LOS ANGELES — For the biggest night in Hollywood, just receiving an Oscar nod is the win for Jojo Rabbit.
Director Taika Waititi pulled off a seemingly impossible feat by making a Nazi satire. Waititi is known for directing "What We Do in Shadows" and "Thor: Ragnarok", which highlighted a more comical tone for the Marvel superhero.
With "Jojo Rabbit," the movie follows Jojo Betzler, a German boy and Hitler youth in World War II, who gets his world view challenged when he finds out his mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic. Through the course of the movie, he's forced to confront his nationalism.
The movie plays as a comedy and drama.
“If you’re trying to find some way to present with humor the Holocaust but not make fun of it and absolutely drill home the horrors and, at the same time, the humanity, it does it,” Mark S. Allen, ABC10 entertainment reporter, said.
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Along with the bold cinematic approach, the movie has breathtaking performances from a cast that features Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell, but, for Allen, the standout performers are the child actors.
"The youth performances are the best of the year," Allen said.
Roman Griffin Davis, who plays Jojo Betzler, won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actor, while his co-stars Thomasin McKenzie and Archie Yates also earned a nod for the same category.
Jojo Rabbit was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but there isn't much expectation that it'll pull off an upset win.
"Jojo Rabbit, one of the best movies I saw last year, but the nomination, in my opinion, is the win here," Allen said in his Best Picture breakdown.
"Jojo Rabbit" is also nominated for an Academy Award in:
Actress in a Supporting Role, Scarlett Johansson
Costume Design, Jojo Rabbit
Film Editing, Jojo Rabbit
Production Design, Jojo Rabbit
Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Jojo Rabbit
Starring:
Roman Griffin Davis
Thomasin McKenzie
Archie Yates
Scarlett Johansson
Sam Rockwell
Taika Waititi
Where to watch:
For a list of theaters with showings ahead of the Oscars, click HERE.