Boy (2012)

Truly Dreadful Film

Simply A Masterpiece

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is an odd, slice-of-life film that is somehow comedic and depressing at the same time. The child actors are actually really good, and the overall events found here are engaging and well-told. Its really funny. My only complaint is that the ending is a bit anti-climatic. I would highly recommend watching this movie, though its probably not for everyone. There's an end-credits scene in case anyone who hasn't seen it yet is wondering.

This is about the 4th or 5th New Zealand film I've seen. They've all be exceptional but this one, for me, is the best of them.New Zealand's film makers have this wonderful knack of realism, humour, heart and brilliance that we don't see almost anywhere, anymore.This is a gem. No point telling what it's about. This is a 'watch to find out.' I will see this one more than once.A word: Don't stop watching until the very, very, very end! Just when you think it's over, there's a bit of more 'great' and then just when you think THAT'S over, right at the very end, there's a delicious touch!

WE watched this movie tonight on Netflix and both liked it very much. We are old and live in Maine USA which is about as far away as you can get from the setting of this movie, but the themes are universal. Poverty, neglect, crime, stupidity, charm, delight, love, The main problem we had was in not always understanding the dialogue, but actually that didn't really matter and with a roku you can back space and catch up. Both the brother actors were wonderful. All the actors were very good. I could not understand what nationality the characters were. My husband said Polynesisan. But that didn't matter. I would definitely recommend this to a sensitive, understanding viewer.

1984, deep in Maori country life is laden with hardship from youthful ages. Despite cheerful exuberance and tall tales allowing children to walk the moon the surroundings are destitute, unpromising, when stuck amongst the resigned alcoholism and passiveness of adult role models. Boy (James Rolleston), Rocky (Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu) and Dynasty (Moerangi Tihore) are now being brought up by their grandmother, as their mother died during childbirth (to Rocky) and their father Alamein (perfectly portrayed by director / writer Taika Waititi) is doing jail time. Creating fables about his father (ex-war hero, living the high life, and so on) Boy, as the oldest, has been given adult tasks of fending for his younger kin, despite being only 12 years old. Despite having 'potential' he wastes away his time up to mischief with his peers, conveying dream-like stories about his father to his pet goat Leaf, as a getaway from the load of responsibility. The situation changes when Alamein returns to them, not quite a fatherly figure, but nonetheless fulfilling wants of his sons, especially Boy. Strong, masculine, with wicked Michael Jackson moves, Boy becomes enticed with emulating his father. Alamein on the other hand has only returned to town to dig up a stash he buried before being incarcerated, but slowly grows attached to his flesh and blood in ways he doesn't want to admit to himself.Despite the above synopsis "Boy" is nowhere as dramatically morose, as the subject matter would suggest. Instead it is layered with wry, at times brilliant, humour, which manages to pack both an emotional and comedic wallop of epic proportions. Fronted by three charismatic performances of the father and his two sons, comes off an instant classic, which despite dealing with issues similar to that of "Once Were Warriors" has an entirely different take. Comedy and drama intermingle seamlessly delivering one of the most enjoyable movies in memory, whilst delivering a sombre portrayal of the Maori community, not quite as proud and victorious as some would want. Within the confines of a coming-of-age story lies a heartfelt story with immense impact. The ultimate victor is Taika Waititi, arguably now hot property and one of the most promising actors / directors / screenwriters in the world, who deserves all the praise and the success afforded to him by this movie.And whatever you do don't turn off the movie before the end credits or you miss out on the absolutely epic "Haka Thriller"!