Beauty vs Beast: An End To Hunger
Monday, November 16, 2015 at 3:00PM 
Jason from MNPP here with this week's edition of "Beauty vs Beast" bidding a... somewhat... sad farewell to a movie franchise that's been kicking for several years now. This weekend The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (gahhhh, that lumbering title) is released, surely set to stomp over the Thanksgiving competition box-office-wise with its stlylishly Fascistic boots. But do we still care? I was a big fan of the books and the movies have all been pretty good but man I am feeling Katnissed out at this point; I'm still not convinced Mockingjay couldn't have been just one movie.
But I've already got my tickets for Thursday's night's show, natch, just like most of the rest of you. We are too small to fight. As for this week's competition I'm putting up my two favorite casting decisions from book to screen, both of whom knocked these roles outta the park...
PREVIOUSLY I think y'all were much more enthusiastic about voting on our poll pitting the Pitts-Jolie against each other last week than you were about actually going to see the new movie they were starring in, judging by its miniscule box office. In the end it was Mr. Smith who came out on top with about 60% of your vote. Wait did I say you were "enthusiastic" More like what STinG said:
"Fuck you for making us have to choose. They're both a perfect fit for each other and their actor. They're both too super cool. They're both the last of the great screwball couples. How can you do this to us?!"
Reader Comments (12)
This was the easiest vote ever: EFFIE RULES.
Oh this is difficult. I want to vote for Effie, because Elizabeth Banks has really evolved this character more than I thought she could and I am genuinely impressed by her. However, I don't think anyone could be so charismatically menacing and be menacingly charismatic as Donald sutherland. I am kind of surprised that no one thought about a best supporting actor bid for him. He is way overdue and that field has been weak the last few years.
For the record (and I'm always on the losing side in this things so I'm not surprised that the poll so far disagrees with us) I'm with Tom -- I think Sutherland is giving a fantastic performance in these movies, yes even better than Banks, although much less showy and "fun" - he's deadly serious and so so creepy in the smallest of movements. We haven't even seen him do much outwardly and yet I am TERRIFIED of him all the same.
But then I adore Donald Sutherland and don't think he's ever gotten enough credit in his career.
Thank you @Tom & @Jason - sure Effie is fabulous as done by Elizabeth Banks, and gets those great outfits. But Donald Sutherland is a great Villain in the form of President Snow.
He never shouts, he just insinuates, in his calm but lethal way. And yes he should have received some recognition from the Academy for this, but YA films get no respect.
Except at the box office.
Looking forward to seeing this film.
I do not know why it was such a horrible thing that the final book was split. Would you have wanted the series end last year? I am sad already about the end. And people did not mind having Kill Bill split for example, people are just being so cynical about YA book adaptions.
EFFIE!!!! What kind of dumbass question is that? She's awesome.
@ Jason and LadyEdith, wow, thanks! I didn't really think anyone would agree with me. I do love Banks though. Her goodbye scene in Catchin Fire just floored me. But Sutherland's first scene in the movie, when he threatens Katniss sealed it for me.
I'm leaning with Effie simply because I like her more. When I first started the film series under the enthusiasm of my girlfriend at the time (I didn't read the books until the timespan between Catching Fire and Mockingjay Part 1's release), I found her kind of annoying and simply another face indistinguishable from the Capital crowd (though she did have a better fashion sense than most of them save for Cinna). But Catching Fire really sealed the deal with me when she showed herself more and more invested in both Katniss and Peeta's well-being and in them making a dent in Snow's regime with their public appearance beyond the base violence of the Games.
And then the bracelet scene.
I mean no disrespect, but Snow's a cunt. He's a cunt now, and he's always been a cunt. And the only thing that's going to change is that he's going to be an even bigger cunt. Maybe have some more cunt kids. And power to Sutherland as an actor - that's how's meant to be played and even more in icy spades granted from Sutherland's ability - but I'm leaning to the person I actually want to see make it out alive.
I retract that bit about his cunt fucking kids, though.
Tom & Jason - we three are the Donald Sutherland appreciation society. May he get another role after this Hunger Games gig that gives him an Oscar nomination & chance for a win. I'm hoping for a Christopher Plummer type scenario here.
Sutherland is always good value and always under appreciated.
@ Sting - Effie would be offended by your needless profanity. Language and manners are important.
As much as I think Sutherland is aces as President Snow, Banks was a downright revelation as Effie, completely disappearing into the role in a way that was so unexpected. So she gets my vote.
Plus: "THAT. is MAHOGANY."
@LadyEdith - I retracted it, didn't I?