Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by RGA (R) on March 25, 2020 at 17:20:22

In Reply to: RE: On the risk/ambition scale I'd say JOJO Rabbit wins by a couple lengths... posted by musetap on March 24, 2020 at 15:22:11

Well JoJo Rabbit was my favorite film of the lot. But I also know these kinds of films rarely win best picture because satire is difficult to pull off when confronted with a literal minded viewer. And I have read negative reviews outlining why some didn't like it. Polarizing films have a tough road to win best picture. Which is usually why I have disagree with the Oscar winning film most years. I ranked Parasite 5th but I was okay with it because, at least, it wasn't a by the numbers film and it was well done for what it was. I might watch it again down the line.

But JoJo Rabbit blends Ann Frank with Mel Brooks' The Producers. I get why some were turned off by its tonal shifts from dire to silly. That's the risk and if it succeeds, as it did for me, it was the best movie of the lot. If it doesn't - you'll wonder why they nominated it. Trump fans won't like it because it forces them to look in the mirror, or it will go over their heads.

Taking a film through the lens of a child and a first time actor (Roman Griffin Davis) to star in about 90% of the movie is also a risk.

This is good interview with the director where he mentions a few tidbits - like the Beatles song sung by the Beatles in German and the use of colour etc.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYBJHBm7LKY   (Open in New Window)

Edits: 03/25/20   03/25/20