The Forger
Yes, it has Josh Hutcherson in it, and yes, I did get it with that in mind. However, despite him being my soul mate and being the perfect Peeta, I was curious to see how he would stand as being another character other than himself - he even admitted to being very alike to Peeta himself.
So, I rented the movie, figuring it was going to be at least decent, considering Hayden Panettiere appeared in it, and she’s been one of my favorite female actresses ever since the Disney movie “Tiger Cruise”. Anyone remember that?
Anyway, I rented the movie, watched it, and I couldn’t believe how much he’s grown as an actor, especially by playing such a dynamic, troubled, emotional role. I was stunned. Sure, I knew he was good, just not *that* good.
On him playing Peeta in Mockingjay
Warning: SPOILERS FOR MOCKINGJAY. You were warned.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about him turning into someone so completely different from Peeta - a struggling boy who wanted to kill, who was deeply abused and changed forever. Someone who wanted to kill himself, and attack Katniss with such a force that surprised us all. When he inflicts pain on himself by pulling his handcuffs to keep him in reality, and not turn him into the mutt that the Capitol created out of him. He had to change into a polar opposite, with such a cold-hearted rage that I didn’t know Josh could do. It’s not just his acting skills, but the way you have to use your body, contort your face to look convincing, and he has such an innocent look about him (both Peeta and Joshua), that I was worried would ruin the point of Katniss and her now tarnished relationship with Peeta.
But.
The Forger changed my view on it completely. The way he showed anguish when they didn’t find his mother? How he could turn into the most romantic, playfully, animal loving boy into someone who was physically violent, and threw punches left to right in the most convincing way - I’ll admit, I was surprised. But he was excellent. Beyond excellent. I respect him so much more as an actor now, than ever before. Do we have another Tom Cruise on our hands? Well, hopefully, without the drugs.
END OF SPOILERS.
One Last Thing
Anyone who said that The Forger was boring, or didn’t live up to their expectations. What were you expecting, exactly? Not every movie is going to have action-packed, blood pouring, sex-driven, hyped up movies that keep your attention every ounce of the way. You have to be committed to movies like this - they have a point beyond Good vs. Evil. It shows the depths of others, the challenges they must face, the conflicts with themselves, and others around them. Joshua vs. Everly, Everly vs. Himself, Joshua vs. Himself, Anne-Marie vs. Everly Joshua vs. well… everyone. This movie will more than likely get a Sundance Film Festival award rather than an MTV Best Movie award. Again, it has depth to it, and if it isn’t your type of movie, I suppose you’ll have to get over it. It’s just two hours wasted, no big deal. But The Forger had a point besides romance and betrayal. Did you know that the quote from Everly “Did you know that half of all famous paintings hanging in museums and homes on display are forgeries?”is actually true? I think this was a great movie, and I will surely be watching it again, and again… And let’s face it, again.
