THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a 2023 American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt. It is based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, serves as a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012), and is the fifth installment in The Hunger Games film series. The film stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis.
Set 64 years before the events of the first film; its plot follows the events that eventually lead a young Coriolanus Snow on the path to becoming the tyrannical leader of Panem, including his relationship with the Hunger Games tribute Lucy Gray Baird during the year of the 10th Hunger Games.
Premise
“Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.”
Cast
- Tom Blyth as Coriolanus “Coryo” Snow: A mentor for the upcoming 10th Hunger Games and future President of Panem.
- Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird: The female tribute from District 12 who forms a connection with Coriolanus, and a member of the Covey, a travelling musician group.
- Josh Andrés Rivera as Sejanus Plinth: A classmate and friend of Snow, and the mentor to a tribute from District 2. He is from District 2 but now lives in the Capitol.
- Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow: Coriolanus’s older cousin and confidante, who advises him in everything. She would go on to become a stylist in the Games and an ally to Katniss Everdeen and the resistance against Panem.
- Peter Dinklage as Casca “Cas” Highbottom: Dean of the Academy and intellectual author of the Hunger Games.
- Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman: The first television host for the 10th Hunger Games and assumed ancestor to Caesar Flickerman, who would host later editions of the Games.
- Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul: The head gamemaker of the 10th Hunger Games and the person who actually implemented them in the first place.
- Fionnula Flanagan as Grandma’am: Coriolanus and Tigris’s strict grandmother.
- Burn Gorman as Commander Hoff: The leader of the peacekeepers in District 12.
- Ashley Liao as Clemensia Dovecote: A classmate and friend of Snow, and a mentor to a tribute from District 11.[5]
- Max Raphael as Festus Creed: A classmate of Snow, and mentor to a tribute from District 4.[6]
- Zoe Renee as Lysistrata Vickers: A classmate of Snow, and mentor of the other District 12 tribute, Jessup.[6]
- Nick Benson as Jessup: The male tribute from District 12 alongside Lucy Gray.[7]
- Isobel Jesper Jones as Mayfair Lipp: The daughter of District 12’s mayor and a rival of Lucy Gray.[8]
- George Somner as Spruce: A citizen from District 12.[9]
The tributes for the 10th Hunger Games who form an alliance, known as “the Pack”, include: Mackenzie Lansing as Coral, the female tribute from District 4;[5] Cooper Dillon as Mizzen, the male tribute from District 4;[9][10] Hiroki Berrecloth as Treech, the male tribute from District 7; and Kjell Brutscheidt as Tanner, the male tribute from District 10.[9] Other members of Lucy Gray’s travelling musician group, the Covey, include: Dakota Shapiro as Billy Taupe, who is Lucy Gray’s former love interest,[9] Vaughan Reilly as Maude Ivory,[9] Honor Gillies as Barb Azure,[8] Eike Onyambu as Tam Amber,[8] and Konstantin Taffet as Clerk Carmine.[8] Additionally, Michael Greco and Daniela Grubert appear as Strabo Plinth and Mrs. Plinth, Sejanus’ parents,[8] while Carl Spencer and Scott Folan appear as Smiley and Beanpole, two peacekeepers sent by the Capitol to District 12.[8]
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NEXT GOAL WINS
NEXT GOAL WINS
Next Goal Wins is a 2023 American biographical sports comedy-drama film directed by Taika Waititi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Iain Morris. It is based on the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison about Dutch–American coach Thomas Rongen‘s efforts to lead the American Samoa national football team, considered one of the weakest football teams in the world, to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The film stars Michael Fassbender as Rongen, alongside Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss.
Premise
Dutch American football coach Thomas Rongen faces the option of being fired or accepting an almost impossible task: to convert the American Samoa national team, considered one of the weakest football teams in the world, into an elite squad. The storyline also includes fa’afafine player Jaiyah Saelua, who was the first transgender player ever to compete in a World Cup game.[3]
Cast
- Michael Fassbender as Thomas Rongen
- Oscar Kightley as Tavita[4]
- Kaimana as Jaiyah Saelua
- David Fane as Ace
- Rachel House as Ruth
- Beulah Koale as Daru Taumua[4]
- Will Arnett as Alex Magnussen
- Elisabeth Moss as Gail
- Uli Latukefu as Nicky Salapu
- Chris Alosio as Jonah[4]
- Lehi Makisi Falepapalangi as Pisa
- Semu Filipo as Rambo
- Ioane Goodhue as Smiley[4]
- Rhys Darby as Rhys Marlin
- Angus Sampson as Angus Bendleton[4]
- Luke Hemsworth as Keith
- Kaitlyn Dever as Nicole
- Hio Pelesasa as Samson
- David Tu’itupou as Tall David
- Levy Tuiala as Chief Sila
- Loretta Ables Sayre as Rambo’s mother
- Frankie Adams as Frangipani
- Taika Waititi as an American-Samoan priest[4]
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NAPOLEON
NAPOLEON
Napoleon is a 2023 epic historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa. Based on the true story of Napoleon Bonaparte, primarily depicting the French leader’s rise to power as well as his relationship with Empress Joséphine, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix (who is also a producer) as Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby as Joséphine.
Cast
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- Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French.[6]
- Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine, Empress Consort and the first wife of Napoleon.
- Tahar Rahim as Paul Barras, a politician who was the executive head of the Directory during the French Revolution.
- Ben Miles as Caulaincourt, a diplomat and close advisor to Napoleon.[7]
- Ludivine Sagnier as Thérésa Cabarrus (Madame Tallien), a socialite and noblewoman.[8]
- Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon.[9]
- Youssef Kerkour as Marshal Davout, one of Napoleon’s finest commanders.[10]
- Phil Cornwell as Sanson ‘The Bourreau’, the executioner who guillotined Louis XVI, the King of France.[11]
- Édouard Philipponnat as Alexander I, the Tsar of Russia.
- Ian McNeice as Louis XVIII, King of France during the Bourbon Restoration, following Napoleon’s exile to Elba.
- Rupert Everett as Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.[12]
- Paul Rhys as Talleyrand, a leading diplomat of France.[13]
- Catherine Walker as Marie-Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria, and later Queen of France.
- Gavin Spokes as Moulin, a Directory politician.
- John Hollingworth as Marshal Ney, lauded as “the bravest of the brave” by Napoleon.[14]
- Mark Bonnar as Jean-Andoche Junot, general of Napoleon and commander of the French invasion of Portugal in 1807.[15]
- Anna Mawn as the Archduchess Marie-Louise, Napoleon’s second wife.
- Davide Tucci as Lazare Hoche, a general and hero of revolutionary France.
- Sam Crane as Jacques-Louis David, a preeminent Neoclassical French painter.
- Scott Handy as Marshal Berthier, chief of staff to Napoleon from his first Italian campaign in 1796 until his first abdication in 1814, and twice Minister of War of France.
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MEDICINE MAN: THE STAN BROCK STORY
MEDICINE MAN: THE STAN BROCK STORY
- Director: Paul Michael Angell
- Stars: Stan Brock
- Genre: Documentary
- Release Date: 2023-11-14
- Run Time: 96
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11/14/2023# “The Hunger Games: Songbirds & Snakes,” “Next Goal Wins,” “Napoleon,” “Medicine Man: Stan Brock Story”