By AD Beal
Jojo Rabbit
During WWII in Nazi Germany, a young boy questions his beliefs when he discovers a young Jewish girl secretly living in his house.
Taika Waititi manages to perfectly walk the tightrope between poor taste and edgy comedy. Jojo Rabbit tears apart fascism in a comedic yet still heartfelt way, never pulling punches and still giving such a horrific time the brutally honest look it deserves. Even the film’s design and cinematography match the tonal shifts between light and dark. The cast is a perfect mix of newcomers (Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie) and seasoned actors (Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell) who bring the characters to life. This was a passion project for Waititi and it shows.
The Lighthouse
Two sailors suspect there are greater forces conspiring against them on their isolated lighthouse shift.
The wonderful thing about Robert Eggers’ new film is how the viewer soon feels the same isolation as the characters. The camerawork, Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe’s performances and visuals capture you and place you into their world before you know it. This world is scary, unrelenting, nothing ever feels normal or safe, and it will continuously keep you guessing if something is actually watching our characters or if they’re going insane. The black and white photography and unique aspect ratio are key in this style. Creating the atmosphere perfectly is Mark Korven’s absolutely terrifying score – one of the best I’ve ever heard. This is a new horror classic.
Ford V Ferrari
The true story of Ford’s efforts to outdo Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ford V Ferrari is 152 minutes long and doesn’t waste a single moment. Everything is central to the story and includes the perfect amount of focus on the actual creation of the car; even the failures and improvements get their proper showcase here. Matt Damon and Christian Bale are wonderful as two distinct characters that mix well together, and director James Mangold shoots the race scenes in a way that makes the final race one of the best theatrical experiences of the year.
Parasite
A family in South Korea forms a relationship with an upper-class family which brings dire consequences.
Director Bong Joon-ho has made his masterpiece with this new thriller. This film astounds with a mixture of incredible filmmaking, writing and an amazingly diverse personality of cast members, and offers an intriguing look into class disparity and differences. A film like this receiving a wide release is rare, so I highly recommend taking the time to see it.
