January 1

5-question film review: Jojo Rabbit

Why did you go see this film?

I like Taika Waititi’s work, plus I really wanted to see how he would deconstruct the Nazi setting to make it a comedy.

What was the best thing about it?

Really excellent key scenes (dynamite grab, Jojo meeting Elsa, butterfly chase) with well-timed breadcrumbs leading up to them. Genuinely funny jokes and performances. Sam Rockwell had fun.

And truth bombs all way: “You’re not a Nazi, Jojo. You’re a ten-year-old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club.”

What was the worst thing about it?

Rebel Wilson. While Waititi’s imaginary Hitler was necessarily manic, I thought Wilson’s Fraulein Rahm was overdone. To be fair she was probably hired to do that, it was just too much for the material given.

Who would you recommend go see it?

People sick of largescale war movies. This one’s small and focused and funny. If you like Waititi’s work such as Boy, which is touted as a comedy but has hard-hitting dramatic moments, then you’ll appreciate this.

If this film was a type of food, what would it be?

A pretzel. Funny-looking, ostensibly German but quite chewy in the middle.

Category: Opine | LEAVE A COMMENT
December 20

5-question film review: Gorillaz Reject False Icons

Why did you go see this film?

I have a passing interest in Gorillaz’s music and thought this would take me deeper into their music-making process. (It did.)

What was the best thing about it?

Ben Mendelsohn is, like, the narrator and I didn’t realise until I saw this. Damon Albarn seems like a nice guy. A lot of the footage is him hugging people.

What was the worst thing about it?

No real narrative. It doesn’t quite say anything. It felt like the most boring way to present interesting snippets from the band’s touring and recording.

Who would you recommend go see it?

Fans only.

If this film was a type of food, what would it be?

Mashed potato with some peas in it.

Category: Opine | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 19

In which I decide to get over myself

When I was 7, one of my favourite books was a tall joke book called, I think, 1000 Jokes for Kids. It had a bold blue cover with the title in large snazzy orange font and was roughly the dimensions of a foolscap sheet folded lengthwise.

One segment was a list of fictional books and fictional authors all with punny titles like ‘Songs for Children by Barbara Blacksheep’. I remember clearly one from the list because it was the first time I had ever seen my name in a book. The pun title was ‘The Unfinished Poem by Adeline Moore’.

Fast forward some decades and I’ve decided I’m not writing enough for myself. I know exactly why, too: I’m one of those writers who don’t like to show their work-in-progress. I hate admitting that I have half-baked ideas, I don’t like my foundation of knowledge to be too fresh. But what this does is stifle the natural learning process of working through an idea, an argument, a voice. I want to get over myself. I want to forgive all the mistakes I’m going to make before I make them, knowing I’m going to make them but also knowing that I need to make them to progress.

Bear with me. Prepare for changing perceptions as I uncover new information. Allow for paradigm shifts.

So here it is, my newly anointed blog: Unfinished writing by Adeline.

Category: Muse | LEAVE A COMMENT