Tag: Francis Lawrence

The Long Walk (2025) | REVIEW

David Jonsson in THE LONG WALK — PHOTO: Lionsgate (Still image from trailers).

Directed by Francis Lawrence — Screenplay by J.T. Mollner.

Based on the 1979 Stephen King novel of the same name (published under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman), Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk is set in a dystopian America under a totalitarian military regime, which holds an annual event referred to as, you guessed it, ‘the Long Walk.’ During this event, fifty young men, one from each state, must take part in a coordinated walk of potentially hundreds of miles, while they’re escorted by the military, which also broadcasts the event live. Those who stop walking, or fall below a dictated pace, will receive three warnings (that eventually replenish) and, should they fail to get back to the right pace in time, be executed. The event will only end once a sole victor remains left standing and alive, and the winner will receive not only an overwhelming cash prize, but also a single wish that the regime must grant. Lawrence’s film follows Maine-born participant Ray Garraty (played by Cooper Hoffman), who quickly befriends a group of young men led by the charismatic Peter McVries (played by David Jonsson). However, we soon learn that there is a secret reason why Ray is taking part in the event.

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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) | REVIEW

Tom Blyth and Viola Davis in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — PHOTO: Lionsgate Films.

Directed by Francis Lawrence — Screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt.

Everything gets a prequel nowadays. There was a time when the word ‘prequel’ when brought up in daily conversation with film fans would usually be followed up by some criticism of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, which has since been reclaimed by the community that once turned its nose up at it. Now, however, prequels are to be expected. There is a whole trilogy of so-so-to-disappointing Harry Potter prequel films, the Hobbit trilogy (that often feels like it was explicitly designed to be a prequel to the Lord of the Rings films, instead of letting it be its own standalone thing), and, eventually, this trend would, of course, make its way to popular young adult fiction like Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. The original film adaptations (or at least the first two) are immensely popular as they launched Jennifer Lawrence into stardom while, at the same time, making an American popcorn version of Kinji Fukusaku’s Battle Royale. For what it’s worth, I quite liked both the original Hunger Games adaptation and the first sequel subtitled Catching Fire, but when they then split the trilogy-capper Mockingjay into two parts, I wasn’t as interested. What I will say, though, is that watching the Hunger Games prequel reminded me why I really liked the franchise in the first place.

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REVIEW: Red Sparrow (2018)

Theatrical Release Poster – 20th Century Fox

The following is a review of Red Sparrow — Directed by Francis Lawrence.

In a talk show interview with Stephen Colbert, Jennifer Lawrence — the star of Red Sparrow — asked her haters not to see her psychological spy thriller. “If you’re, like, a typical ‘hater’ and you have a blog, don’t go. You’re officially totally uninvited,” Lawrence laughed. Although I would not call myself a ‘typical’ hater, or even a Lawrence-hater, I am, on the other hand, not a die-hard fan. I have been intrigued by her choices of late, though. With intriguing films like mother! and, now, Red Sparrow — two audience-unfriendly thrillers — Lawrence is starting to reframe the way she is perceived. Continue reading “REVIEW: Red Sparrow (2018)” →