By: Vidal D’Costa –
I will view you with derision if you walk up to me and tell me that you just can’t dig Taika Waititi’s work! I mean, it is near impossible to overlook the sheer passion that features heavily in the Māori filmmaker’s consistently impressive track record as well as his ability to infuse an unhealthy amount of charm, innocence, and depth into his dialogues/character interactions and an undecipherable element of camp and theatrics when it comes to staging/ framing even a violent fight scene (think, the literal dance battle in 2010’s Boy or the guns a-blazing climax to 2019’s Jojo Rabbit with Sam Rockwell rocking the hell out of a flamboyant cape).
Waititi’s affinity for nuanced characterisation (read: turning characters who are absolute wankers into extremely lovable wankers… barring Jojo’s Hitler, of course!) and for churning out bittersweet storylines that beautifully blend harsh realities with an absurdist fantasy is certainly always on display in most of his work and I’m an ardent fan of how he dissects problematic mindsets/norms that prevail in society such as toxic masculinity via a winning combination of earnestness and his signature wry, witty, and subtle dark humour that harkens back to his time as a seasoned improv comic on the NZ comedy circuit. Quite a lot of his work also includes homages to his Māori culture which I find endearing, educating, and which also conveys his close personal connection to his material.
Furthermore he has already amassed a fan following with his work for Marvel, and is also a quadruple threat with credits as a writer, director, producer, and actor. Add to that his prestigious Oscar win for JoJo Rabbit as well as a recent Independent Spirit Award win for the Hulu series Reservation Dogs and you’ve got one of the finest and most unique filmmakers of any generation and hands down my personal favourite too!
This six pack will primarily shed light on some of his early ventures and his most underrated contributions to both cinema and the OTT space. And I’ve also managed to pepper in the movies and shows that have made me a giant Taika stan for life!
1) Boy (2010)
Alamein, a cannabis aficionado and self-proclaimed gang leader, returns home, much to the delight of his young sons Boy and Rocky, who look up to him and definitely want to make him proud. This was Waititi’s second feature film outing and it is definitely an impressive effort in exploring the side-effects of faux machismo and the intense toll that false promises can take on the mental health of a child who thinks the world of their parent, especially a parent who is a personification of the phrase ‘trust issues’. It also amplifies the need for parents to set a better example for their child and highlights a grown up’s role in shaping and molding future generations.
Waititi brings a detestable and buffoonish quality to Alamein ( a character with whom I share a love-hate relationship), but is also goofy and effortlessly intense when the occasion calls for it. He also shares an enriching camaraderie with James Rolleston who turns in a very promising performance as the titular Boy.
The movie ends with a groovy dance sequence from the ensemble cast that’s dedicated to Michael Jackson who is the subject of Boy’s obsession and which also incorporates choreography from the ceremonial Māori war dance known as Haka. Also, see if you can spot the eerie (and possibly unintentional?) foreshadowing to Jojo Rabbit in certain scenes. Even the themes in Boy mirror its bigger budget successor, which only further proves that Waititi showed potential as a storyteller even before bigger things came his way and that those ideas gradually seeped into those bigger opportunities too!
On a sadder note, those kids are probably going to grow up with some real trust issues and are legit going to need so much therapy after putting up with Alamein’s irresponsible antics, I swear…!
Sierra Nevada Dankful
This weed-infused beer is guaranteed to leave you in higher spirits than Alamein is throughout the running time of this movie!
2) Reservation Dogs (2021-present)
This Hulu series which was recently renewed for a second season recounts the ups and downs of living on reservation land via the perspective of a group of indigenous American youngsters who set their eyes on a glamorous lifestyle in California. But following their American dream also means putting their young lives at risk by undertaking some shady ‘gigs’ that could most certainly also lead to a criminal record if they’re not too careful. Meanwhile the older generation fears that modernity poses a threat to their traditional lifestyle even if the threat is as miniscule as a hipster opening a weed dispensary in their locality.
Like most Taika Waititi ventures, the writing on Reservation Dogs also strikes a fine balance between the comic elements and drama and also brings to the fore a wide variety of interesting and colourful as well as nuanced characters.
The show also takes a wrecking ball to the pre-existing stereotypes about native indigenous American culture and also features a talented all indigenous cast (barring Bill Burr who showcases his dramatic chops in a pivotal role as the understanding driving instructor) and also all indigenous showrunners comprising of Sterling Harjo (an indigenous filmmaker who hails from rural Oklahoma where the show is set) and of course, Waititi himself, thus paving the way for refreshing authentic representation on the OTT space.
Native Land Craft Beer
This brew features local ingredients such as sumac, roasted blue corn and foraged wild tea. Native Land beer is also a product of Bow and Arrow Brewing Company that is the first brewery owned and operated by Native indigenous women in the US and all profits also go to organisations that strengthen Native lives and communities.
3) Tama Tū (2005)
Tama Tū is a short written and directed by Waititi in 2005 when he was still fresh off his first ever Oscar nomination for the short film Two Cars, One Night the previous year.
The war film comes across as a 17-minute long, low budget silent rendition of his feature film Jojo Rabbit and similarly explores themes of loss of innocence and maturity and disintegration of humanity in a war zone… except instead of child soldiers, this tragicomic insight into war is narrated from the POV of adult soldiers who are taking shelter amidst the ruins of a building in war-torn Europe. The short is dedicated to the 28 Māori Battalion and contains some Chaplin-esque humour as the soldiers attempt to use childish tactics to distract from the horrors of war and to evade boredom. It also sheds light on differing perspectives of a soldier’s worldview depending on where their stationed or positioned. An example of the same can be viewed when a soldier who is stationed near a window on lookout duty is more accustomed to seeing human casualties than his fellow soldiers stationed within the walls of the building who are unaware of the horrors unfolding outside and lost in their own game of ‘pull my finger’ or other such genial and childish games to pass the time.
The usage of a monochrome colour palette to portray the stark contrast between the living and the lives that were painfully stolen away due to war also appealed to me. You might even come away having learnt a thing or two about Māori culture. The short film is available on YouTube, albeit the video quality is quite poor.
Lion Red beer
This brand of lager is brewed in New Zealand and was also one of the preferred brands at the reunion of the 28 Maori Battalion. Crack open one to honour the troops!
4) Our Flag Means Death (2022-present)
I love everything about this show including the fact that it even exists! Particularly in an era wherein shows about societal acceptance are very much a necessity and a boon too, Our Flag Means Death is a godsend. It is just what the doctor prescribed- A show that’s about a bunch of gay pirates playing tonsil hockey, while simultaneously also forging the most wholesome, deep, and organic bonds that transcend tonsil hockey. It is goofy in just the right amounts but also touches upon the struggle of its lead pair in breaking free from the claustrophobic tentacles of the Kraken (a synonym for toxic masculinity) and also does a grand job at running a sword through classist mentalities… sometimes quite literally!
Other winning aspects of this show include a highly homoerotic chemistry and riveting performances from both Waititi (who’s also onboard as a producer and director) and his long time bestie, Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby as fictionalised versions of Pirate Captains Blackbeard/Ed (who is as swagtastic and emo as they come) and Stede Bonnet (who is as sophisticated and matronly as they come) respectively- both two sides of the same coin, yet also polar opposites who attract each other as the show progresses. We also get a purposeful prolongation of age (the real life Pirate Captains didn’t live past their thirties whereas here they’re sailing the high seas even in their mid to late forties) to showcase that it’s never too late to fall in love and do what brings you pleasure. For comedy aficionados, there’s also tons of improvisation between Darby and Waititi who seem like they’ve had a ball working on this show.
Our Flag Means Death scores high on the wholesome romantic quotient and chaotic gay pirate energy and it has thus fast become the darling of the LGBTQIA+ community while also managing to garner a universal fanbase.
It was recently officially classified as one of the most binge worthy shows on HBO Max, and it’s also one of the most emotionally stirring shows that I’ve had the pleasure of watching in a while. Go binge it if you haven’t yet!
Barbados Cosmopolitan
While not exactly a beer, this rum-based cocktail drink pairs well with both the subtlety and sophistication of Stede, as well as Blackbeard’s rum glugging capabilities. Furthermore, the show is set in Barbados so the name itself is most certainly befitting. The vivid bright colour of a Cosmopolitan also suits the campy and occasionally tacky vibe of this gay pirate romance to a hilt. Yo ho ho and a Barbados Cosmopolitan, eh?
5) Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a family friendly movie that also highlights Waititi’s natural knack for comedy writing. Ricky Baker, a foster child and Hector, his elderly and grumpy caretaker go on the run in the bush after a series of misunderstandings lead to the child protection services growing suspicious about Ricky’s wellbeing. And soon enough two nobodies have become somebodies and also notorious overnight sensations/outlaws through no fault of their own!
Along their journey through the wilderness, Hector and Ricky begin to bond via haikus and meet some pretty interesting folk such as a conspiracy theorist who has made the bush his abode and who all provide them with shelter and kindness. The movie subtly touches upon themes of grief, ostracization from society and also how the media tends to manipulate any and all sorts of news stories nowadays by putting a spin on the same or by tarnishing the subject’s image to sensationalise an issue. There is also plenty of comic relief in the form of hilarious interactions, dark comedy, and side-splitting comedic dialogue.
The cinematography by Lachlan Milne, too, is aesthetically pleasing and one dizzying continuous shot set to Leonard Cohen’s ‘The Partisan’ in particular also conveys the sense of urgency as the pair attempt to escape the danger that’s quickly engulfing them in freezing temperatures out in the bush. All this eventually culminates in a wild, exhilarating climax that is reminiscent of a Mad Max chase sequence. There are moments where the movie even felt reminiscent of a live action version of the animated feature Up (2009). It also features formidable performances from the lead pair of Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, as well as hilarious cameos from many familiar faces such as Rhys Darby and Waititi himself as a priest who delivers the silliest eulogy in the history of eulogies! The side characters in fact tickled my curiosity so much that I would honestly pay to watch each of them in their own spin-off.
I’m also still trying to wrap my head around Taika Waititi using a Cadbury Flake ad jingle as part of the background score in one scene.
L & P (with gin)
L & P or Lemon & Paeroa is a popular soft drink among New Zealanders that’s also name-dropped by the priest character in this movie during his funny eulogy. It’s also a drink that’s a great mixer with gin.
6) Eagle vs Shark (2007)
It might take you a while to get over the sluggish pace of Waititi’s debut feature film outing Eagle vs Shark and at times the movie even feels like a wannabe Wes Anderson flick. There’s definitely moments where it seemed to mimic or felt like a heavily inspired cross between Punch Drunk Love and Lonely Island’s Hot Rod with just a hint of Flight of the Conchords, but at its core it contains a very subtle yet important message of male mental health and what starts out as an offbeat geeky and quirky romcom eventually turns into a reality check on the dangers of letting male fragility go unchecked, and that’s probably the main reason as to why it makes my list.
Eagle Vs Shark is centred around an odd duo of misfits, Lily and Jarrod, who are cast aside by almost everyone else around them and who bond over video games and moles (the facial feature, not the animal). They only have each other to find comfort and acceptance in, but during a trip to Jarrod’s hometown, Lily discovers that her reserved boyfriend and his equally reserved dad are still coping with the death of Jarrod’s brother Gordon, who we later find out took a rather unexpected and extreme step. Jarrod’s dad copes by living in the past while Jarrod copes via a false sense of machismo and eccentric behaviour to impress his father as he has mostly been viewed as the ‘lesser brother/son’ compared to Gordon who was a multi-talented individual.
And while the movie may be far from perfect, it’s definitely also far from forgettable. It’s got quite a lot of memorable dialogues, classic Kiwi humour, quirky stop motion sequences, and heartfelt character interactions, particularly one towards the end which stayed with me, wherein Lily resolves to watch a depressed Jarrod like a hawk (or an eagle?) and keeps him under a strict suicide watch. This scene perfectly sums up why I felt the need to root for Lily’s happiness throughout and also showcases her selfless and undying love for a man who is still conflicted and burdened by his own overwhelming emotions. It also showcases the change that just a single person can bring via a genuine warmth and support towards another’s mental health.
Also while I wasn’t as invested in the main characters and their relationship as much as I should have been initially, I couldn’t help but root for Lily mainly because of Loren Horsley’s earnest performance. This movie totally belongs to this sweet but gullible young lady and Horsley (who also shares a co-writing credit with Waititi) is terrific with her lopsided but warm smile and her soft but straightforward tone and delivers a very captivating performance. Jemaine Clement does a good job being as deadpan as possible as Jarrod, who’s a bit of a cold-hearted wannabe Chuck Norris, but I do wish the character had a lot more personality than just these central traits. The supporting cast, too, do Justin (ahem, I mean ‘justice’) to their characters, so the acting and direction more than makes up for the screenplay’s shortcomings.
Considering that this was the debut of a then newcomer who was still dipping his toes into the craft and probably only had experience writing scripts for 11-17 minute long short films up until then (although Waititi really found his groove and perfected his style of filmmaking with Boy the second time around) and considering that I’m very biased towards Waititi any way, I’m even keen on brushing aside most of those aforementioned flaws because in the end, all that mattered to me is that this movie still conveyed a strong message on not letting oneself be dictated by the dreams of a highly judgemental parent and about not putting oneself down due to the successes of others which may cause one to act indifferently towards themselves.
If you don’t mind not so clichéd, cute, and clumsy character driven romances, then Eagle vs Shark is worth a shot.
Apple Cider
Cider is a beverage brewed from fermented apples and considering that there’s a ton of apple-related motifs in this movie, including in the stop motion sequences, it’s best washed down with a refreshing glass of apple cider.
