Jojo Rabbit
Wow, 2019 really has been a heck of a year. I still have a lot of big movies to get to (1917, Uncut Gems, Parasite, The Lighthouse, etc.), but I was finally able to get to one of my most anticipated films today: JoJo Rabbit.
Once I heard this log line, I was completely on board with what Taika Watiti was trying to tackle, but I knew it could step on some toes if done in poor taste. I love satire and also love his style of directing, so I was confident he could handle the job.
Not only does this film strike the right balance, it also hits way heavier than I expected on an emotional level. JoJo Rabbit funnels you through an array of emotions, from belly-laughing hilarious, to heartbreaking, to suspenseful, and then even to a pretty dark area at times. I was expecting about 70% comedy and 30% drama going in, but I ended up getting those percentages switched. The comedy is definitely there and the jokes deliver, but this really is a touching film.
This might be my favorite ensemble cast of the year (sorry Endgame and Knives Out). This has been a killer year for ensembles, but I love this one in particular. What's so impressive is that it is anchored by child actors. Roman Griffin Davis absolutely crushed it in the first performance I've seen of him, and Thomasin McKenzie also was a show stealer when she was on screen.
As far as the adults, Sam Rockwell churns out another great supporting performance, which seems to be a regular occurrence after Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri and Vice. And Scarlett Johanssen adds to likely the best year of her career with another good one. I even got some fun out of Rebel Wilson for once.
This movie has it all. The screenplay is witty, the directing hits the right beats, and the message gets through the mess. The nitpicks I have with this movie are so meaningless to waste space on, so I'm just gonna conclude by saying JoJo Rabbit is another fantastic movie I've seen this year, and it might result in the most shocking headline ever: local man watches social commentary film and wasn't offended.
Score: 92%