The road to Jojo
Taika Waititi has taken us in many directions
By now, you’ll have bought your tickets to Jojo Rabbit, the 16th film Taika Waititi has directed. Wait, are you shaking your head? Are you telling me you haven’t already booked for the most anticipated New Zealand (technically, OK, tangentially) film of the year? Get yourself a ticket now.
I reckon Waititi has such a special place in Kiwi film-loving hearts because he wields one of cinema’s strangest effects so deftly. No, not CGI rock monsters or stop-motion apple cores, I mean the way he makes things that are particularly Kiwi seem universal.
I don’t know how he does it, but it’s clear from the way the wider film world has embraced him, that it works.
Having said that, Jojo was made in Europe with a mostly international cast.
Can it really be called a New Zealand film? I don’t know. What I do know is that it’s one that Waititi has stuck his neck out to make, the passion project he returned to when he could have been coasting all the way back to the Oscars on a tidal wave of superheroes.
Where will it fit in the rest of Waititi’s body of work? I won’t know until Thursday but, in the meantime, here’s an arbitrary list of his films – as director and actor – ranked from ‘‘great Kiwi classic’’ to ‘‘it’s a film of some sort’’.
1. Boy (2010)
There’s a reason this is the second-biggest Kiwi film of all time: it’s perfect.
A film about child neglect, feckless fathers, drug use, and rural Ma¯ ori communities mired in poverty, it’s nonetheless a sublime comedy that ruthlessly examines those things without judgment or shame.
Status: It might be the greatest Kiwi film ever made.
2. Two Cars, One Night (2004)
Remember when Waititi went to the Academy Awards and pretended to be asleep? I’ve never been more proud.
Status: It might be the other greatest Kiwi film ever made.
3. What We Do In The Shadows (movie 2014, TV show 2019)
If I’d met the vampire, Viago, on the mean streets of 1990s Wellington when I was a drunken idiot about town, I’d have happily let him drain me dry and hide my withered corpse in the basement. That’s what great characters, great music, a great location and, above all, great documentary rigour delivers.
Status: Another classic from the New Zealand Documentary Board.
4. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Look, I know people will disagree, but I love this film and that has bugger all to do with Chris Hemsworth’s bulging biceps.
One word: Korg. Korg and ‘‘he’s a friend from work!’’ That joke is never getting old.
Status: Martin Scorsese says it’s a theme park ride, but what does that guy know?
5. Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016)
This film gave New Zealand its truest hero in Ricky Baker, a real bad egg known for disobedience, stealing stuff, spitting, burning stuff, running away, throwing rocks, kicking stuff, loitering, and graffiti-ing.
What could be more Kiwi than that? It’s also the highest grossing Kiwi film of all time. Ka-ching!
Status: We didn’t choose the skux life . . . the skux life chose us.
6. Flight of the Conchords (2007-2009)
I don’t even know where to start with this show, except to say that the combination of Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie and Taika Waititi was surely one of the greatest superhero team-ups of all time, except it really happened. The show really existed, and we all got to watch it. Status: I spent a good three days fretting over whether this should be higher on the list.
7. Eagle vs Shark (2007)
Eagle vs Shark is important for a number of reasons, the most salient of which is the funniest joke ever committed to screen: Jemaine Clement’s awkward loser Jarrod calling his arch nemesis Eric to chew him out for his bullying, but gets Eric’s jovial dad instead.
‘‘Tell him justice is coming,’’ Jarrod says, darkly. ‘‘All right, Justin!’’ the oblivious dad replies before hanging up.
Status: ‘‘Ka kaw! Ka kaw!’’
8. The Captain (2013)
There’s dark, and there’s dark, and then there’s this short film co-written by and starring Waititi as the captain of an airplane that’s had a spot of trouble.
Status: I’m laughing, but I really shouldn’t be.
9.The Tribe (2002)
Waititi played Virtual Reality Cowboy No 1 on the single-greatest TV show New Zealand has produced.
Status: Lest we forget.
10. Scarfies (1999)
This film creeps me out on so many levels, not least because I still see that bathroom in my nightmares, but it was one of Waititi’s first major roles in film, so it’s here.
Status: A Kiwi classic I can’t watch again.
11. 42 One Dream Rush (2010)
Waititi’s contribution to a 42 Below short film competition stands out from the somewhat disturbing offerings of Asia Argento, James Franco, Gaspar Noe, and Florian Habicht, by being not entirely terrible. In fact, it’s quite cute, especially since it’s set to Waititi singing a tuneless, folksy rendition of Let Me Call You Sweetheart to an equally tuneless accordion.
Status: Maybe a film of some sort?
12. Green Lantern (2011)
Let’s just make like Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool at the end of Deadpool 2 and blow a hole in this film’s head.
Status: Film? What film?