Based on the characters from DC Comics and Lego Construction Toys, The Lego Batman Movie is an animated film in which Lego Batman is trying to defeat the Joker and other villains while dealing with his own fears when he finds himself adopting a young boy who would become his sidekick. Directed by Chris McKay and screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern, and John Whittington from a story by Grahame-Smith, the film is a comical take on the Batman story told through Legos as it’s a spin-off of the 2014 film The Lego Movie with Will Arnett reprising his role as Batman. Also starring Zach Galifianakis, Rosario Dawson, Michael Cera, and Ralph Fiennes as Alfred. The Lego Batman Movie is a fun and exhilarating film from Chris McKay.
The film follows the Caped Crusader who is once again battling the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) and his army of villains to save Gotham as he isn’t sure what to do next after the Joker suddenly surrenders to the Gotham’s new police commissioner in Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson). It’s a film in which Batman is forced to face his greatest fear as he refuses to believe that he can work with other people preferring to work by himself. The film’s screenplay explore Batman’s desire to be the hero of Gotham and his belief that he can do it himself yet he remains haunted by the fact that he lost his parents as a child and couldn’t cope with the idea of a family. Yet, at a gala to celebrate the retirement of Jim Gordon (Hector Elizondo) where they announce Gordon’s daughter Barbara as his replacement. Batman in his true identity as Bruce Wayne would meet a young orphan in Dick Grayson (Michael Cera) where he unknowingly adopts him. Adding to this is the fact that he would use Grayson to retrieve a weapon at the home of Superman (Channing Tatum) in the hopes he can get rid of the Joker but he is unaware of what the Joker is planning.
Chris McKay’s direction is definitely stylish as it play into this world where it all Legos and all of the characters are Legos while using references to all of the Batman films of the past. While McKay would use wide shots to get a look of Gotham as well as some extravagant action set pieces in which Batman would battle various villains. McKay would also utilize medium shots and close-ups to play into the humor and some of the drama as the latter relate to Batman’s issues over needing some companionship as the only person he has around him is his butler Alfred. McKay would infuse a lot of offbeat moments in the animation as well as footage of films such as the 1966 Batman film and Jerry Maguire with the latter being a film that Batman likes to watch. It’s among these moments that provide that heightened sense of entertainment as well as moments where Batman reluctantly makes Grayson his sidekick known as Robin.
The film also has McKay maintain a look that fit in towards every set piece and how the characters would build something through whatever Lego piece they can find. Helping McKay with the look is production designer Grant Freckelton in the way Gotham looks as well as Wayne Manor and what the Joker would do to it for its third act. The film’s third act doesn’t just feature Joker teaming up with various villains from other stories such as Gremlins, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and other franchises/films. It just adds to a climax that is crazy but also filled with a lot of humor and moments that aren’t afraid to be ridiculous. Overall, McKay creates a joyful and exuberant film about a vigilante struggling to deal with the idea of needing a family again.
Editors David Burrow, Matt Villa, and John Venzon do amazing work with the editing as it is stylish to play into the action without deviating too much into chaotic editing styles while playing up to the film’s humor with its approach to rhythmic cuts. Sound designer Wayne Pashley does brilliant work with the sound in creating some of the sound effects as well as how the voices matches up with whatever objects the characters are using to shoot. The film’s music by Lorne Balfe is fantastic for its orchestral-based score as it has a lot of bombast in the percussions and in the string arrangements while the soundtrack feature a lot of music from artists and acts like Patrick Stump, DNCE, Harry Nilsson, Wham!, Alesso with Tove Lo, Cutting Crew, Rick Astley, and Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine.
The casting by Mary Hidalgo is great as it feature notable small voice roles and appearances from Eddie Izzard as Lord Voldemort, Jermaine Clement as Sauron, Jonah Hill as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Channing Tatum as Superman, Adam DeVine as Barry Allen/the Flash, David Burrows as an anchorman and Mr. Freeze, Doug Benson as Bane, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Conan O’Brien as the Riddler, Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face, Jason Mantoukas as the Scarecrow, Riki Lindhome as Poison Ivy and Wicked Witch of the West, Seth Green as King Kong, Kate Micucci as Clayface, Mariah Carey as Mayor McCaskill, Lauren White as Chief O’Hara and Medusa, Susan Bennett as Batman’s computer, and Hector Elizondo as Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon who retires and gives the job to his daughter. Jenny Slate is wonderful in her small voice role as Harley Quinn as the Joker’s girlfriend who would help him conspire his scheme to defeat Batman and destroy Gotham.
Ralph Fiennes is excellent as Alfred Pennyworth as Batman/Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler who is aware of Bruce’s reluctance to invite people into his life as he sees Dick as someone that could probably help Bruce. Rosario Dawson is brilliant as Barbara Gordon as Gotham’s new police commissioner who wants to make some changes as she hopes to rid Gotham of crime once and for all yet realizes how much she needs Batman to help achieve these ideas. Michael Cera is fantastic as Dick Grayson/Robin as an orphaned boy accidentally adopted by Bruce Wayne as he would become Batman’s sidekick where Cera brings in that sense of boyish energy that is needed to be Robin. Zach Galifianakis is amazing as the Joker where he provides a lot of wit and depth into the character as well as providing a complexity to the Joker as someone who just wants some respect from Batman and is willing to do anything to get that. Finally, there’s Will Arnett in an incredible voice performance as Batman/Bruce Wayne as the Caped Crusader who thinks he is cooler than everyone and doesn’t need anyone’s help but also has this torment inside over the idea of having a family again as it’s a very comical performance from Arnett.
The Lego Batman Movie is an awesome film from Chris McKay. Featuring some dazzling animation, some very funny and adventurous moments, and a lot of high-octane action. It’s a film that definitely manages to be something fans of Batman can enjoy as well as be something that is just pure fun for audiences of all ages. In the end, The Lego Batman Movie is a marvelous film from Chris McKay.
Related: The Lego Movie - (The Lego Ninjago Movie)
Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) – Batman (1989 film) - Batman Returns - Batman Forever - Batman & Robin - Batman Begins - The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight Rises - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - The Batman (2022 film)
© thevoid99 2017
Written and directed by Taika Waititi from a story by Waititi and Loren Horsley who also both do casting duties, Eagle vs. Shark is the story of a shy young woman who meets an eccentric oddball at a costume party as they connect over their insecurities and loneliness as she accompanies him back to his hometown to deal with issues including his family. The film is an exploration of two people who connect as they deal with their own issues with the world as well as wonder if there’s a place for them. Starring Loren Horsley, Jermaine Clement, Craig Hall, and Joel Tobeck. Eagle vs. Shark is a delightful and heartfelt film from Taika Waititi.
The film follows a fast-food worker who has a crush on a man who works at a video game store where they connect at a costume party as he invites her to his hometown to get revenge on a bully. It’s a film that revolves around these two oddballs who don’t exactly fit in with conventional society as they bond somewhat through video games, music, and other things. At the same time, they out of step with the people around them with a few exceptions such as their respective families. Taika Waititi’s screenplay that is based on a story he wrote with Loren Horsley is filled with this balance of tragedy and humor as it relates to a line of dialogue late in the film about the way life is. It’s an idea that Lily (Loren Horsley) has been carrying since her parents had died years ago where she shares a home with her brother Damon (Joel Tobeck) who is an eccentric himself yet has managed to find a suitable living as an animator. Lily works at a fast food restaurant where Jarrod (Jermaine Clement) would often go to as he works nearby as he doesn’t seem interested in Lily until she takes an invitation to a party that was meant for someone else.
Due to her skills in playing a fighting game, Lily wins over Jarrod but it’s not enough until he apologizes for not showing up to their date because of news relating to an old high school enemy coming back to his hometown. Lily would join Jarrod with Damon driving them from the city into the country as Jarrod’s family is an oddball bunch with his older sister Nancy (Rachel House) living in the house with her husband, son, and their father Jonah (Brian Sargent) who is very withdrawn from Jarrod. Especially as it relates to Jarrod’s older brother Gordon (Taika Waititi) who had died in an accident which Jarrod claims as he would also claim his mother died as well. There’s also the presence of Gordon’s former fiancée Tracy (Gentiane Lupi) whom Jarrod is trying to impress while he also reveals to Lily that he has a daughter in Vinny (Morag Hills). All of which has Lily trying to get to know Jarrod while being someone his family likes because she is willing to accept their oddball personalities.
Waititi’s direction is definitely stylish not just in its approach to comedy and drama but also setting it into a world that is definitely unique in its own way as it is shot on location in New Zealand with the first act in the city of Wellington and the rest of the film in Porirua. While Waititi would use wide shots to capture the scope of the locations, he would maintain something intimate in the way he would capture the lives of Lily and Jarrod. The former lives with her brother as she still lives in a room that she used to share with him where Waititi would have her in the left side of the room on her bed playing guitar with her brother sitting on the other side of what used to be his bed to establish the closeness of their relationship. The usage of medium shots and close-ups are key to Waititi and how he would capture the life of a family including where he would have them around the dinner table. Notably in a scene where it’s very quiet and tense until Lily breaks that tension by telling a joke that is lame but manages to work.
Waititi would also utilize some stop-motion animation with the aid of Guy Capper and Francis Salole of Another Planet Limited in creating abstract scenes that play into Jarrod’s need to find someone as he isn’t sure if Lily is the right person for him. Waititi’s approach to humor is offbeat in the way some of the characters are presented but it doesn’t go for cheap laughs where Waititi would know where to put the humor in the right moments. Even as it would play into elements of the tragedies of the film such as the climatic showdown between Jarrod and his childhood bully Eric (Dave Fane) as it would unveil some surprising revelations. Especially as it showcases Jarrod’s need to be accepted by his family and to move away from his brother’s shadow. Overall, Waititi creates an endearing and witty comedy about two oddballs who fall in love and cope with their own encounters with tragedy.
Cinematographer Adam Clark does excellent work with the cinematography as it is largely straightforward for the scenes set in the daytime while using some lights for the scenes set at night. Editor Jonathan Woodford-Robinson does brilliant work with the editing as its usage of jump-cuts and other stylish cut to play into the humor as well as some of the light-dramatic moments without being too playful. Production designer Joe Bleakley does fantastic work with the look of the home Lily shares with her brother as well as Jarrod’s apartment in Wellington and his family home. Costume designer Amanda Neale does nice work with the costumes from the homemade animal costumes that Lily and Jarrod wear at the party to the track suits created by Jarrod’s sister and her husband.
Hair/makeup designer Leanne “Frankie” Karena does terrific work with the look of Jarrod who kind sports a mini-mullet of sorts to play into his oddball look. Sound editor Dave Whitehead does superb work with the sound in capturing the natural sounds in some of the locations as well as the way music is presented in some scenes in the film. The film’s music by the Phoenix Foundation is wonderful for its folk-like sound that play into the film’s offbeat tone in creating bits of melancholia and humor while music supervisors Chris Gough and Julie Hodges provide a fun soundtrack that features pieces from Devendra Banhart, M. Ward, and the Stone Roses.
The film’s incredible cast that is assembled by Taika Waititi and Loren Horsley features some notable small roles from Waititi as Jarrod’s late older brother Gordon, Chelsie Preston Crayford as Lily’s co-worker Jenny whom Jarrod has a crush on, Gentiane Lupi as Gordon’s fiancée Tracy whom Jarrod is trying to woo, Morag Hills as Jarrod’s daughter Vinny who befriends Lily, Dave Fane as Jarrod’s nemesis Eric, Cohen Holloway as Jarrod’s hacker friend Mason, Bernard Stewart as Jarrod’s heavy metal-loving nephew Zane, and Craig Hall as Jarrod’s brother-in-law Doug. Rachel House is fantastic as Jarrod’s older sister Nancy who doesn’t think much about him but enjoys Lily’s company. Brian Sargent is superb as Jarrod’s father Jonah as a man who is still reeling from the loss of his son as he is very distant towards Jarrod where he manages to connect with Lily that would allow him to get to know his youngest son.
Joel Tobeck is excellent as Damon as Lily’s kind older brother who likes to do impressions and say funny things as a way to cheer people up where he is also liked by Jarrod’s family during his brief time with them. Finally, there’s the duo of Jermaine Clement and Loren Horsley in sensational performances in their respective roles as Jarrod and Lily. Clement’s performance as Jarrod is strange in the way he would deliver his dialogue and how he would threaten Eric as it play into someone that is trying to be tough and cool but it only hide the anguish and loss he is dealing with over his brother’s death. Horsley’s performance as Lily is more restrained as she does provide bits of physical comedy reaction but also has a lot of energy in the way she reacts to Jarrod’s coldness during the second act where she channels her energy to get to know his family as her charm would be key to the story and letting Jarrod find some happiness.
Eagle vs. Shark is a remarkable film from Taika Waititi. Featuring a great cast, a heartfelt story, a fun soundtrack, and gorgeous visuals. It’s a film that showcases how two people can fall in love despite their own quirkiness and coping with their own respective tragedies. In the end, Eagle vs. Shark is an incredible film from Taika Waititi.
Taika Waititi Films: Two Cars, One Night – Boy (2010 film) – What We Do in the Shadows - Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Thor: Ragnarok - Jojo Rabbit - Thor: Love and Thunder - Next Goal Wins (2023 film) - (Klara and the Sun) - Auteurs #64: Taika Waititi
© thevoid99 2017
Written directed and starring Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows is a film that explores the lives of vampires living in the suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand as it’s told in a documentary-like style. The film is a horror-comedy that follows the lives of vampires adjusting to their surroundings as well as deal with the downside of modern civilization. Also starring Rhys Darby, Jonathan Burgh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, and Stu Rutherford. What We Do in the Shadows is a witty and stylish film from Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement.
Told in the span of nearly a year just before a prestigious masquerade ball that happens every few years, the film is about a documentary film crew who make a film for the New Zealand government about vampires who are living in Wellington. There, they capture the lives of four of these vampires as well as a human servant who would bring in a couple of people for the vampires to feed on where one of them becomes a new vampire and brings a human friend to introduce them to the modern world. The film is told in this documentary style where these vampires cope with their life but also some of the drawbacks of being a vampire as well as the modern world which they’re baffled by. The screenplay by Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement play into this strange encounter with the modern world where vampires, zombies, witches, and werewolves live among humanity but are trying to maintain some control.
Yet, there is still some tension between vampires and werewolves as they all try to not fight while the vampires try to show their newest friend what it is like to be a vampire. Especially as the newest guy in Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer) deals with the guys he is living with as its leader Viago (Taika Waititi) is quite uptight and likes to keep things clean. The other three in the former tyrant Vladislav (Jermaine Clement) who is still reeling from a battle he lost many years ago, the rebellious Deacon (Jonathan Burgh) who tries to be cool as he doesn’t like Nick, and the reclusive Petyr (Ben Fransham) who is 8,000 years old and is the one that turned Nick into a vampire. They all live in the night as Viago often checks to see if it’s nighttime while the tenants, minus Petyr, would have meetings while they’re often aided by Deacon’s human servant Jackie (Jackie van Beek) and later Nick’s friend Stu (Stu Rutherford) who would introduce the other vampires to the Internet and such.
The film’s direction by Waititi and Clement definitely plays up that idea of the documentary yet the documentary crew is never shown. Shot like a documentary with its usage of close-ups and medium shots to maintain that air of intimacy. The film does play up that idea that everything is being filmed including moments where the vampires do whatever to get some blood as there are moments of gore and lots of blood. However, they’re played for laughs where a scene involving Viago eating a victim ends up bad in a comical manner as his whole room becomes a mess. There are some wide shots as the film is shot on location in Wellington which is definitely the most unlikely place for a community of vampires, werewolves, zombies, and witches would live in but it has that mixture of the modern world with some elements of the old world. There also moments where the human characters who help the vampires are also profiled not just as ordinary people but those with quirks while the scene where the local police come into the vampires’ home is very funny as there is that sense of what will happen or what won’t happen. The climax at this masquerade ball doesn’t just play into the social world of the creatures but also in the chaos of what happens when humans are there as well as loyalties start to emerge for these men. Overall, Waititi and Clement create a thrilling yet hilarious film about vampires living in the 21st Century.
Cinematographers Richard Bluck and D.J. Stipsen do excellent work with the look of the many scenes set at night to play into the nightlife of Wellington with its clubs and such as well as a few scenes set in the day to play into the lives of the human servants. Editors Tom Eagles, Yana Gorskaya, and Jonathan Woodford-Robinson do amazing work with the editing as it‘s largely straightforward with some stylish montages as well as some jump-cuts to play into the humor. Production designer Ra Vincent does fantastic work with the look of the house that the vampires live in as well as the rooms of each character to display their personalities. Costume designer Amanda Neale does nice work with the costumes with the clothing style of the vampires where Viago and Vladislav display a look of 18th/19th century clothing while Nick’s clothes are more based on hipster trends.
Makeup/hair designer Dannelle Satherly, along with special effects makeup designers Don Brooker and Roger Murray, does brilliant work with the look of the vampires in their near-human like state as well as the look of Petyr who serve as a homage to the film Nosferatu. Visual effects supervisors Stan Alley and Darwin Go do terrific work with the visual effects that include scenes of the vampires floating or flying around in the air as well as moments where they turn into bats. Sound editor Simon Riley does superb work with the sound in the way some of the noises in the other rooms are heard as well as some sound effects to play in the way the vampire hisses sound. The film’s music by Plan 9 is extraordinary for its 18th/19th century string music filled with all sorts of string instruments while the soundtrack also include a mixture of classical and contemporary music to play into the places the characters venture to.
The casting by Tina Cleary and Todd Resnick is wonderful as it feature some notables small roles from Karen O’Leary and Mike Minogue as a couple of police officers who would meet the vampires during a search, Elena Stejko as a former lover of Vladislav, Ethel Robinson as an old flame of Viago, and Ben Fransham as the very silent and reclusive vampire Petyr who likes to be alone. Rhys Darby is terrific as Anton who is the head of a local werewolf pack that tries to maintain some order and peace despite his own issues with the vampires. Jackie Van Beek is fantastic as Jackie as Deacon’s servant who helps do some of the daytime chores as well as get whoever for the vampires to feed on in the hopes that she becomes a vampire. Stu Rutherford is superb as Nick’s friend Stu as a software computer analyst who befriends the vampires as he helps introduce them to modern technology as well as allow them to see the sun for the very first time in many years through YouTube.
Cori Gonzalez-Macuer is excellent as Nick as a newly-formed vampire who helps the other vampires get in touch with the modern world while dealing with the drawbacks in being a vampire. Jonathan Brugh is brilliant as Deacon as a rebellious vampire who doesn’t like Nick very much as he tries to maintain his rebellious persona as well as do erotic dances of the past to entertain his friends. Jermaine Clement is amazing as Vladislav as a vampire who has a love of torture and sex with women while dealing with the great defeat that still haunts him as he still hopes to regain some vigor. Finally, there’s Taika Waititi in an incredible performance as Viago as the head vampire who is kind of a neat freak as well as lament over a former flame whom he still sees in her old age while trying to teach Nick the ideas in being a vampire.
What We Do in the Shadows is a remarkable film from Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement. Featuring a great cast, a witty premise, dazzling visuals, and a fun soundtrack, it’s a film that play into the many ideas of what it’s like being a vampire in the 21st Century. Even as it is played for laughs as well as provide some unique commentary about the downside of the modern world. In the end, What We Do in the Shadows is a sensational film from Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement.
Taika Waititi Films: Two Cars, One Night - Eagle vs. Shark - Boy (2010 film) - Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Thor: Ragnarok - Jojo Rabbit - Thor: Love and Thunder - Next Goal Wins (2023 film) - (Klara and the Sun) - Auteurs #64: Taika Waititi
© thevoid99 2016
