Last Seen Blogs
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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Hi! Welcome back to PestoButGay, where today I feel like I actually have ground to speak on when reviewing today’s film ‘Hunger Games : The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” having read all of the Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy books as a teen and during desperate times read.. and reread.. and reread those pages of the prequel book, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - so I am well acquainted with the source material, having lots of expectations leading up to the release of the film, and my own perceptions of how it should be.
For convenience, I will be using the shorthand title of the film “TBOSAS”, “TBSS” or “Songbirds and Snakes” as I have beef with Suzanne for not making the title snappier. I’m joking I love you Suzanne ( Write more books please ).
As a recap, as it’s been a little while since the film came out and it might not be the freshest on your mind. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” takes us back to the dystopian world of Panem, decades before the events of the trilogy. This time, we’re following a controversially hot young Coriolanus Snow. Yes, the same Coriolanus Snow that later became a dictator killing children. This charming student navigates the political landscape of Panem, as he becomes dragged in to shape the deadly games of manipulation and survival.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, returning as the director of the trilogy, and written by Suzanne Collins, who took her time to make this masterpiece but it is much appreciated. The film sees a cast of Tom Blyth ( who you won’t know, as I didn’t ) as Coriolanus Snow, Hunter Schafer ( who you should know if you don’t ) as Tigris Snow, Coriolanus’ cousin, and Snow White herself, Rachel Zegler. Viola Davis, features as the antagonistic force that trained Coriolanus snow, and she was incredible, easily my favourite performance and truly no one disappointed.
Now, to what you have all been waiting for, my interpretation! ( this is where you are meant to cheer ) Songbirds and Snakes serves as such a compelling piece exploring power, privileged, and the moral intricacies that Suzanne makes the audience question as we delve into the evolution of Snow. The film looks at the origins of tyranny, truly not a subject that is ever talked about with empathy and a rationale displaying a step by step of how easily tyranny can happen.
As a devoted fan of the franchise, I approached the film with high expectations, and I’m pleased to say that it did not disappoint. The film expertly weaves together elements of political intrigue, social commentary, and character-driven drama, creating a riveting cinematic experience from start to finish.
Saying that, with all the positive affirmations, fun facts and how strongly that I have anticipated this film with excitement, that I have given this film so far, I actually only give it 4 Stars.
****
I love the Hunger Games franchise and universe so much, like so goddamn much. This could have been awful and I genuinely think that I would have come away with good things to say. I truly enjoyed it, mostly as an evolution of the story and lore we already know, but with a strong enough base to stand on its own, friends of mine that hadn’t watched the others didn’t feel isolated by the film of like they were missing something, but thoroughly enjoyed it, which I think is a credit of the book.
Though it improved on the book is many ways, I think my only issue with it is that it leans too corny at times, like they could have a fire line of dialogue, but it feels like they are waiting for you to tell them how good it was. While some moments may lean towards melodrama, the overall narrative remains engaging and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impact on viewers. But overall, it had so many great and clever plot devices, which was my favourite thing about the films and books and what drew me in in the first place.
Suzanne collins can do no wrong. The Hunger Games franchise has so much potential, such a complex and engaging universe and this film was i think one of the best it's weighed out romance with politics. The politics of the entire universe are also obviously amazing, could talk for hours just about that honestly. Suzanne Collins, the mother that you are, please make a million more shoot off stories. Even if I am your only audience.
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Saltburn
Hi, I am King, and this is PestoButGay.
Talking of gay, have you seen Saltburn Yet? The homoerotic period piece that lead to a bajillion TikTok’s of men walking around their houses with imitating ART as Sophie Ellis Baxter plays in the background?
Saltburn, transports viewers to the idyllic Saltburn House, where the lives of its residents are set against the backdrop of a picturesque summer sandwiched between uni years at Oxford.
Quite similarly I was asked to my friends summer house in a seaside town of Lyme, equally gay, but a bit less of the whole drinking cummy bath water.
The film follows the eclectic cast, as we follow Oliver, played by Barry Keoghan in awe over Felix, Jacob Elordi, as we are pulled through a scarily British cast ranging from Rosamund Pike to Richard E.Grant and their pets that reside at Saltburn house, from the enigmatic Venetia, to the eccentric Farleigh, or the wine aunt we all have, Pamela. The film, written by Rosamund Pike, as the characters navigate love, loss, and even the passage of time in the quintessentially British setting and class divides we have all become so used to.
What I really love, is the way the house and class is a sort of character in itself in the film. “Saltburn” was this character referred to as if it was heaven, it serves as more than a backdrop for the unfolding drama, it breathes and represents so much more than looks. It feels like its a fully realised character, with its own quirks, history and personality, I even picked on references to minotaurs or paintings like The Garden of Earthly Delights.
"Saltburn" explores the theme of class as another character in the story with the divide between the residents of the estate and the working-class inhabitants of the town to the subtle power dynamics at play within each social dynamic. The film's exploration of class consciousness and the inherent tensions between privilege and poverty adds depth and complexity to its characters and their interactions, shedding light on the broader social landscape of post-war Britain. And I love it even more because 2006 is the perfect setting for this that encapsulates all of those themes, and I think it is so interesting that what for many of us was our childhood can be considered a period piece.
I think I would give it about a 3 and a half stars to be annoying. The half star is purely because we got to see Barry Keoghan naked.
***.
In all honesty, what was that? Man! What a brilliant but also terrible but also stunning and grotesque and stupid and amazing film, yet the film loses me the most at the end. Basically up until he kills Venetia i’m with it! But then it unravels and i understand the thought behind it but at the same time its all dumb!!!!!!!!
I loooved the acting, Rosamund Pike especially but strong performances across the board. Visually stunning, all the things you want in a film, like constantly i found myself grinning at how well shots were put together or the way colours bounced off one another.
The shock value all kinda works for me, where as others looked like they had seen a ghost, I was sat there like it was any other day of the week, It worked for me, the like sexual shock value like the bathtub and the vampire and the grave was all a lotta fun. It just sticks the landing so much to the point it drags down the whole film.
I think the ending would be fine (still bad, but fine) if it didn’t re-contextualise other parts of the film from earlier and give them worse meaning!! he doesn’t need to be this mastermind what the hell is the point in that, let him be a weird little Liverpudlian freak who’s psychosexually obsessed with a 6'6 man and his big ass house like I thought this film was going to be about! Him being from Liverpool had so much potential for further analysis and points to be made to critique North/South class divides and dynamics in place in British society, that were just sort of lost and that was such a shame
i can see my opinion changing, either for the good or the worse tbh, depending on how it sits with me and whether i find myself thinking about the good or the bad more.
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