This review is going to be a little shorter than usual, but rest assured, I’ll try to talk about the main points of the film
Nazis can be a very controversial topic to discuss. Moreover, making a comedic/dramatic story about Nazis can be even more controversial. I remember reading the comments section on Instagram when I saw a preview for Jojo Rabbit for the first time. Quite a lot of people figured the movie would be portraying Adolf Hitler in a humorous way and making the Nazis look less-than-vile. While that isn’t the case for Jojo Rabbit, the film does make satirical commentary on the Nazis and their methods, including mocking Hitler. If the viewer looks past the initial shock of the Nazi factor, they will find that Jojo Rabbit is a thoughtful, comedic, and emotional story about a young boy in a world he doesn’t understand.
Cinematography
Jojo Rabbit‘s shots are both meaningful and colorful. Many of the scenes in the film I audibly said “wow” to. Waititi’s shooting of the film does a fantastic job of making the drab and bleak world of Nazi Germany look colorful and exuberant through the eyes of a child. Reds and greens pop more than any other color in any given scene and when Jojo is with his mother, the scenes have a fuzzy, warm feeling. Very subtle details in Jojo Rabbit make the viewing experience of such a difficult topic easier on the eyes.
Characters
Without good characters, this film would be dead in the water. The casting was wonderfully done so that certain characters (such as the possibly closeted Captain Klenzendorf) can move you and show that not everything in Germany was black and white. Jojo’s mother, of course, being the most prominent example. Avoiding spoilers, the “good” characters do an excellent job of selling their values and the film would not nearly be the same without them. As for Jojo, child actors can be very hit-or-miss. That being said, Roman Davis absolutely knocks his performance out of the park as an eager and loyal 10-year-old boy. Davis can perform very serious and emotional moments in the film without coming off as stale or unconvincing (as many child actors have been known to be in the past). Of course most controversially, Taika Waititi’s portrayal of Adolf Hitler. While keeping a lot of seriousness in the role at times, Waititi plays the part exactly as he is imagined—the imaginary conjuration of a young boy who admires his leader and country. Because of that, Waititi’s take on Hitler is obviously one of mockery (let that not be ignored) while making him seem believable as the perfect image of a 10-year-old’s hero.
Sound
Much like a Tarantino film, Waititi uses a variety of songs etched into pop culture history to score Jojo Rabbit. The film soundtrack itself is pretty solid, while not including too many orchestral scores, using them only when necessary. Another creative aspect Jojo Rabbit uses is, as I’m sure you’ve heard if you’ve seen the trailer, is remaking songs in German instead of English. Although they aren’t period-friendly, the songs are catchy and fit the tone of the film.
The Weakest Aspect of the Film…
Keeping these reviews spoiler-free really is more effort than you may think…
Jojo Rabbit suffers from one glaring flaw that most films of its type do. The movie is both comedic and incredibly serious. At times during the film, the movie will jump between these two very quickly, almost jarringly and without warning. One moment there’s a lighthearted joke, the next you the viewer are thrown into a completely different world and are expected to accept the sudden change. This, I believe, is Jojo Rabbit‘s biggest flaw. The movie can balance between a comedy and a tragedy, but being both at the same time is what can lose the viewer.
All this being said, Jojo Rabbit is absolutely worth its Oscar-winning status. I would absolutely recommend watching this film if given the chance (despite any preconceived apprehensions). The film is both a good comedy and a well-executed drama, while sometimes muddling the two together. Overall Jojo Rabbit to me is a solid 8.5/10 and I would absolutely recommend this film.
A Royale With Cheese 
If you have the chance, you should see John Boorman’s Hope and Glory, that tells the story of the London Blitz through the eyes of a grade-school kid. (Who in real life was John Boorman, who grew up in London during the Blitz.) JoJo Rabbit, though very different, brought back that same feel of seeing war through the eyes of a child without an adult’s POV. One thing I noticed was that despite being a relatively low budget movie, it featured a score by current Hollywood composing star Michael Giacchino. Has to be some friendship involved there.
But what a great movie.
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I liked how you blocked out your blog into the different sections. It helped me understand the movie review a little better. (I’ve never seen the movie, so I don’t know anything.) Also, you should talk to Mackenzie about writing entertainment reviews too for the Antelope. Add it onto your news stories and you’ll probably get double the work published.
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