Set on the east coast of New Zealand in the year 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old kid and devout Michael Jackson fan gets a chance to know his father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
Eagle vs Shark is the tale of two socially awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love; through revenge on high-school bullies, burgers, and video games.
Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane - like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
Sami hilariously transforms into acutely observed and very different characters all living in our country's super city. In season two, Ofa is a welfare case-manager demanding everyone ... See full summary »
Four raucous Samoans are banned from their best friend's wedding. To get in, they have to prove themselves as mature individuals by getting and keeping girlfriends.
Director:
Chris Graham
Stars:
Oscar Kightley,
Iaheto Ah Hi,
Shimpal Lelisi
An emotionally charged and inspiring drama about a man who searches for the courage to lead, despite his own adversities - finding purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children in his community.
Director:
James Napier Robertson
Stars:
Cliff Curtis,
James Rolleston,
Kirk Torrance
Toby has always been unlucky with girls. Ever since being stabbed in the throat after asking a girl out in a café, Toby has resolved to learn everything he can about girls before meeting them - so he can become the man of their dreams.
Director:
Dean Hewison
Stars:
Richard Falkner,
Scarlet Hemingway,
Jonny Brugh
It's 1984, and Michael Jackson is king-even in Waihau Bay, New Zealand. Here we meet Boy, an 11-year-old who lives on a farm with his gran, a goat, and his younger brother, Rocky (who thinks he has magic powers). Shortly after Gran leaves for a week, Boy's father, Alamein, appears out of the blue. Having imagined a heroic version of his father during his absence, Boy comes face to face with the real version-an incompetent hoodlum who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years before. This is where the goat enters. Written by
Sundance Film Festival
Director Taika Waititi was less than a week away from filming when he realised the boy he had as lead wasn't working out. Three days before filming began, James Rolleston, who was hanging around on set as an extra, was given the lead by Taika Waititi. See more »
Goofs
In the opening scene there is a decrepit old truck with a bent old license plate "ME1831" License plates in NZ are released alphabetically starting with AA and culminating with ZZ before the system switched to the a three letter three number system. "M" license plates were first seen in about 1985 - a year after this film was set. A truck that old in 1985 would have had and A,B,C or D license plate. See more »
Quotes
Boy:
Hey Auntie, can I have an ice block please?
Aunty Gracey:
No.
Boy:
Aww... it's not fair!
Aunty Gracey:
Get a job then!
Boy:
Aww... There's none left; you've got them all!
See more »
Crazy Credits
Mid credits scene: Spoof of Michael Jackson's Thriller See more »
I had been told how funny this movie was, and there are quite a few chuckles in the first 20 minutes or so, and then it buckles down to show us the real story of pre-pubescence in a rural community and the father-son thing. It was explored in depth and very well too, and never gets nasty as some NZ movies can do, but still wrings your heart out. The end-piece was stunning, utilising the obsession with a teenage Michael Jackson and humour as only the NZ Maori do. I left the theatre with mixed feelings but since then I have felt buoyed up (sorry) and am remembering it fondly. Will definitely see it again and may add it to my small collection of NZ films. Others have mentioned Eagle and Shark and Secondhand Wedding, but this is more historical and captures the era perfectly. Well done all - especially to all the actors under 20, we know the adults can act, but these fellas will be worth watching out for in the future.
22 of 26 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
I had been told how funny this movie was, and there are quite a few chuckles in the first 20 minutes or so, and then it buckles down to show us the real story of pre-pubescence in a rural community and the father-son thing. It was explored in depth and very well too, and never gets nasty as some NZ movies can do, but still wrings your heart out. The end-piece was stunning, utilising the obsession with a teenage Michael Jackson and humour as only the NZ Maori do. I left the theatre with mixed feelings but since then I have felt buoyed up (sorry) and am remembering it fondly. Will definitely see it again and may add it to my small collection of NZ films. Others have mentioned Eagle and Shark and Secondhand Wedding, but this is more historical and captures the era perfectly. Well done all - especially to all the actors under 20, we know the adults can act, but these fellas will be worth watching out for in the future.