Katniss the Covergirl

by Tee (with commentary by Miss Vee)

Well by now you’ve seen it, you know, unless you’ve been living under a rock: Entertainment Weekly’s newest cover girl, Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss from The Hunger Games film.

First official pic of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss

  So basically, it’s a full on spazzfest over here because she looks pretty amazing—not that we ever had any doubts.  Not like we do with some of the other casting (cough, cough).  But this is a happy post.  We won’t go there.

Since we haven’t talked about the newest members (unless you follow our Facebook), let’s discuss it amongst ourselves.

Katniss:

Tee:  Me thinks she look like one serious butt-kicker.  I love that she has arrows coming out of her pack.  I love that she’s brunette and more olive-complected because this is how Katniss is described. Also, and I may be over analyzing, but I think she has a good balance of tough-girl-who-is-doing-what-she-has-to-especially-if-it-involves-skinning-a-squirrel-or-something-like-it mixed with the look of someone who has a bit more heart—one who loves her sister, her best friend and that sweet, delicate dough boy, Peeta.  I see it in her eyes.  Or I’m crazy.  I’m going with the eyes though.

Vee: I’m with Tee…it’s CLEARLY all said in the eyes…all of it.  Especially that bit about Peeta.  Say what?  And also, my favorite thing…the pin!!!!!!  It’s will be the accessory to have.  I am so getting it for opening night!  I am certain Hot Topic will have some version of it.

Tee: How did I miss the pin?  Kind of a big detail! Love it.

Prim

Willow Shields

Tee:  I see her sweet face and I think about Mockingjay and all I can think is WHYYYYYYY???? Why Suzanne Collins!!!!

Vee: People, perfect Prim.  Just look at her.  The look says, “I am super sweet but, like, super hungry.  Won’t you share your wild berries and squirrel with me?  Here, have some goat milk.”  And, um, like I so would.  Share my food, that is.  I’ll pass on the goat milk, thank you.

Haymitch

Woody Harrelson

Tee:  He seems like in real life he’d be drunk and crazy most of the time, so I think he’s perfect.  Plus, I loved him in Zombieland (and Cheers. Always Cheers).

Vee:  And also in that surfer movie that I don’t remember the name of, and which wasn’t so good, though he was good in it.  I dig this dude as Haymitch.  It makes sense.  That surfer dude that he played, it bodes well for the (allegedly) good-for-nothing Haymitch.

Effie

Elizabeth Banks

Tee:  Clearly I’m not going to say I told you so.  Even though I did. Let’s ignore the fact that no one else I picked was chosen.  This is because the gods of movie cast picking despise me.

Vee:  Dude (I’m talking to you Tee)…Did you ever know that you’re my hero???  You are the wind beneath my literary wings.  You called it.  And she’s totes perf.  I could have lived with my pick, but hey, clearly, since we share a brain and all, this works too.  I am IN.

Caesar Flickerman

Stanley Tucci

Tee: I love him because he can play someone you adore:  the awesome sauce guy in The Devil Wears Prada.  Or someone you hate: the creepy guy in The Lovely Bones (which I refuse to read or watch because the previews freak me out—mainly because of him, thus proving my point.)

Vee:  DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE, I read Lovely Bones!  Remember that one time that our friend – MyShell – thaz her icognito name – tried to do the book club thing that didn’t stick but which was fun because we got to get all our BFF’s together and eat yummy food?  Lovely Bones was one of the books.  APPARENTLY somebody, whose name starts with a T and finishes with an -ee didn’t do her homework.  My point being, I read it and it was Creepsville and depressing and I won’t watch “the Tooch” in that role.  Even though I am sure he acts the pants out of that part, because he rocks the hiz house.  I love him—like, so much.  I wish he was my GBF, because he seems to be a good one.  I liked The Devil Wears Prada. He can play any part, and I will love him.  Best actor ever.  He’ll be sheer perfection in this role.  Just like he was playing Julia Child’s beloved.

Tee: In my defense, another member of that book club told me, “Dude, I know you. You’ll hate that book because you have daughters and you’re already kind of paranoid.” Being that she was right, I took her advice. I will not read it.  Plus I don’t like her other books.  I mean where are the Jonah Griggs and Michael Moscovitzes in her novels?  Nowhere!

Seneca Crane

Wes Bentley

Tee: All I know of him is American Beauty, in which he was naked and wanted to kill his dad.    I think this means he’ll be a good bad guy.   I like this choice.

Vee:  Just get a load of those eyes, will you????  I’m on board this train!  Choo, choo!

Rue

Amandla Stenberg

Tee: If we talk about Rue, I’m going to cry.  She’s perfect. End. Of. Story.

Vee: Ditto.  But just look at that face.  OMG.  Tee, you know we’ll need an extra-large box of Kleenex, right?  OMG, I think I need one now.  Just look at that face.  Damn you President Snow!!!!!!!

Now the big question is WHO WILL BE CINNA?????  Beyond that, other than the two who will not be named,  we have a pretty good cast (in truth, Tee is coming to terms with Peeta.  What??? I know. I’m coming to terms and I’m referring to myself in the third person.  Which is weirder?).

Casting The Hunger Games Movie (like for reals)

The Hunger Games, the incredible first book in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, is being made into a film.  For some reason Vee and I were NOT asked to direct or weigh in on it (what the shizzo is that about?)  Despite this tragic news,  we’ve been talking about our dream cast.  Forget that the film now has a big-name fancy pants director (Gary Ross) or that the budget was just announced to be somewhere around $60 million (that’s more than Twilight thank heaven, but less than some huge epics).  We want to talk about who would be in our movie— age, money and sanity aside.

Tee

Alright friends, I’m nothing if not totally indecisive when it comes to the most ridiculous, unimportant things.  If you need help with a major life decision, I’m your girl.  But if you want to know which of two identical taupe shades you should paint your living room, I will agonize over the whole process.  All that considered, we should be thankful that I whittled my cast down to one choice per character on most everyone…except Katniss.

Kaya Scodelario as Katniss?

Kaya Scodelario

AS KATNISS

I know alot of people online are talking about her for the role of Katniss.  I think she physically fits the description of our resident bad ass, Ms. Everdeen.   Plus she’s  gorg.  If I didn’t think she looked like Katniss I’d probably hate her.  I’m interested to see her in the new Wuthering Heights movie next year, playing the character I love to hate, Cathy Earnshaw. This one has potential so she gets a solid…eh.

 

Or Emma Roberts as Katniss?

Emma Roberts

AS KATNISS

Confession: My kids and I love the Nancy Drew movie.  And we love Ms. Roberts.  She is cuteness personified.  Obviously “cute” is not a word we Hunger Games peeps would ever use to describe Katniss.   Buttkicker?  Yes.  Brave?  Yes?  Totally clueless when it comes to guys? Oh hell yes.  But not cute.  Still, for some totally irrational reason I think Emma Roberts would have the ability to carry off a tough, multi-layered girl like Katniss.  I have no evidence to point to, other than the fact that perhaps her Auntie Julia has passed on some of her wonderful acting talents, but this is what I believe.

Sidenote: I know Chloe Moretz is all the rage right now.  There has been lots of internet buzz that she’s a favorite to play Katniss.  Let’s me just say, she is adorable.  I loved her in Kick Ass and the clips I’ve seen from Let Me In (which I won’t watch because the original film scared the pants off me) look fantastic, but she is far too young to be Katniss.  Not only is she young, she looks very young.  If she is cast as Katniss, I may have to go on a Hunger Games boycott (which, you know, would only last until the movie came out, after which I’d totally go see it because I have absolutely no willpower, but still.  Be warned).

Ben Barnes as Gale

 

Ben Barnes

AS GALE

Well hellooooo Prince Caspian.  Or is that King Caspian now?  Sigh. Barnes has those brooding good looks that Gale is known for.  Though we barely get to know him in the first book, this is how I picture Katniss’ sidekick.  In fact, most of what Suzanne Collins tells about Gale has to do with his uber hotness (check), his hunting abilities (seeing him fighting all those CGI things in Prince Caspian leads me to believe he’d pull this off) and his devotion to Katniss and her family.  He is exactly how I imagine Gale, that poor guy stuck in friend mode with his best bud.  Wouldn’t they make such pretty babies? 

Hunter Parrish as Peeta

Hunter Parrish

AS PEETA

I know I just picked him in my casting for the Clockwork Angel review.  He’s kind of my go-to-blonde-guy (sorry Blonde Guys.  I’m not normally your biggest fan).  And he has an innocent look about him, which is exactly how I imagine our District 12 baker.  Peeta is someone who sees a sliver of hope in the darkest of times and this face conveys that.  What convinced me of this was when I rented It’s Complicated and saw Mr. P playing Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin’s son.  The moment I saw him, all I could think was “Peeta! Bread!  Peeta!”  When genius strikes, you don’t question it.

Hugh Laurie as Haymitch

Hugh Laurie

AS HAYMITCH

This is totally how I picture my man Haymitch.  I love that terribly flawed guy because despite his flagrant drunkenness and harsh ways, you can see that he has a heart.  Can you really blame him for being a little bit of a crazypants?  He’s been through alot.  That’s why I think Hugh Laurie would be perfect—because he’s not.  He’s good at playing a man who is intelligent, who has some inner demons but also has a heart buried somewhere under that hard exterior.

Elle Fanning as Prim

Elle Fanning

AS PRIM

Would you look at that face?  Isn’t she the most precious thing since baby Renessme chewed her way out of Bella’s tum tum?  No, really. Isn’t she so cute?  Dakota’s little sis is exactly how I picture Prim.  She has that fresh, innocent face that could convey hope in even the darkest of times.  And she’s just the right age (twelve).

Elizabeth Banks as Effie

 

Elizabeth Banks

AS EFFIE

Look out bishes! It’s time to talk about the cold-hearted mega byotch, Miss Effie.  I imagined Effie as someone picture-perfect; someone who looked beautiful on the outside, with her mega-watt smile and perfect composure, but who could convey an icy detachment with one look.  I can imagine that she’d have the same expression on her face in announcing the Hunger Games as she would in doing a big-time Panem celeb interview.  Dats cold.  Elizabeth Banks (who I love) fits the bill.

Jude Law as Cinna

Jude Law

AS CINNA

I’m not gonna lie.  I agonized over this one (remember: taupe paint).  It was so difficult to place my beloved Cinna.  I imagined him to be breathtakingly handsome with just a touch of fabulosity.  I think Jude Law could pull that off.  He’s pretty and kind of delicate-looking.  Still, before we sign his contract I’d be open to suggestions from others.

 

 

 

Vee

OK, so I should probably start this off with one big “I’m sorry”.

I feel like I start way too many of my posts with apologies and disclaimers but what can I say?  I was raised Catholic so my guilt is in every fiber of my plasma.  But see this time, this time it’s truly warranted…I really do need to apologize.  Why?  Oh, wait until you get to the bottom of my casting call.  Now don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Don’t go sending me your computer repair bill if you throw something at your computer screen and it breaks.

“WTF is she talking about?”, you might ask.

Listen, I didn’t mean for this to happen, but the brain eyes want what they want and sometimes there’s just nothing you can do about it.  As I read The Hunger Games, and as I quickly discovered my personal preference for Peeta over Gale, my head (acting as if on its own accord) morphed Peeta into who it wanted him to look like…siriusly.  And so it was only natural that this would transform Gale into the opposite of Peeta, cuz they are, right?

OK here’s the deal:  I like brunettes.  I’ve never been one for blond guys and I find it a great duress to imagine a literary character swoonworthy if he’s a blondie, which supposedly Peeta is.  Sooooo…there, I said it.  In my head Peeta is a brunette, very down to earth looking and Gale is blond and pouty.  What?!?!?  I SAID I KNOW ALREADY, STOP WITH THE DIRTY LOOKS!!!  Sorry, there’s the Catholic guilt kicking in…it’s making me a little paranoid.  Wait, are you still giving me the evil eye?  I can’t take this.

 

See? Look, she's thinking, I am SO going to kick the living shiz out of that paparazzi!

Kaya Scodelario

AS KATNISS

She’s lovely but not SO unbelievable gorgeous that she knows it.  The kind of pretty that everyone but her is aware of.  She also has eyes that show her strength…you know, the kind of eyes that say, “I am so going to kick your ass right now!” and be able to follow through on that promise.  Just sayin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

See? She looks tired.

Katherine Keener

AS KATNISS' MOM

Katniss’ mom is kinda, sorta pretty but she tired!  I mean, hulloh, you would be  too if you had to live in District 12 and had lost a husband, gone through major clinical depression that you, somehow, nursed yourself back from, and were starving nearly everyday.  Also, coal dust is not good for your skin…it can make you wrinkle prematurely.  I hope Katherine Keener doesn’t take this the wrong way but she does a really good job acting tired.

Sami Hanratty is a cutie-pie like Prim

Sammi Hanratty

AS PRIM

Cutie-patootie Prim still has the fresh look of innocence.  She is, by nature, filled with hope.  She’s super cute as a button too, just like Sammi Hanratty! (She’s in one those American Girl movies I’ve never seen on account of I have two boys, thank God!)

Robert Downey Jr. is my Haymitch

Robert Downey Jr.

AS HAYMITCH

I have this bizarre “smell you” connection going on with Haymitch and I don’t know why.  I mean, I SWEAR it has nothing to do with my own out of control drinking problem. Just kidding you guys, I don’t have an out of control drinking problem!  It’s totally under control which is what I always tell my friends from AA when they call.  OK, so, really, I don’t know why.  He’s a kook, and I just happen to have a soft spot for kooks.  It also probably doesn’t hurt that from the get go I envisioned one Mr. Robert Downey Jr. as Haymitch, who I have just the tiniest of crushes on.  I might have cast Hugh Laurie, except I just really wanted to post this picture of RDJ giving me (me) the stink eye.

 

"Um, why is the Mockingjay holding that big giant ball? I think it clashes with her outfit!"

Kristin Chenoweth

AS EFFIE

This girl is the bitch-who-stole-mah-pads.  She is utterly obtuse and unable to access the part of her brain that says, “Heeeeey, I’m in the business of taking people to their deaths!”  She distracts herself by thinking she’s in the business of being a crazy etiquette nazi and it works for her.  You need to have the ability to give the crazy eye look if you’re going to play this gal and Kristin Chenoweth is just the girl.  I’ve seen the crazy eyes on that one and she does them gooooooood.

Jake Baruchal

AS CINNA

Oh, Cinna.  I heart Cinna.  I want to start the club and be the president.  Every girl needs a Cinna.  I could write a sonnet about why but if I start I’ll never finish, so let me just say that this one is the hardest to cast for me.  I wanted someone who is good looking, but not too good looking.  He should not be ripped because he has to stand in great contrast to the likes of Gale and Peeta, who are totally ripped and muscular (right?).  Someone who has a quiet serenity, and eternal wisdom about him, someone who with just one look tells you he knows more.  The force is strong in this one, young Padawan.  So tell me, how in the hizzle am I supposed to cast that?!?!  Imagine my luck, as I was watching a commercial for the upcoming release of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (on DVD and Blu-Ray!) and I see Jake Baruchal, the apprentice, gives the camera this quiet-resolve-type look and I was sold.  That’s my Cinna and I am sticking to it.

 

I'm sorry.

Chord Overstreet

AS GALE

I have nothing to say.  Sorry, I’m too busy with my head under my pillow.  Look, just enjoy the pretty picture of Chord Overstreet and be quiet.  Just thought I’d add that it’s almost a mystic, voodoo kind of thing that my final (and most important, to me anyhow) casting pick is also a fellow Glee cast member…

 

This is my Peeta, okay?

Cory Montieth

AS PEETA

Peeta, who even in all my cringe-filled-stupor I saved for last because I love him so.  Peeta is sweet but still capable of (I don’t care what anyone says) open a can of whoop ass.  The difference being that he can talk about how that makes you feel after it happened.  Well, on account of my brunette-preference, I pictured an aw shucks, cutie-patootie who still could bench press.  And so, fresh off of my first read of The Hunger Games, I tuned into my current fav TV Show, Glee, and watched as Cory Montieth did the whole “aw shucks” thing so adorably perfectly, and then turning around and kicking some a-double-ss  on the football field.

The Recap…

It looks like Vee and I will have to duke it out over Gale and Peeta (obv. Ben Barnes will win since he’s a prince and all), but this whole conversation has us wondering…who would your dream cast be?