Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

See How They Run

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Apple Rating:

What a gem.  If you liked Knives Out, Clue, and Murder By Death, this is the movie for you!  The story takes place in 1950’s London.  In the story, some producers have decided to make a movie version of Agatha Christie’s play ‘The Mouse Trap’ (which is still running in London after more than 50 years, by the way).  The cast of characters include a despised director ( Adrian Brody), a rookie constable (Saoirse Ronan, as an innocent appearing but smarter-than-you-thought PC Stalker, the rookie detective who  steals the show!) and an alcoholic world weary detective (Sam Rockwell).  The movie has to be delayed when a member of the cast is murdered!  Some of my favorite suspects included Shirley Henderson (remember her as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter series?), David Oyelowo and Ruth Wilson.  This is all very tongue-in-cheek and includes puns, play on words, literary allusions and the breaking of the fourth wall.  I also enjoyed the references to 50’s movies.  One highlight is an appearance by Agatha Christie herself and a trippy take on the old mystery trope “The butler did it.”  This is another movie that won’t be around in theatres long , so if you want to see it in a theatre, stop reading this review and get going!  You will be glad you did!

JoJo Rabbit

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Apple Rating:

I absolutely loved this movie, but have to admit is very quirky and will not be everyone’s cup of tea.  The story follows ten year old JoJo “Rabbit” Betzler (a fine acting debut by Roman Griffin Davis) as an ultra wannabe Hitler Youth living in mythical Falkenheim, Germany approaching the end of WWII.  Jojo seems kind of lonely, his mother is frequently out and his soldier father has been missing for almost two years.  Jojo despretely wants to become a Hitler Youth and is aided in this undertaking by his imaginary friend – Adolf Hitler himself – played with buffoonish gusto by the writer and director Taika Waititi.  But his efforts fall seriously short and he is relegated to simple tasks under the mentorship of Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell) and his erstwhile assistants played by Alfie Allen and Rebel Wilson.  Jojo carries on as things start to fall apart, and his dogmatic beliefs are shattered when he meets and eventually befriends a Jewish girl that his mother is hiding.  The movie is full of satire, both serious and humorous.  I loved the ridiculous Nazis characters played by Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson as well as the scenes of the absurdity and devestation of war.  Waititi has concocted a mix of the serious historical realities with absurdist comic flights of fancy.  We could take a few lessons from how Jojo’s fanatical belief in everything he has been told, including that Jews have horns and live in caves like bats, are punctured and exploded like a holiday balloon.  I found this movie a little reminiscent of “Moonlight Kingdom,” which I also loved.  Do not be fooled by the humorous undertones of this movie, it is a serious topic and doesn’t gloss over some realities of what happened in German towns (the things depicted did happen, and often) as Hitler’s empire was taken apart.  You may even tear up a time or two.  This is definitely a well-deserving award contender.  See you at the Oscars, JoJo!

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

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Apple Rating:

You may not have heard of this movie, but when the academy award season hits, I think you will find some nominations going to this little gem.  Frances McDormand gives a first rate performance in this dark drama, with hints of comedy, which is quirky in a Coen Brothers way.  In fact, I actually laughed out loud during this movie more than I have during some of the so-called comedies I’ve seen lately.  McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a hard edged, uncompromising woman who is still reeling from the brutal unsolved murder of her teen aged daughter. The easy going, somewhat bucolic, police department seems to her to have forgotten all about her daughter, which causes her to do some drastic things, which build and lead to unintended consequences.   Mildred pays for three billboards that she hopes will motivate the local cops to take notice and do something to solve the crime.   These billboards spark various acts of violence and even civil disobedience that end in a lesson in what happens when people let rage and anger dictate their actions.  Woody Harrelson is fine as the sheriff, but the surprise gem in this movie is Sam Rockwell, as a seemingly dimwitted, rather crass police officer who lives with his mother, lets anger get the better of him; but who finds redemption in the end.   I would not be surprised if he gets an Oscar nod for his performance.    If you want to get away from super hero movies and big budget special effects, I highly recommend seeing this movie.