8mm Forum: Boy the dvd

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Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on September 28, 2010, 06:27 PM:

Looking back over the movies released onto the cinema so far this year its been full of surprises, while big block busters like "Iron Man" etc came and went quickly one small buget movie "Boy" with little advertising turned out to be a hit with an amazing long run at most cinemas with a run of more than 16 weeks "unusual these days" before all the 35mm prints were recalled here for Aussie. I think it was due to "word of mouth" that made it the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time. "Boy" was written directed and starred Taiki Waititi as the father Alamein based in 1984 with Michael Jackson the hit of the time. The direction is very well done as it starts light hearted and funny but after half an hour the story takes a more serious turn when "Boy" played by 11 year old James Rolleston who incidentally was picked for the role at the last minute "with little experence of acting" worships his father return after a long absence not for his family but to look for buried money. In time his dad does come across as a looser who is more interested in booze and drugs and his gang. Both "Boy" and his younger brother "Rocky" witness the results the downhill slide which leads to a violent confrontation between Boy and his Dad however there is still hope. Taika Waititi has done brilliant job making this film with a very talented young cast and the DVD that has now been released includes a feature commentary by Taika Waititi which is very interesting not only he speaks as the director but also as Alamein.

Its refreshing to watch a film that is not a big budget special effects or 3D but simply a human story of growing up thats very well told and acted out. If you get a chance to see it on the big screen or DVD its well worth it. I should add the entire cast do a brilliant on stage tribute to Michael Jackson at the end.

Here are a couple of screen shots from our Sanyo VP taken the other night.

James Rolleston as "Boy"

writer/director and actor Taika Waititi as Boys dad Alamein.

Younger brother "Te Aho Eketone-Whitu" as Rocky

Graham.

[ September 29, 2010, 03:25 AM: Message edited by: Graham Ritchie ]

Posted by Guy Taylor, Jr. (Member # 786) on September 29, 2010, 10:12 AM:

Speaking of New Zealand films, I recently purchased a copy of "The Whale Rider" on DVD. It was truly a great family film. Highly recommended if you have not yet seen it.

Loved the music in the film.

Posted by Chris Batt (Member # 1880) on September 29, 2010, 06:34 PM:

Will definately check that movie out, and yes The Whale Rider was a 1st class movie, sometimes a gem comes along through the mess of block buster movies....

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on September 29, 2010, 08:30 PM:

Guy
Mentioning "Whale Rider" brought back some memories. In this city at the cinema where I work we were lucky enough to be chosen for the "Charity Premiere Screening" of "Whale Rider" just before it was released to the public. It was a big event for us and I was given the job of making up the 35mm print. Both the manager, myself and her son came came in to do an interlock test screening very early on the Sunday morning two days prior to the big event. The manager sat in one theatre her son in the other and myself in the projection room, as the end credits were rolling I went downstairs catching her upon leaving she was quite emotional such was the effect on her on this first screening. Two days later on the Tuesday night we had a full "Maori" welcoming laid on for the cast and crew that flew in for this special event. I am happy to say the evening was a success, sadly though I dont have any photos, but in my view "Whale Rider" was the turning point to a better acceptance of New Zealand films which up to that point seemed to do better overseas than here. Others were soon to follow and do very well on there release "The Worlds Fastest Indian" being one example and now "Boy"

Keisha Castle Hughes in Whale Rider.

Graham.

Posted by Guy Taylor, Jr. (Member # 786) on September 30, 2010, 08:26 AM:

That's very interesting.

I will seek out "Boy" on DVD.

I so much like the smaller films that depend more on story and/or character development.

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