Please login or sign up to post and edit reviews.
The Reel: 'Jojo Rabbit' weaponizes comedy to remember the Holocaust
Podcast |
The Envelope
Publisher |
Los Angeles Times
Media Type |
audio
Podknife tags |
Awards
Interview
Movies
TV & Film
Categories Via RSS |
Arts
Society & Culture
TV & Film
Publication Date |
Oct 18, 2019
Episode Duration |
00:31:41

Taika Waititi is not interested in making movies that please everyone — he says that would be too safe and boring.

The writer and director of “Jojo Rabbit” — who also plays a cartoonish Adolph Hitler in a comic coming-of-age story about a Nazi youth who discovers a Jewish girl hiding in his attic — tells host Mark Olsen that he prefers making films that could end his career.

Balancing satire and the Holocaust was always going to be tricky, and “Jojo Rabbit” has already divided critics. But only in America is ‘divisive’ a bad thing, the New Zealand filmmaker says — everywhere else, it’s considered art.

Comedy, the filmmaker argues, is an effective weapon against bigotry and authoritarian leaders.

The movie is based on the book “Caging Skies” by Christine Leunens. Waititi added comedic elements and an imaginary Führer.

Also in this episode, Olsen speaks with the Times culture columnist and critic Mary McNamara about some of the revelations in Ronan Farrow’s new book “Catch and Kill,” including Farrow’s allegations that NBC News shut down his reporting about disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

And in the “Glenn Whipp Awards Minute,” entertainment columnist Whipp gives an early survey of the best actress race.

The Times Mark Olsen talks with the director, writer and star of the anti-Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit.” Olsen also speaks with the Times culture columnist Mary McNamara about some of the revelations in Ronan Farrow’s new book “Catch and Kill,” including Farrow’s allegations that NBC News shut down his reporting about Harvey Weinstein. And in the “Glenn Whipp Awards Minute,” entertainment columnist Whipp gives an early survey of the best actress race.

Taika Waititi is not interested in making movies that please everyone — he says that would be too safe and boring.

The writer and director of “Jojo Rabbit” — who also plays a cartoonish Adolph Hitler in a comic coming-of-age story about a Nazi youth who discovers a Jewish girl hiding in his attic — tells host Mark Olsen that he prefers making films that could end his career.

Balancing satire and the Holocaust was always going to be tricky, and “Jojo Rabbit” has already divided critics. But only in America is ‘divisive’ a bad thing, the New Zealand filmmaker says — everywhere else, it’s considered art.

Comedy, the filmmaker argues, is an effective weapon against bigotry and authoritarian leaders.

The movie is based on the book “Caging Skies” by Christine Leunens. Waititi added comedic elements and an imaginary Führer.

Also in this episode, Olsen speaks with the Times culture columnist and critic Mary McNamara about some of the revelations in Ronan Farrow’s new book “Catch and Kill,” including Farrow’s allegations that NBC News shut down his reporting about disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

And in the “Glenn Whipp Awards Minute,” entertainment columnist Whipp gives an early survey of the best actress race.

This episode currently has no reviews.

Submit Review
This episode could use a review!

This episode could use a review! Have anything to say about it? Share your thoughts using the button below.

Submit Review