Next Goal Wins: Movie Review

Taika Waititi must’ve found something humorous about the determination of the Football Federation of American Samoa. Even when they disgustingly lost 31-0 to Australia and never scored a goal in the next 10 years, they still played the game.

It’s not a secret that a lot of people think the American Samoa national football team stinks. Even their own players think they stink. Well, it is all because no one really ever taught them the game of football properly. So maybe, with a new coach, they’ll get to play the game the right way and hopefully end their scoring drought.

It is bad enough that they cannot win even if their lives depend on it, but somehow it got a lot worse when the alcoholic Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) got assigned to be their head coach. He coached national teams before but got such a bad reputation in games for his anger issues that the U.S. Soccer Federation President, Alex Magnussen (Will Arnett), and his ex-wife, Gail (Elisabeth Moss), had to expel him to American Samoa.

But Thomas is so wrapped up in his own mad world that he fails to connect with his new team. He disrespected their traditions. He disrespected their laws. He disrespected their team captain, Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana). Despite the best efforts of the manager of the American Samoa team, Tavita Taumua (Oscar Kightley), they can’t seem to get along with him.

But over the next few weeks, Thomas could no longer ignore the perseverance of such a losing squad to play the game. They’re not competitive. They’re not fit. Yet, they show up for practice and work multiple jobs to keep the team alive.

Thomas eventually feels that the team needs him, and they’re not really asking him that much. All they want is for him to help them score a goal. Not to win. But to score a single goal.

Boy — Movie Review

This entertaining and touching story is about an odd family plague with insecurities and dilemmas.

"Boy" follows the lively and imaginative Boy (James Rolleston). Alamein is his real name, named after his dad. He has a very shy brother named Rocky (Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu), who believe his power has caused the death of their mother. 

The story basically starts upon meeting their estranged father, Alamein (Taika Waititi), after being in-prison for a long time. Optimistic that their father return will make their life better, Boy soon realize the true sentiment of his father towards them.

What We Do in the Shadows – Movie Review

In Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's terrific masterpiece film, three old-school vampires try to adjust to the modern world.

The film follows a group of vampires headed by the uneasy Viago Von Dorna Schmarten Scheden Heimburg (né von Blitzenberg), played by Taika Waititi. A movie crew follows him as he narrates his everyday life with the rebellious Deacon Brucke, played by Jonathan Brugh, the insecure Vladislav the Poker, played by Jemaine Clement, and the 8,000-year-old vampire Petyr, played by Ben Fransham.

Soon, the supposed-to-be dinner guest turned vampire, Nick, played by Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, joins them. His addition adds substance to the overarching narrative. He's a representation of modernity and youth, a direct contrast to Viago and his roomies.