

[molly_may]

So, it looks like Jennifer Lawrence has been cast to play Katniss in the Hunger Games movies, which...meh. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Lawrence, who from all accounts is a fine actress (I didn't see Winter's Bone, so I can't say), but at 20, she's too old. Obviously there's a long tradition of twentysomething actors playing teenagers

Comments

[sdwolfpup]

Wow, she IS gorgeous, but she seems totally inappropriate for the role of Katniss. Not to mention Katniss is described as having "olive skin," which. Sigh.

[molly_may]

It's disappointing that the studio didn't attempt to find an actress who could both LOOK the part and act the part. Not shocking though, that they went with a blonde, fair-skinned beauty.

PS. Your icon delights me! Even if he is filled with woe.

[shipperx]

Surely they'd dye her hair and eyebrows.

And she was a lot less glamorous in "Winter's Bone"
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y4TqX9RvuOM/TIHhN_FesYI/AAAAAAAAB50/-F2pnTGRUB4/s1600/JenniferLawrence_WintersBone2.jpg

[shipperx]

Looking at Winter's Bone, it makes sense why Lawrence is being considered, her character there is very like Katniss and wasn't glamorous at all. I think she got really glammed up for the Oscars to combat the image she had from her movie. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_hPZaPQts&feature=related... )

[molly_may]

From an acting standpoint, I'm sure Lawrence will do a great job, and of course she'll be dressed down and glammed down to play Katniss. But when she made WB, she was still a teenager, and she still looked like a teenager. Now she's an adult, and she looks like one. For me, part of the power of the story derives from the fact that these are kids being forced into mortal combat. The youth of the characters contributes to how horrific the story is, and that includes the marriage/pregnancy plot. I don't know, a great action movie could still be made from the material no matter what the ages of the characters are, but by aging them up I think the story loses some of its focus and power.

[poshcat]

Meep. I will withhold judgment until I see Winter's Bone, which is as of now right at the top of my To Do list. But I'm unhappy in the extreme that they picked an actress who is blond and boobalicious to play Katniss.

This does not bode well for Peeta and Gale. Maybe they can get Mark Salling from Glee to play Gale. Puckalicious, right?

[molly_may]

Did you see True Grit, Posh? I wanted Hailee Steinfeld for the part. She's approximately the right age (actually, maybe a year or so younger than Katniss), and she was awesome in TG.

Maybe they can get Mark Salling from Glee to play Gale. Puckalicious, right?

AHAHAHAHA! And also, EWWW. But speaking of people who are (sort of) from Glee, I think Kristin Chenowith is so perfect for Effie that I'll be disappointed if she's not cast.

[poshcat]

I didn't see True Grit, but I did watch the Oscars, and I only had to take one look at Hailee all dolled up to say, "THERE'S the girl on fire." So did 56% (or whatever) in this week's EW poll, who were definitely on Team Hailee with us.

However, I want this movie so much that I'll watch whoever, whenever.

[cindergal]

Well, Lawrence was the epitome of a scrawny, malnourished 16 year old in Winter's Bone (which she as excellent in. She carried the move). She's completely transformed for the Oscars. But I hear ya on the age thing.

[molly_may]

Yeah, I don't really have any issues with Lawrence as far as her talent is concerned. From what I've read, she'll do a good job in the part. I just think she's too old (which is certainly a strange statement to make about a twenty year old!).

[blixie]

But her character was 17 years old in WB, and she was 18 when it filmed.

I think it's pretty obvious Lions Gate is uncomfortable with portraying the violence and subject matter of the book with actors who actually look like kids, as well as wanting to sex up the triangle story line, and save money by working with someone over 18. Which is all fine and dandy except for how it robs the book of all it's thematic power.

Now it's Logan's Run with a touch of the Ultra Violence.

[cindergal]

Well, apparently Suzanne Collins was heavily involved in the decision making process to cast Lawrence, so if she's good enough for Collins, she's good enough for me. :-)

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/17/hunger-games-gary-ross-jennifer-lawrence/

[ever_neutral]

I'm meh about Alex Pettyfer, too. I've never actually seen any of his work, so I can't judge his talent, but he strikes me as too... glamorous, for Peeta? But who knows! I might be judging too soon.

[molly_may]

Yeah, I'm not very enamored of Pettyfer in any case, but if he has to be cast I think he would work a lot better as Finnick, who is supposed to be kind of glamorous.