Jojo Rabbit – The Film Ramble

The Unnominatables: 2020 Ramble Awards

February 8, 2020February 9, 2020Posted in Awards, FilmTagged Atlantics, David Copperfield, Dolemite Is My Name, Greta Gerwig, Hustlers, Jojo Rabbit, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Last Black Man In San Francisco, Little Women, Marriage Story, Monos, Oscars, Oscars 2020, Parasite, Peanut Butter Falcon, Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Rocketman, Shuzhen Zhao, So Long My Son, The Farewell, Uncut Gems, Us, Waves, Weathering With You, Zack Gottsagen

Last year, when I started this blog, I started with a post about my favourite of the Oscar nominees. While that post is on its way, I also decided it would be a fun exercise to give Ramble awards to films or actors who weren’t nominated and really should’ve been. 2019/20 was a great year for films which meant some were going to miss out. Unfortunately the Oscars are safe and bland and really not worth the time as we celebrate Scorceses and Tarantinos over fresh film ideas. The films and actors I will nominate will hopefully represent a greater plurality of film making. With 12 films gaining 16 awards (and another 7 nominated), hopefully you get some ideas of what to watch. I’ll take my invite as a BAFTA judge in the post…

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Oscars 2020: The ASBO Awards

February 8, 2020February 9, 2020Posted in ReviewTagged 1917, Adam Driver, ASBO Awards, Avengers, Florence Pugh, Ford Vs Ferrari, I Lost My Body, Irishman, Joe Pesci, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time, Oscars, Parasite, Sam Mendes, Saoirse Ronan

Here we are, less than twenty four hours until the Oscars and as I write this, I still haven’t seen all best pictures nominees (There is a screening of Ford vs Ferrari I’m going to this afternoon). As is tradition (I did it last year), I’m looking at the nominees and picking my choices to win the Asbo award*. Although I will have seen all best picture nominees, this year has had so many good films that I haven’t had a chance to get to all of the best acting ones. Therefore, I can only judge what I’ve seen. For my own fun, I’ve also stated whether the ASBO winner would beat my Oscar snub ramble choice.

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Lookback: January 2020

January 26, 2020February 4, 2020Posted in Film, Look BackTagged 1917, Atlantics, Breakfast Club, Brief Encounter, Brokeback Mountain, Coco, Fighting With My Family, Guys and Dolls, Jojo Rabbit, Kore-Eda, Our Little SIster, Paddington 2, Psycho, So Long My Son, Terminator, Tokyo Story, Uncut Gems, Waves, We The Animals, Weathering With You

As we conclude this month, civilisation is still just about standing. Britain has left the European Union, although the Corona Virus will make sure to keep news anchors busy over the coming weeks. In the meantime, all this Brexit fatigue has kept me busy trying to watch films. This month’s selection of twenty (Yep, that seems like way too many now) include cult classic films and modern masterpieces from the innocent adventures of a marmalade loving bear to a scene which made one look over their shoulder while showering since. There weren’t any rubbish films this month and be sure to read to the bottom to get my top 5 picks. (I have also given out star ratings for each one).

[N] – Netflix, [P] – Prime [B] – BBC IPlayer

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Review: Jojo Rabbit

January 19, 2020Posted in Film, ReviewTagged Jojo Rabbit, Roman Griffin-Davies, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Watiti, Thomasin McKenzie2 Comments

Within the first minute of the film, Jojo Rabbit gives you the “Oh” moment. With a German cover of I want to hold to hold your hand in the background, Johannes (Roman Griffin Davis) and his camp imaginary friend Hitler (Taika Watiti) are practising their Heil Hitlers in the mirror, before he runs down the street in excitement as today is his first day in the Hitler Youth. His joyous face and childish motion in this silly scenario along with the upbeat music may lead you to crack a smile. However, this is interlinked with Nazi propoganda videos of smiling crowds. This is when having being swept away with Jojo’s commotion, you realise “Hold on a minute. Why am I going along so happily with this?” This smart ploy is one of cleverest scenes in the film as you recompose yourself and remember that you’re in 1940’s Austria.

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