This year’s Fantastic Fest opened with one very cool film, the new Taika Waititi (THOR: RAGNAROK) production, titled JOJO RABBIT. It’s set during World War II in Nazi Germany, and tells the story of a young Hitler youth living with his mother, training to be a soldier, and talking to an imaginary friend… who happens to be Adolf Hitler (played by Taika). It’s off the wall, very funny at times, and very emotional at others, but always seems to know exactly what it’s doing. The impressive cast also includes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Rebel Wilson and Stephen Merchant. Both Waititi and Merchant we on the red carpet to open the festival, and myself (along with buddies Marc Ciafardini of GoSeeTalk.com and Bryan Kluger of BoomstickComics.com) got a chance to ask some quick questions just before the boys went in to watch the film. Check out our join interview (or rather interviews) below. I think we need to talk about these men and their unhealthy obsession with Michael J. Fox movies, but maybe that’s just me. Look for my review of JOJO RABBIT on here soon, as it may just be one of the best films of the year. My thanks to Grady May for editing this, and thanks to Alex Spivey and Andrew Conway for shooting!
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
