Paladin Saves ‘Boy’ From Obscurity

Mark Urman’s discount and highly selective distributor Paladin have netted what could easily be a bonafide hit in Boy. Despite mixed reviews, Taika Waititi’s sophomore film (it didn’t make our must see cut when it premiered in Park City) could be a healthy alternative if considered for year-end showings.

Gist: Following in the man child pattern we previously saw in Eagle Vs. Shark, this father-son duel coming-of-age dramedy set in 1984, a time when Michael Jackson is king—even in Waihau Bay, New Zealand. Here we meet Boy, an 11-year-old who lives on a farm with his gran, a goat, and his younger brother, Rocky (who thinks he has magic powers).

Worth Noting: This is inspired by Waititi’s Oscar-nominated short, “Two Cars, One Night,” which Waititi developed into a feature at the Sundance Writer’s Lab.

Do We Care?: We consider ourselves fans, and not enthusiasts of his previous film and The Flight of the Conchords so in a high traffic release date we might overlook the title, but in a moderately busy weekend, this might be the top offering.