Knives Out review

KNIVES OUT:

RIAN JOHNSON’S WHODUNNIT IS A SUSPENSEFUL, FUNNY, AND VERY WELL-CRAFTED MYSTERY!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

LIONSGATE

Everyone is a suspect of the death of Harlan Thrombey in Knives Out

            A detective is mysteriously enlisted to investigate the murder of a renowned crime novelist in Knives Out, the new film written and directed by Rian Johnson (The Brothers Bloom, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and a modern take on the classic murder-mystery genre. There was a lot of hype for this movie when it was announced even after the release of everyone’s favorite Star Wars movie.

            For good reasons, you got an all-star cast in a smart, thrilling, but also very funny homage to murder-mystery films like Clue: The Movie or Murder on the Orient Express. Also, if you’re familiar with Rian Johnson’s work then you know he loves to play with expectations of different genres like his debut film Brick which pays tribute to film-noir in a high school setting, Looper explores the possibilities of time travel, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi plays around with fans’ expectations of a Star Wars movie with polarizing results. 

            His trademark directing style is present here in Knives Out where he gives new spins to murder-mystery movie tropes similar to what Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon did with The Cabin in the Woods in 2012 in a witty but clever way. The result: A thoroughly entertaining but also well-crafted mystery film that keeps you guessing while also making you laugh once in a while thanks to the appeal of its cast and some witty dialogue written by Johnson himself. 

            One day after his 85^th birthday, wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer-The Sound of Music, Beginners, All the Money in the World) suddenly dies presumably from suicide. Following his death Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig-James Bond franchise, Defiance, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)) is mysteriously called in to investigate the cause of his death and comes to the conclusion that…it may not have been suicide and that anyone whether extended family members or his staff could be a suspect. 

            Blanc rounds up Harlan’s family consisting of his grandson and spoiled playboy Ransom (Chris Evans-Scott Pilgrim VS The World, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Snowpiercer), his caretaker and nurse Marta (Ana de Armas-Knock Knock, War Dogs, Blade Runner 2049), eldest daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis-Halloween, A Fish Called Wanda, Freaky Friday (2003)), youngest son Walt (Michael Shannon-Premium Rush, Man of Steel, 12 Strong), son-in-law Richard (Don Johnson-Miami Vice, Nash Bridges, Django Unchained), daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette-The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine, Hereditary), granddaughter Meg (Katherine Langford-13 Reasons Why, Love, Simon, Cursed), housekeeper Fran (Edi Patterson-Black-ish, Vice Principals, We Bare Bears), and second daughter-in-law Donna (Riki Lindhome-House, The Big Bang Theory, The Lego Batman Movie) and tries to figure out who the culprit is and the reasoning behind Harlan’s death. The only problem is, it could be anyone or maybe even everyone.

            The film also stars Lakeith Stanfield (Short Term 12, Selma, Straight Outta Compton) as Detective Lieutenant Elliot, Noah Segan (Brick, Deadgirl, Looper) as Trooper Wagner, K Callan (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, How I Met Your Mother, Meet the Browns) as Great Nana, Frank Oz (The Muppets franchise, Star Warsfranchise, The Dark Crystal) as Alan Stevens, M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple, Blade Runner, The Iron Giant) as Mr. Proofroc, and Marlene Forte (Dallas, The Fosters, Marvel’s Runaways) as Marta’s mother. 

            Overall, Knives Out is a gleefully original take on the murder-mystery genre and another win for writer-director Rian Johnson, balancing suspense and terror with humor and actors chewing the scenery practically all throughout the film. All the actors are given their times to shine (including side characters) and you can tell everyone is having a ball with this movie particularly Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Chris Evans (whose character I can best describe as Bizarro Captain America), they’re all just hamming it up as this very selfish and unlikable family who barely acknowledge Harlan’s death and only care about what he leaves them in his will, imagine the murder-mystery equivalent of the main characters from Seinfeld or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, in a strange way you kind of root against them but at the same time they make you laugh and put you on edge as well. 

            Nevertheless, even with the slightly comedic tone you’re still getting an interesting mystery and at times some haunting imagery like a spider crawling across the head of a corpse. It just goes to show that a movie doesn’t always need to have blood and gore to be scary, sometimes all you need is suspense and a well-crafted mystery…that’s what we got with this movie. 

            It’s also very unique as a rare murder-mystery movie to be ENTIRELY original and not based on an existing property. This is Rian Johnson paying homage to these types of films which you can tell he’s a big fan of while still staying fresh and new with the story and its execution. 

            Knives Out is a murder-mystery film that’s smart, funny, and very well-crafted proving that there is still some life in this once dead genre. In fact, even after you know the mystery it’s worth revisiting to catch details you didn’t notice before, easily one of the best films in this type of genre period, grab your “Knife” out and see for yourself. 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: 

TOM HANKS SHINES AS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL TELEVISION STARS OF ALL TIME IN THIS WHOLESOME AND MOVING BIOPIC!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: **** out of 4

TRISTAR PICTURES

Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

            Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Cast Away, The Post) dons the sweatshirt and brings the legacy of television star Fred Rogers to the screen in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the new biopic directed by Marielle Heller (The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and inspired by the 1998 Esquire magazine article, Can You Say…Hero? by Tom Junod. If you read my review of last year’s documentary film, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? then you know I have mad respect for Fred Rogers and what he stood for whether as the host of the children’s television series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, helping both kids and adults express their feelings, or fighting to get funding for PBS, this man knew what he was doing and he has touched and captivated people everywhere for generations. 

            There seems to be a resurgence of Mister Rogers’ popularity and awareness after the release of Won’t You Be My Neighbor? which covered his life and career as well as the impact he had on everyone whether a child or an adult. Now here comes this film with the nicest man in Hollywood portraying the nicest man on TV and bringing a story to the screen that was NOT explored in the documentary, Tom Junod’s interview with Fred and his article for Esquire on heroes and how simple acts of kindness can change an individual. 

            I know I’m going to sound like a broken record since everyone is already saying the same thing about this movie, but I’m sorry A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is just wonderful and Hanks with a twinkle in his eye and overflowing with positivity and passion makes your heart melt like butter. However, much like the series that inspired it, the film depicts intense and very mature subject matter like difficult relationships with family members, raising a child, and even death, but are done in a positive light and give people a chance to learn from such experiences. 

            The film follows Esquire journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys-Brothers & Sisters, The Edge of Love, The Post) being assigned to interview television personality Fred Rogers (Hanks) for a 400-word article on heroes. Lloyd travels to Pittsburgh where he meets Fred at WQED Studios for the interview. 

            During the interview Fred learns that Lloyd is having difficult times providing for his wife Andrea (Susan Kelechi Watson-Third Watch, Louie, This is Us) and newborn son Gavin as well as reconnecting with his estranged father Jerry (Chris Cooper-American Beauty, Adaptation, Breach) who cheated on his mother and abandoned him when he was a child. Fred takes Lloyd on a journey of self-discovery by having him behind-the-scenes on the show, taking him to a Chinese restaurant and discussing the many things a person can do, or even something as simple as riding a Subway train to Fred’s apartment while all the riders sing the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood theme song as Lloyd realizes that Fred Rogers is more than just a man who talks with puppets and entertains kids and slowly learns to be a better person and letting go of the past. 

            The film also stars Enrico Colantoni (Galaxy Quest, Veronica Mars, Hope & Gloria) as Bill Isler, Maryann Plunkett (The Squid and the Whale, Blue Valentine, True Story) as Joanne Rogers, Tammy Blanchard (Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, The Good Shepherd, Into the Woods) as Lorraine, Wendy Makkena (Sister Act 1 and 2, Finding North, State of Play) as Dorothy, Carmen Cusack (Wicked, Bright Star, Sorry for Your Loss) as Margy, Jessica Hecht (The Single Guy, Friends, Breaking Bad) as Lila Vogel, Noah Harpster (One Mississippi, For All Mankind, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) as Todd, Maddie Corman (Some Kind of Wonderful, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Begin Again) as Betty Aberlin, and Christina Lahti (Swing Shift, Running on Empty, Lieberman in Love) as Ellen. 

            Overall, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is an inspiring and powerful experience and one of the best biopics I have ever seen. It’s interesting because while the movie does revolve around Mister Rogers, he is actually not the main focus of this movie but rather on the Lloyd character who is loosely based off Tom Junod and how Fred helps him reconnect with his family and make amends with his father to become a better person. 

             It shows that Mister Rogers wasn’t just there for children to express their feelings, he was also just as in tune with adults and had plenty of things to teach them. A lot of people gave Fred sh*t in the past most notably from Fox News for encouraging children to grow up with a sense of self-entitlement, well then Fox News is nothing more than an “Evil, Evil Channel”, but if you listen and think about what he’s discussing whether on his show or from interviews then you might realize this simple “Kids’ Show” may have a deeper meaning than you thought and his lessons might prove to be very helpful in your life whether a child or an adult. 

            However, Fred’s lessons are made even more believable when they’re coming from another nice-guy celebrity, Tom Hanks who completely transforms into Fred Rogers through his performance. I think we all know Fred Rogers sounds nothing like Tom Hanks but that is quickly forgotten when you see him on-screen in the costume and interacting with people, his mannerisms, the way he speaks, and how there isn’t a bridge between his TV persona and his personal life, I’m convinced this is the real Fred Rogers but with Tom Hanks’ voice and I’ll be pissed if he doesn’t get at least an Oscar nomination for this, he already made a good Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks but he makes a far better Fred Rogers.

            Matthew Rhys is also very likable as Lloyd, this broken man who has lost his way and is having difficult relationships with his family being assigned to interview Fred Rogers. They could have easily made him the guy who just doesn’t understand Fred’s techniques and constantly telling him “That’s not how real-life works!”, but no he listens to what Fred has to say, he talks to him about what’s going on in his life both good and bad, and the two of them try to help each other out with Fred showing him the path for a better life, Rhys portrays Lloyd as the cynical straight man to Hanks’ whimsical but wise Fred and they work together wonderfully on-screen.

            Even though it’s a biopic and based on a true story, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood still retains that Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood charm in an absolutely clever way. The film starts with a recreation of the intro to the TV series with Tom Hanks singing the theme song (Model houses, cars, trolley, and all) shot with a 4:3 aspect ratio but every time a character travels or a new location appears it is depicted through the Mister Rogers models and every time it happened I had this really dopey smile on my face. 

            Whether you’re a child, adult, or anyone with a beating heart then A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is required viewing. Even if you didn’t grow up with the TV show, go watch this wholesome, inspiring film that shows a little kindness can really go a long way. 

Frozen II review

FROZEN II: 

FUN, GORGEOUSLY ANIMATED FOLLOW-UP DOESN’T QUITE LIVE UP TO ITS PREDECESSOR BUT IS A WORTHY CONTINUATION IN ITS OWN RIGHT! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

DISNEY

Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff are back in Frozen II

            The sisters of Arendelle and their friends return in Frozen II, the highly anticipated sequel to Disney’s 2013 animated hit, Frozen. When the first film came out it became a massive phenomenon with both kids and adults, earned positive reviews from critics, the iconic songs being celebrated and overplayed to death, holds the record for the highest-grossing animated film of all time (Lion King 2019 my @$$!), and spawning countless merchandise and a couple short films and TV specials. 

            It’s Disney’s most profitable franchise and you can see why, the characters are charming, the songs are catchy, the animation is absolutely breathtaking, and the plot satirizes and plays around with various Disney tropes like marrying someone you just met and a brilliant take on an act of “True Love”. It should come as no surprise that a sequel was made with Chris Buck (Tarzan, Surf’s Up) and Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Raya and the Last Dragon) returning as directors and Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Good Place), Idina Menzel (Rent, Enchanted, Uncut Gems), Josh Gad (The Angry Birds Movie 1 and 2, Beauty and the Beast (2017), Artemis Fowl), and Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, Hamilton, Glee) reprising their roles as the voices of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff. 

            Given how much I adored the first movie I was excited for a follow-up and especially after last year’s Wreck-It Ralph sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet (Which also featured Anna and Elsa) turned out being really good and a reminder that the age of inferior Disney sequels are in the past. Clearly, Frozen II will be the same way right?...Eh, not quite but it’s still pretty good. 

            Like the first film, the animation is absolutely gorgeous especially if you’re watching it on the big screen, the songs are still catchy and the musical numbers are full of energy, and the dynamic between Anna and Elsa is very strong and the highlight of the movie. Unfortunately, it gets bogged down by an unfocused albeit fascinating story that only scratches the surface instead of exploring its full potential, it’s a worthy follow-up but not a powerhouse like the first film was. 

            It’s been three years since Elsa’s coronation and Elsa is happily spending autumn in Arendelle with her sister Anna, the kingdom’s ice harvester and Anna’s boyfriend Kristoff, Kristoff’s reindeer Sven, and Olaf the Snowman. However, she hears a mysterious voice calling to her and recalls stories her and Anna were told as children by their deceased father King Agnarr (voiced by Alfred Molina-Raiders of the Lost Ark, Spider-Man 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet, replacing Maurice LaMarche from the first film) of a mysterious enchanted forest inhabited by spirits of the Earth but were enraged after Arendelle engaged in battle against the forest’s tribe, and Elsa accidentally awakens the spirits forcing the kingdom of Arendelle to evacuate. 

            Convinced that it might explain why she was born with her ice powers, Elsa along with Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven set off on a journey to find the enchanted forest and unlock the truth not just behind Elsa’s powers but also their kingdom’s history. Oh, and Kristoff continuously tries to propose to Anna throughout the film…yeah, that happens. 

            The film also features the voices of Sterling K. Brown (American Crime Story, The Angry Birds Movie 2, The Rhythm Section) as Lieutenant Destin Mattias, Evan Rachel Wood (American Gothic, Once and Again, Thirteen) replacing Jennifer Lee as Queen Iduna, Martha Plimpton (The Goonies, Parenthood, The Good Wife) as Yelana, Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia, Gravity Falls, Parenthood (TV series)) as Ryder, Rachel Matthews (Happy Death Day 1 and 2, Batwoman, Looking for Alaska) as Honeymaren, Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order, Clueless, Suburgatory) as King Runeard, and Ciarán Hinds (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Game of Thrones, First Man) reprising his role from the first film as Grand Pabbie.

            Overall, Frozen II adds another beautifully animated and entertaining musical adventure to Disney’s library and a worthy follow-up to Frozen, even if the plot is a bit overstuffed and unfocused. There are some neat ideas explored in this film like the origins of Elsa’s powers and this concept of water containing memories of the past and it’s depicted beautifully, but then things like the forest tribe and the elemental spirits feel like an afterthought and aren’t given much time to establish them. 

            This film really throws a lot of story at you and I can imagine it being a chore for Disney to write a simplified storybook version of this film to sell. You got Anna and Elsa uncovering the mystery of the enchanted forest and Elsa’s ice powers as the main plot which is where the movie is at its best, but then the clichéd failed marriage proposal trope with Kristoff and most of the sub-plots involving side characters pretty much drag the movie to a halt, it doesn’t necessarily ruin the film but you could easily cut these out and not miss a thing. 

            However, even with those flaws, the stuff that’s good in Frozen II is really good, the animation is gorgeous and almost lifelike, Anna and Elsa’s story arcs are great and the highlight of the film, the dynamic between Anna and Elsa is very strong and you can see how they have progressed from the last film, Olaf is very hit-or-miss like in the first movie but the scenes where he’s recapping the events of Frozen not only made me laugh but made me laugh hard, and the songs are still catchy and very well-written and performed but probably won’t be nearly as overplayed as Let it Go, they’re still a lot of fun to listen to and I want to get the soundtrack. 

            Frozen II doesn’t quite have the same re-watch value as the first film, but it’s a dazzling and very entertaining follow-up that’s worth checking out on the big screen. Flawed but still has plenty of imagination, dazzling visuals, and strong character moments to keep kids and adults entertained. 

Charlie's Angels review

CHARLIE’S ANGELS:

THESE GIRLS CAN KICK BUTT AND REBOOT A FRANCHISE IN STYLE!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

COLUMBIA PICTURES

Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska, and Naomi Scott in Charlie’s Angels (2019)

            Good morning Angels, the popular Charlie’s Angels franchise has been reborn in the new reboot directed by Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man trilogy, Pitch Perfect trilogy, Power Rangers (2017)) of the Charlie’s Angels duology which starred Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as the Angels, and was based on the TV series of the same name that ran from 1976 to 1981. The first Charlie’s Angels movie released in 2000 is undeniably flawed and cheesy but still fun to watch, it’s action-packed, funny, and features three beautiful women kicking butt, a very nostalgic action film of mine as a kid and a hit at the box-office, which led to a sequel in 2003.

            The sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle however while it was nice to see Diaz, Barrymore, and Liu back together, it was tainted with laughably bad action sequences, a lazily rehashed plot, and painfully unfunny humor with the late Bernie Mac desperately trying to get a laugh. I’ll give the first film credit for as dumb as it is, I can at least have a fun time watching it, cannot do that with Full Throttle, sequel sucks moving on.

            Now we have this reboot/continuation of the series with Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga, On the Road,Underwater), Ella Balinska (Casualty, Midsomer Murders), and Naomi Scott (Terra Nova, Power Rangers (2017), Aladdin (2019)) as a new trio of Angels off to save the world. The film looked promising by the trailers, nothing that screamed “Must See” but it looked fun and like the 2000 film, features three gorgeous and talented ladies as the leads. 

            So, can these new Angels fix the sins of Full Throttle and make a fun Charlie’s Angels movie, or will it become another polarizing Sony reboot like the 2016 Ghostbusters or downright terrible like this year’s Men in Black: International? Thankfully, it isn’t the latter. 

            While it doesn’t do much new with the franchise, Charlie’s Angels (2019) is still a sexy, fun action flick with a lot of laughs, glamour, and plenty of callbacks and references to the earlier films and TV series for fans while still being entertaining on its own.

            The film follows three women, wild and rebellious Sabina (Stewart), former MI-6 agent who shoots first and asks questions later Jane (Balinska) and their newest recruit Elena (Scott) who work undercover as secret agents codenamed Angels for the mysterious Charlie Townsend (voiced by Robert Clotworthy-Ancient Aliens, The Curse of Oak Island, StarCraft (video game series)). Prior to meeting the Angels, Elena worked for tech entrepreneur Alexander Brock (Sam Claflin-Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Hunger Games franchise, Me Before You) on an energy conservation device known as Callisto which has a potentially dangerous design flaw, it causes fatal seizures when used, big shock Brock and Elena’s superior Peter Fleming (Nat Faxon-Ben and Kate, Married, Disenchantment) decide to cover it up and release it to the public (You can pretty much tell where this is going). 

            The Angels’ mission from Charlie’s assistant Bosley (Banks) is to retrieve the Callisto device from Brock and Fleming before it falls into the wrong hands and Callisto can be weaponized. In order to succeed the Angels must use their wits, skills, and gadgets supplied by their trusty weapons and tech specialist simply known as The Saint (Luis Gerardo Méndez-The Noble Family, Cantinflas, Club de Cuervos) to shut Callisto down and save the world. 

            The film also stars Djimon Hounsou (How to Train Your Dragon 2, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shazam!) as Edgar, Noah Centineo (The Fosters, How to Build a Better Boy, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) as Langston, Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men franchise, Green Room) as John Bosley who was previously portrayed by Bill Murray in the first film, Jonathan Tucker (The Virgin Suicides, Justified, Westworld) as Hodak, Chris Pang (Tomorrow, When the War Began, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Crazy Rich Asians) as Jonny Smith, and Hannah Hoekstra (Hemel, The Canal, The Fury) as Ingrid.

            Overall, Charlie’s Angels (2019) doesn’t really do much new with the spy movie formula but there is enough charm, humor, and thrilling action sequences to keep you entertained whether a fan of the source material or not. I’ll always have a soft spot for the first movie and its corny early-2000s fun, but this is a solid update of Charlie’s Angelsthat never goes too far with being trendy and current.

            While Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu will always have a place in my heart and are the definitive Angels in my opinion (I never really watched the show that much…sorry guys), Stewart, Scott, and Balinska knock it out of the park as the Angels in this movie. None of them portray the same Angels Diaz, Barrymore, and Liu played in the other movies, they pretty much take the Ghostbusters (2016), Men in Black: International, and MJ from the MCU Spider-Man movies route and make their own characters just for the film, but they still manage to retain the confident, badass, and at times quirky spirit of the Angels from the previous movies and TV show. 

            Kristen Stewart is really well casted as Sabina, she’s a bit of a ditz and very eccentric and hyper making jokes that don’t always land but enough do to get a laugh, but she’s still confident in what she does. Almost like a Bizarro Bella Swan, she has this kind and bubbly personality that’s both adorable and obnoxious and while she makes a lot of bad jokes Stewart at least delivers them in a funny way and a good half of her jokes not only made me laugh but made me laugh hard, Bella Swan made me laugh…intentionally. 

            Of course, the other Angels are a lot of fun to watch as well, Ella Balinska as this stone-cold badass who could break your neck if you look at her funny, it sounds like she’s enjoying her performance and delivering this dry sense of humor. Naomi Scott I’ll flat out say it might be a heartthrob of mine (Okay, her Jasmine performance helped too!) because she looks good in just about anything and like the other Angels she kicks butt while cracking some jokes, she’s probably the Angel who impacts the plot the most because she worked on the device that the bad guys want. 

            Elizabeth Banks as Bosley is very different compared to Bill Murray from the first film or Bernie Mac from Full Throttle as she plays the part more like Nick Fury or Ben Affleck’s Batman where she’s there to assemble the team and give them their mission. I guess it helps make Bosley seem a little more mysterious compared to earlier incarnations and Banks does a solid job portraying her.

            Charlie’s Angels (2019) is a mostly average spy film made a lot better by the charm of its talented leads. If you’re a fan of the TV series and/or the movies from the 2000s or just looking for some dumb popcorn fun, then call these Angels and you’ll have a blast. 

Ford v. Ferrari review

FORD V. FERRARI: 

HIGH-OCTANE RACING ACTION, BUT EVENED OUT WITH A GRIPPING STORY, PHENOMENAL ACTING, AND HEARTFELT DRAMA! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

20^TH CENTURY FOX

Christian Bale and Matt Damon in Ford v. Ferrari

            The automobile war is on in Ford v. Ferrari, the new film directed by James Mangold (Walk the Line, The Wolverine, Logan) and based on the true story of how Ford Motor Company singlehandedly defeated Ferrari at the 1966 24-hour Le Mans race. The film stars Christian Bale (The Dark Knight trilogy, The Fighter, Vice) and Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Bourne franchise, The Martian) as cocky British racecar driver Ken Miles and American automotive designer and engineer Carroll Shelby joining forces to build a Ford racecar fast enough to leave Ferrari in the dust in one of the most legendary rivalries of all time. 

            Despite not being an enthusiast of motorsports, I was hyped for this movie and it looked very promising from the trailers. Both Matt Damon and Christian Bale are two of my favorite actors and director James Mangold already won me over with Walk the Line, the 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma, and Logan, so if Ford v. Ferrari turned ended up being terrible, I would have been very sad…luckily that is not the case.

            Ford v. Ferrari is one of the best racing films and biopics I’ve seen in a long time and continues to show Mangold’s capabilities as a director. The racing sequences are exhilarating and well shot, the story is fascinating and evens out the race with very effective drama, and the acting is stellar and some of Bale and Damon’s best work, which is saying a lot. 

            In 1963, the Ford Motor Company is on the brink of bankruptcy while Ferrari dominates in car sales because of their participation in racing. After Enzio Ferrari (Remo Girone-Captain Fracassa’s Journey, Black Sun, Live by Night) walks out of a deal from Ford to purchase Ferrari, Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts-Elvis & Nixon, Lady Bird, The Post) decides that Ford will enter the racing division and build a car fast enough to beat Ferrari.

            In comes Shelby Automobiles owner Carroll Shelby (Damon) and hot-tempered British racer Ken Miles (Bale) who are hired by Ford to construct and test the car just in time for the 1966 24-hour Le Mans race in France. Along the way Shelby and Miles must battle corporate interferences, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons while building a game-changing racecar for Ford and leave the dominating company Ferrari in the dust. 

            The film also stars Jon Bernthal (The Punisher (Netflix series), Baby Driver, Widows) as Lee Iacocca, Caitriona Balfe (Super 8, Now You See Me, Outlander) as Mollie Miles, Josh Lucas (American Psycho, A Beautiful Mind, The Lincoln Lawyer) as Leo Beebe, Noah Jupe (Wonder, A Quiet Place, Honey Boy) as Peter Miles, Ray McKinnon (Apollo 13, The Net, O Brother Where Art Thou?) as Phil Remington, JJ Feild (Centurion, Captain America: The First Avenger, Austenland) as Roy Lunn, Jack McMullen (Waterloo Road, Brookside, Grange Hill) as Charlie Agapiou, Benjamin Rigby (Lion, Alien: Covenant, Godzilla VS Kong) as Bruce McLaren, and professional racecar driver Alex Gurney as his real-life father Dan Gurney. 

            Overall, Ford v. Ferrari revs up the engine of thrilling racing action but also has a lot of effective human drama under the hood to keep you invested. It honors the legacy of the real people who were involved but is still an entertaining movie even if you don’t know the actual story. 

            My knowledge of the real event is rather hazy though I recall hearing about it during school once, judging by other reviews and articles about the film, it seems that Ford v. Ferrari is mostly accurate though I get the feeling there are certain things they did just for the movie. The inaccuracies if any do not ruin the enjoyment of the movie or the legacy of the people who were involved in the actual race. 

            The performances are phenomenal and some of the best Matt Damon and Christian Bale acting I’ve seen in a while. They’re both giving a million percent whenever they’re on-screen (Especially Bale) and pretty much polar opposites of each other, Damon is basically the straight man of the duo and focuses on the technical and business aspects of constructing the car and keeping Miles in check meanwhile Bale is an eccentric, vulgar driver with a heart of gold, he literally “drives the movie home” and is worth at least an Oscar nomination. 

            Not only do they work well as business partners, but I could buy Damon and Bale’s characters as friends. When they’re not racing or working on the car, they’re drinking beers, shooting the sh*t, cracking jokes, and also sharing wholesome and heartfelt moments regarding their loved ones, particularly Miles’ family, the scenes of them simply talking never drag the movie in any way and are just as entertaining to watch and listen to as the races.

            Speaking of which, the race sequences are absolutely thrilling and are executed very well with the stunt work, camera shots, speed, and energy, it looks big and epic when watching it in a theater. Who would have thought the guy who directed the most depressing X-Men movie of all time could also direct some pretty damn impressive race sequences?

            Whether a fan of motorsports or not, Ford v. Ferrari should be high on your priority and has everything that makes a great biopic. A narrative that’s accurate to the events, top-notch actors bringing the people involved to life, excellent directing, and as a whole the film honors the real-life people while still being an entertaining movie in and of itself, buckle up and see for yourself.  

Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans review

TEEN TITANS GO! VS TEEN TITANS: 

TITANS CROSSOVER EMBRACES THE PROS AND CONS OF BOTH SHOWS AND DELIVERS A FUNNY, ACTION-PACKED, AND CLEVER SUPERHERO SATIRE!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

WARNER BROS. ANIMATION

Beast Boy, Beast Boy, Starfire, Starfire, Raven, Raven, Robin, Robin, Cyborg, and Cyborg settling one of the most anger inducing debates of all time in Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans

            The Teen Titans (and Teen Titans Go!) come together to face off in a showdown more heated than Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War combined in Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans, a direct-to-video animated film based on the Teen Titans superhero team from DC Comics and a crossover of the 2003 Teen Titansanimated series and the 2013 comedy-oriented Teen Titans Go! spin-off series, both of which were aired on Cartoon Network. This is the second feature film to involve the 2003 Teen Titans following Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo in 2006 and the second film with the Teen Titans Go! characters after the theatrically released Teen Titans Go! To the Movies in 2018. 

            If you read my Teen Titans Go! To the Movies review last year then you know that I grew up on the original Teen Titans show and was absolutely revolted when I heard about Teen Titans Go!...at first. Like many people, I was right along with them ripping the show apart and declaring it the worst thing ever put to television, but then I gave it a second look roughly around the time the Teen Titans Go! movie was coming out. 

            After giving it a second chance, I can admit…yes, the original show remains the superior series there is no denying that, but Teen Titans Go! does have some very funny and at times clever spoofs on superhero tropes and other iconic comic book characters like the Wonder Twins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

            Okay, not all the jokes work and there are many misfires but when they hit the jokes hit bullseye. Beast Boy and Cyborg trying to go the longest by only saying “Waffles” isn’t funny, but the Teen Titans fighting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is absolutely hilarious. Unlike Joel Schumacher’s Batman movies or the later Superman movies, Teen Titans Go! can still be campy and silly but also honor the source material in its own unique way. 

            My second revisiting of Go! eventually culminated with the release of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies which I had low expectations for when it was first announced. But then the film earned very positive reviews and I decided to give it a chance and yeah, it was a very smart, funny, and thoroughly entertaining satire on both the superhero movie genre as well as the film industry itself ending with a mid-credits sequence featuring the original Titans stating “I think we found a way back”. 

            That’s where Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans comes in and unlike Teen Titans Go! To the Movies the film was not released in theaters, so I apologize for getting to this movie a little late. Nevertheless, much like the last TTG movie, Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans continues in its tradition of mocking superhero tropes, most notably the recent multiverse and expanded universes trends from superhero films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Avengers: Endgame, in fact the final battle in this movie is eerily similar to the one in Endgame except even more ridiculous.

            The film honors both versions of Titans and gives fans (whether you like your Titans edgy or bouncy) a fun, action-packed, and absolutely hilarious satire of the Titans lore in comics, television, and film. No need to worry about this crossover tainting the legacy of the original Teen Titans show, the film brilliantly and lovingly satirizes both versions of the Teen Titans and addresses the pros and cons of each show in a very smart and fun way rather than an insult like what most people thought when Teen Titans Go! first came on TV.

            After a battle with the Gentleman Ghost (voiced by “Weird Al” Yankovic) leaves Raven’s gem cracked, the Teen Titans consisting of Robin (voiced by Scott Menville-A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, ParaNorman), Starfire (voiced by Hynden Walch-Chalkzone, Adventure Time, Kid Icarus: Uprising), Raven (voiced by Tara Strong-Batman: The Animated Series, The Powerpuff Girls, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Cyborg (voiced by Khary Payton-General Hospital, The Walking Dead, Young Justice), and Beast Boy (voiced by Greg Cipes-MDs, Ben 10, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 series)) from the Go! dimension are suddenly abducted by a mysterious spacecraft and become part of a fighting tournament by the Master of Games (voiced by Rhys Darby-Yes Man, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), a being who travels the multiverse with an artifact known as the Worlogog to find the best versions of particular heroes and have them fight each other…you can tell exactly where this is going. 

            The Go! Titans are pitted up against taller, edgier, and handsomer versions of each other, the 2003 Teen Titans. However, during the fight both Titans groups realize that something feels very suspicious about this tournament and discover that Raven’s demonic father Trigon (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson-Family Guy, Loonatics Unleashed, Uncle Grandpa) from both dimensions have joined forces and plan to shatter Raven’s gem so they can absorb the demon living inside her body and its powers so they can take over the multiverse. 

            The Teen Titans must put aside their differences whether baby hands, waffle-based dialogue, tragic backstories, or edgy comic book style brooding ironically more believable than Ben Affleck’s Daredevil and team up to save their worlds and all the other worlds beyond theirs. 

            The film also features the voices of Robert Morse (How to Succeed Without Really Trying, That’s Life, Mad Men) as Santa Claus, Grey Griffin (The Fairly OddParents, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Avatar: The Last Airbender) as Mrs. Claus, and Sean Maher (Firefly, Serenity, DC Animated Universe) as Nightwing.

            Overall, Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans is just a fun, laugh-out-loud superhero spoof whether you like your Titans darker or lighter, both versions are showcased, and lead to wonderful comedic moments. Some of the funniest parts of the movie simply come from the original Titans’ reactions to the Go! Titans and seeing them interact with one another, the Titans from the 2003 show and Go! sitting on the couch making jokes about their shows is ironically more entertaining and fun than most of the DCEU, good luck Birds of Prey. 

            Similar to Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and The Lego Batman Movie, the film is filled with several DCreferences that are sure to please fans especially during the final act where the Titans pretty much do their version of the Avengers: Endgame final battle. Teen Titans Go! VS Teen Titans is a love letter to the Titans’ history and is funny and smart enough to appeal to both veterans of the 2003 series and comics and the younger Teen Titans Go! crowd that faithfully captures the tones and spirits of their respected shows and offers something fun for all, what more can I say but TITANS, GO!

Doctor Sleep review

DOCTOR SLEEP:

FOLLOW-UP TO THE SHINING DOESN’T QUITE RECAPTURE THE SAME CHILLS AS ITS PREDECESSOR BUT OFFERS A SOLID CONTINUATION IN ITS OWN RIGHT!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Ewan McGregor returns to an all-too familiar hotel in Doctor Sleep

            The Shining saga continues in Doctor Sleep, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name serving as a follow-up to his iconic book The Shining. The film is directed by Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil, The Haunting of Hill House (2018 series)) and is a sequel to both King’s book and the 1980 film adaptation which was directed by Stanley Kubrick and starred Jack Nicholson in quite possibly his most iconic performance as Jack Torrance, utilizing elements from both the book and movie.

            While I’ve never read the book I have seen the Stanley Kubrick movie many times, it was one of the first horror movies I ever watched as well as one of the first R-rated movies I saw when I was younger and I remembered being completely entranced by the movie. Sure, it is very slow paced but the atmosphere, production design, and visuals have this unsettling and eerie tone all throughout the film, all leading up to one of the most iconic moments of the movie Jack’s rampage with the axe (Heeeere’s Johnny!). 

            Despite King’s dislike of the movie, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining is still a landmark in film and considered by many to be the first modern horror movie and was referenced and parodied many times in other movies and TV shows (Simpsons anyone?), and most recently was paid homage last year in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. Whether you’re a fan of Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick, the horror genre in general, or not The Shining is a required viewing.

            Development for a sequel had been going on since 2014 shortly after Doctor Sleep’s publication and the studio had a rough time finding funding for it. But after the critical and commercial success of 2017’s It, another horror movie based on a Stephen King book, Warner Bros. jumped right into Doctor Sleep and bringing the next chapter of The Shining saga to the screen. 

            Mike Flanagan who had already adapted a Stephen King story with Gerald’s Game is given an impossible task with this movie. Make a sequel to Stephen King’s The Shining book and a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining movie which are both so completely different in tone from each other and as mentioned before King disliked Kubrick’s film version. 

            Can Mike Flanagan fine a way to please both Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick fans with Doctor Sleep? The answer is yes.

            Let me put this out there now no, Doctor Sleep isn’t nearly as amazing as The Shining and probably doesn’t need to exist but nevertheless it’s still a very well made horror film that’s different enough to stand on its own while also paying homage to both the book and the Kubrick film topped off with really engaging performances by its cast and the right amount of fan-service being thrown in.

            Set 40 years after the incident at the Overlook Hotel, Danny Torrance, now an adult going by Dan (Ewan McGregor-Star Wars prequel trilogy, Moulin Rouge, Big Fish) is still traumatized by the events that occurred at the hotel and has turned to alcohol to suppress his Shining. However, Dan learns about a young girl named Abra (Newcomer Kyliegh Curran) who also has the Shining and is being chased by a dangerous cult that feeds on children who possess psychic powers to remain young forever led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson-The White Queen, Mission: Impossible 5 and 6, Men in Black: International) and needs his help to stop them. 

            Not only must Dan help Abra fight off the wicked cult but he also needs to overcome his trauma as this goose chase eventually leads them to an all-too familiar place, the Overlook Hotel. 

            The film also stars Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider, Live Free or Die Hard, Fear the Walking Dead) as Billy Freeman, Carl Lumbly (Cagney & Lacey, Alias, Supergirl) as Dick Hallorann, Zahn McClarnon (Longmire, Fargo (TV series), Westworld) as Crow Daddy, Emily Alyn Lind (Revenge, Code Black, Lights Out) as Snakebite Andi, Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek (2009 trilogy), Mad Men, Kingsman: The Golden Circle) as Dr. John Dalton, Jocelin Donahue (The House of the Devil, Insidious: Chapter 2, The Frontier) as Lucy Stone, Alex Essoe (Starry Eyes, Midnighters, Tales of Halloween) replacing Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance, Jacob Tremblay (Room, The Predator, Good Boys) as Bradley Trevor, and Henry Thomas (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Legends of the Fall, Gangs of New York) as Lloyd. 

            Overall, Doctor Sleep is a worth follow-up to The Shining that honors both King and Kubrick’s interpretations of the story without it feeling too forced. It does have its moments of overstaying their welcome just for the sake of pleasing fans during the final act, but the film devotes two hours of its runtime (it has a 2 ½ hour runtime) to develop the characters and establish their reasons of why they are the way they are. 

            Ewan McGregor is stellar as the adult version of Danny, I was fully convinced I was watching the kid as an adult and he’s an alcoholic much like his father was and because of his post-traumatic stress of being in that hotel and his father trying to kill him you understand why he went this route. Rebecca Ferguson is amazing as Rose the Hat and definitely one of the best and most fleshed-out horror movie villains you will ever see, she hams it up but also makes you get where she’s coming from and why she has to do horrible things, 

            Let’s talk about Kyliegh Curran as Abra, in her first starring role Curran knocks it out of the park in this movie and has become a rare kid in a horror movie that you actually grow attached to. She’s resourceful, smart, badass, and at times funny but she does show her weaknesses and has wonderful moments with Ewan McGregor whenever they are on-screen. 

            If I had to nitpick something about this movie it would be the third act, the first and second acts of the movie do a strong job being its own unique scary flick but by the end it almost becomes a Best of The Shining recreation and while they’re done very well and Flanagan captures Kubrick’s work in these moments, they don’t serve much of a purpose outside of pleasing die-hard fans of the movie. Nevertheless, Doctor Sleep delivers a worthy follow-up worth checking out whether you’re a fan of The Shining book or movie, it’s the best of both worlds, “Shine” on in and see for yourself.

BUT DON’T BE READING MY MIND BETWEEN 4:00 AND 5:00 THAT’S NICO’S TIME! 

The Lighthouse review

THE LIGHTHOUSE:

ROBERT PATTINSON AND WILLEM DAFOE MAKE ROBERT EGGERS’ THRILLER “SHINE” BRIGHT WITH SUSPENSE!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

A24

There is enchantment in the light (Not really!) in The Lighthouse

            Director Robert Eggers (The Witch) continues in his dark, unsettling visual flair that made 2016’s The Witch a powerhouse with both critics and audiences with his latest psychological thriller, The Lighthouse. This is an interesting film to say the least because not only is it filmed in black-and-white but also cropped at a 1:19:1 aspect ratio and shot on 35mm film as a callback to classic suspense films from the 1950s which may throw mainstream viewers off but if you don’t mind unconventional artistic decisions then this movie is for you.

            I wouldn’t exactly call this a scary movie, there are some genuinely creepy moments but it’s more of a tense movie that keeps you on your toes and you don’t really know where the plot is going. It’s also one of those really complex films that requires your undivided attention or multiple viewings to fully understand it, this is a great movie but damn my brain hurts.

            The Lighthouse is one of the trippiest experiences I’ve ever had in a movie theater, from its grim and unnerving production design and tone, haunting imagery, slow but fascinating and intelligently crafted mystery, and 100% committed performances by Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga, High Life, The Batman) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, John Wick), I was on the edge of my seat from the start all the way to the closing credits. It’s definitely a worthy film for Robert Eggers to follow The Witch up, though I’m currently not sure which movie I prefer more.

            The film is set in the 1890s and follows two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island. Both of them are polar opposites, Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson) is very quiet and not a social man whereas the irritable but more experienced lighthouse keeper Thomas Wake (Dafoe) is incredibly social and will get conversations going whether Winslow likes it or not. 

            They’re both stuck on this isolated island with no one else but each other, but as they operate the lighthouse over time things start to get a little crazy. Working day after day on the island with only each other to talk to, Winslow and Wake begin to slowly descend into madness.

            Overall, The Lighthouse boasts excellent performances by Pattinson and Dafoe as well as a chillingly gothic tone and continues to show Robert Eggers full capabilities as a director. It isn’t a generic scary movie where something supernatural is occurring on the island, but rather psychologically frightening similar to films like Psycho or The Shining where you’re watching these two men slowly go insane and building up suspense. 

            It is also a very open-ended movie that will lead to many conversations, theories, and interpretations which is wonderful because if a movie is making viewers ask questions and talk to each other about its themes and what they mean then it’s doing something right. This is the kind of movie you watch with your friends and discuss it afterwards and I guarantee you will hear some very interesting interpretations of what this film means.

            The production design, cinematography, and technical work are amazing and the black-and-white and use of 35mm film help make the time period come alive. Somehow, they find a balance between being both beautiful and frightening. 

            Of course, let’s talk about the acting, both Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are absolute powerhouses in this movie and some of the best acting I’ve ever seen from either of them. Pattinson starts off as the quiet guy who isn’t very social but by the end he totally hams it up and goes full on crazy with serious psychological issues on the side, Dafoe as the creepy elder lighthouse keeper who Pattinson works for and is hiding a secret from him is great and leads to some great over-the-top acting, he certainly loves to chew the scenery and this movie is no exception. 

            The Lighthouse is an intelligently crafted retro throwback to classic suspense films from the 1950s but with a modern twist and will hopefully lead to more scary films from Robert Eggers, this guy knows how to scare people without relying on typical horror movie conventions. It’s an acquired taste and probably won’t appeal to everyone but those in the mood for something different and creepy then this 19^th century “Lighthouse” is for you with Pattinson and Dafoe’s performances ironically shining much brighter than the actual lighthouse. 

Jojo Rabbit review

JOJO RABBIT:

TAIKA WAITITI’S IRREVERENT WWII COMEDY IS UPROARIOUS WHILE ALSO RETAINING A BIZARRE CHILDLIKE INNOCENCE!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi, and Scarlett Johansson in Jojo Rabbit

            A young boy living in Nazi Germany during World War II has his life and perspective on the world turned upside down when he discovers a Jewish girl hiding in his attic in Jojo Rabbit, the latest film from director Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) and based on the book Caging Skiesby Christine Leunens. Ever since I saw 2015’s What We Do in the Shadows I’ve adored Waititi’s work as a director, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is an incredibly funny and moving story with incredible performances by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison and Thor: Ragnarok is one of my favorite installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so this guy’s got mad talent and a unique sense of humor.

            So, I was all-in when his next project Jojo Rabbit was announced featuring Waititi in a comedic portrayal of the infamous leader of the Nazis, Adolf Hitler. Hey, if Mel Brooks can satirize the Nazis with The Producers then Taika Waititi can do it too. 

            Much like Joker this is another very polarizing movie and rightfully so, the funny portrayal of Nazis has divided both critics and audiences and subject matter like this for a comedy is very subjective depending on the person. As long as it generates laughs then we’re in business…by the way it does.

            Jojo Rabbit is absolutely hilarious, and the premise is both surreal and remarkably clever helmed by some outstanding performances by its cast and balancing between its bizarre humor with a surprising amount of heart. I feel dirty for admitting this, but every time Taika Waititi showed up as Hitler it was immediately followed by a dopey smile on my face and laughter…yes, Hitler made me smile (at least in this movie).

            The film follows Jojo (Newcomer, Roman Griffin Davis), a ten-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany during World War II with his single mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson-Lost in Translation, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Her) who has an unusual imaginary friend. Why unusual you may ask? Well, it just happens to be a supportive and childish version of one of the most infamous people in history, Adolf Hitler (Waititi). 

            One day after his Hitler Youth training camp, Jojo discovers something that will change his life forever, a young Jewish girl hiding in his attic named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie-The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Shortland Street, Leave No Trace). Since the laws in Nazi Germany regarding Jewish people have become so strict to the point where it’s hilarious, Jojo agrees to keep Elsa safe in the attic all the while Elsa opens Jojo’s eyes and shows him a new perspective on the world he never knew before. 

            The film also stars Sam Rockwell (Moon, Iron Man 2, Vice) as Captain Klenzendorf, Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect trilogy, Isn’t It Romantic?) as Fräulein Rahm, Stephen Merchant (The Office (UK), Extras, Good Boys) as Deertz, and Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones, John Wick, The Predator) as Finkel.

            Overall, Jojo Rabbit is a riot from beginning to end and probably the sweetest Nazi movie you will ever see if that even makes sense. The best way I can describe it is part screwball comedy, part romantic comedy that just happens to revolve around a Nazi boy and a Jewish girl…and in a bizarre way it works.

            As coldblooded as the Nazis were back in World War II I was strangely attached to Jojo as a character because when you really think about it, he’s just a normal kid who just wants to belong part of something big. But over the course of the movie, he learns that maybe what he always wanted isn’t quite as it seems and decides to follow a different path, and Roman Griffin Davis sells not only the comedic moments but also the dramatic and heartfelt parts…hope you go places kid.

            Of course, the rest of the cast have their moments to shine, Thomasin McKenzie as Elsa is absolutely charming, funny, and has plenty of screen-time with Roman, they’re kind of adorable, Rebel Wilson and Sam Rockwell are both hilarious and wacky whenever they appear, and Scarlett Johansson gives some of her best acting since Lost in Translation, I am dead serious and in a bizarre twist, it’s a humorous performance and if she got to improv her dialogue then she deserves an Oscar. 

            And yes, let’s talk about Taika Waititi as Hitler, I don’t know how he did it but he somehow made one of the most despised people in history (somewhat) lovable and similar to what Trey Parker and Matt Stone do on South Parkor Randall Park’s portrayal of Kim Jong-un from The Interview, he took a notorious person from reality and made him into a bumbling doofus but he does have his supportive moments with Jojo. It really makes you wish the real Hitler was a lot more like this guy, at least Waititi is fun-loving and quirky.

            People will either love or hate this movie and that is perfectly fine, talk about it with other people and express your opinions and views on the film like adults. But I feel your enjoyment of this movie all depends on how far you’d be willing to go along with the joke, if you can then you’ll get a lot of laughs and a heartwarming story about two polar opposites forming a friendship. 

            Jojo Rabbit adds another witty, surreal, and very well-acted film in Taika Waititi’s resumé that blends its irreverent humor with a surprising amount of heart. Whether you can run along with the joke of a comedic portrayal of Nazis or not I’d say it’s worth at least a viewing and then you can make your own judgment. 

Closing this review off with one of the best lines I’ve heard all year “F*ck off Hitler!”, yes indeed.