Quick Review: Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Another Oscar Winner?  I'm spoiling you, people!  Will this one live up to the hype?  Weiterlesen...

A young boy- nicknamed Jojo- is growing up in Germany during WWII- specifically the tail end of the War.

He's rejected by his peers when he won't kill a rabbit, earning him a nickname and the Film's Title.

After an incident- which I won't SPOIL- his time as a would-be Soldier is over.  His Mother- dual Oscar nominee Johansen- stands by him all the way.

She gets him a job working to spread propaganda in the City, even as things visibly come to more ruin in the background.

This really is a Film that demands that you pay attention to the surroundings more than ever.

Jojo has an imaginary friend to help him make it through his daily life- Hitler.

A reminder- Taika Waititi is actually Jewish (his real name is Taika David Cohen), so I think he gets a pass for playing Fake Hitler.

His life changes even more when he discovers someone living in a hidden room.  Can he turn her in?
Can he live with himself if he doesn't?
Could he life with himself if he did?

As things only get worse for everyone involved, can this Film have a happy ending?

To find out, stream it or rent it via Redbox (which I did).

A fun, but also serious and heartfelt Film.  Jojo is a great focal point character for this whole thing.  He isn't evil, but he's surrounded by evil people.  He's good at heart, but has no way to be like that in a Nazi-ruled Country.  He will eventually do the right thing, which isn't always easy.  What the Film does really well is give every character some humanity to varying degrees.  A Nazi Lieutenant can do a nice thing...even if he's a Nazi.  To be fair and balanced here, the Film has some issues with balancing all of the Characters.  Many characters- like Rockwell and Wilson's- seem very important at first, but then drop in and out of the story.  I get that they aren't the lead, but it feels like parts are missing.  That's a pretty minor nitpick though.  The Film has some good humor.  The Film has some good drama.  The Film has some real sad moments.  Films like this *can* be a bit exploitational with your emotions- I'm looking at you, Life is Beautiful- and it usually works in the Oscar Season.  Thankfully, this managed to not *cheat* or do lazy bits to get emotional reactions.  Instead, it earns them through good setup, good Writing (it earned that Oscar!) and good Acting.  Given how far behind I am on Books to read, it is telling that the Film is so good that it makes me want to read the Book its based on.  Jojo Rabbit is a good Film with a good message.  It has the right mix of humor, drama and sadness.  Just one last visual reminder for how the people involved in the Film feel about actual Nazis...

Having not seen *most* of the other big Oscar Films, I can't tell you if this is the best.  I can tell you that is good and you should see it though.