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Good for Nothing, Movie

Good for Nothing 2011

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This ain't no place for a lady...

Kiwi-made Western (dubbed the "Pavlova Western"), set in America but shot in New Zealand, starring Cohen Holloway (Boy) and directed/written by Weta Workshop’s own Mike Wallis, making his feature debut. More

Escaping her past, a young English woman (newcomer Inge Rademeyer) immigrates to the West. After a gunfight breaks out in a saloon, Isabella is snatched away by a rugged outlaw (Holloway). With the Sheriff mistaking her for an accomplice, a bounty is placed on her head and she is forced to partner up with her captive...

After premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a Kiwi spaghetti western filtered through the offbeat sensibilities of early Sam Raimi or the Coen brothers." Hide

154 votes / 37 comments The Talk

  • 73 %

    Want to See it

    What say you?

    • BornInCaptivity

      Puts me in mind of The Piano ...

    • GissyGrl

      Looks amazing, can't wait to see it.

    • alex128

      intriguing, but that was a terrible trailer

    • Ed-Flicks

      Hollywood Reporter says: "A Kiwi spaghetti western filtered through the offbeat sensibilities of early Raimi or the Coens."

    • Aleisha

      Reminds me of True Grit

    • Tania1

      What is it about I have no idea from the trailer

    • Sally

      Sometimes trailers give too much away of the movie...it's a teaser trailer which is good.

    • Rhys

      The first New Zealand western! Shot entirely here with New Zealand actors! Its destined to be good!

    • Carol

      Might be worth a peek!

    • More

      It sucks

    • R.P.

      Bad acting

    • clabe

      looks poorly acted.

    • Shopqueen

      i grew up watching westerns on a sunday arvo , got to live up to true grit tho

    • Charles Eggen

      Those who have seen it, at festivals, have enjoyed it. Don't judge based upon the trailer.

    • Leighbo

      Looks great and good to see some new NZ actrors, not the same old parade of over exposed Shortland St castaways.

    • Jim 13 March

      Poor marketing with two other kiwi films opening almost simultaneously April 25 & April 26.

    • AAL

      Looks stupid. Americans should make American westerns.

    • Nick

      The cinematography looks really good, too bad the writing is a bit flat though.

    • Bex

      Guys this is cinematic history in the making - the first "Pavlova Western". Watch this space for more to come!!

    • Annonymous

      Name 1 kiwi that CAN act!

    • Just Me

      Trailer is a let down but I'm still curious....

    • hmmm

      I'm in the same boat as just me...

    • Maxine

      Love seeing the Kingston Flyer steaming along for all the world to see.

    • Charles Eggen

      Dear Annonymous Consider: Neill, Crowe, Curtis, Morrison, Lynskey, Paquin,Lawless?

    • Owen Thompson

      Great ad last night on Sunday.

    • Jim

      Very poor marketing as opening almost simultaneously with two other kiwi films.

    • Shirley

      Its a Kiwi movie - the first Western - go and see it!!

    • Rubber Johnny

      Jeez Jim - you've made the same comment on those other 2 threads too. Boring mate.

    • flying fox

      Why get the actors to do US accents! An actual NZ western would be way cooler! Scenery looks gr8 but its a waste that its just a US rip off.

    • Amsterdam

      Want to like it.. but that trailer doesnt inspire me to see the film.

    • Ella

      I've seen it and the trailer doesn't do it justice. Very much a Western, but not a cliche.

    • Gerd

      Best New Zealand movie ever!

    • Johnny

      It's dick is broke.

    • Holly

      The rape scene is meant to be amusing but it is not. When is a rape funny?stupid plot device, bad acting but nice scenery.

    • fleabag

      Good kiwi movie on a low to near no budget Inge is the best kiwi women actress I have seen finally come out of nz for some time now

    • Sarah McM

      so is it PG or what? can we take the kids?????

    • Tele335

      The first kiwi western was Lincoln county incident, around 1978, or maybe Wild Man a year or so earlier.

  • CARE TO COMMENT?

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Flicks.co.nz Review

Rating:

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

  • Jim-Hollis

    Good For Nothing was clever right from the title. It was a western that was better than most American ones ever made. Quirky. 4 stars.

comment / reply
Dominic Corry Flicks Writer

Good for Nothing is an admirably slick production for a self-funded Kiwi movie, and a pretty good watch by any standard. The rugged Kiwi landscapes ably ‘play’ the American West and bring an untouched feel perhaps lacking in many Westerns filmed in the States. More

The Hollywood Reporter review flatteringly cited the influence of the early films of Sam Raimi and the Coen brothers, and it’s not hard to see why. Audiences familiar with New Zealand film history might detect some of Geoff Murphy’s (Goodbye Pork Pie; Never Say Die) proclivity toward intercourse-centric puns and character development.

Indeed, the main character here can’t ‘get it up’, which pretty much drives the plot everywhere it goes. As said character – “The Man”, rising Kiwi talent Cohen Holloway is appreciably inscrutable and awesomely scuffed-up. This Sergio Leone-ish grimy quality permeates the entire film and elevates it to a place that where the grit is tangible and the suspension of disbelief is easy.

Female lead Inge Rademeyer is small in stature but hugely sympathetic as a young woman completely out of her element. The film wholly rests on the mostly unspoken relationship between her and The Man, and it proves a solid backbone for the story.

A touch of goodwill for a local production will help you appreciate Good for Nothing but it’s not necessary to make it worth your while. Hide

The People's Reviews

Rating:

5 ratings and 5 reviews

All reviews (5)

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

  • Bruce

    Agree- a very enjoyable movie- Go see it ! Support NZ made

  • dave

    ummm no chemistry... she's banging the director

comment / reply

A NZ Western

GrahamP Flicks Superstar (?)

I can't believe how good this movie realy is.
It has grip,story,humour,emotion and great scenery.The timing and directing was perfect.The origonal music score was brillant and added to the overal feel.I found the chemistry between Isobella and the outlaw
was very real.The slow-motion clip of Isobella's hair blowing in the wind was absolute genius and remains in my mind.
I hope it goes global so that the rest of the world has a chance to see it.
A bit of blood but still a great watch.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

"Good for Nothing" Wrong! Great Entertainment! Must See

DutchKiwi Nobody (?)

What a great film, none of the usual dumb down action, just a real to life ( of those times before the little blue pill ) with thinking mans humour, an entertaning story set in the old lawless west ( the NZ landscape doubling as the vast expansive American West ). This is a must see with your friends and family.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Good for Nothing definitely worth watching

Lautje Nobody (?)

A wonderfully refreshing take on movie making. Very down to earth and simple story, but with that very realistic and funny and very easy to relate to. No Hollywood drama, a story about people as people really are (or at least can be).
"Good for Nothing" is put together really well. Great acting, great timing, great music, great scenery.
I generally don't like westerns, but I loved this one.

  • AGREE? DISAGREE?...

comment / reply

Best New Zealand movie ever!

Gerd Flicks Superstar (?)

The film deserves standing ovations, a class for itself and the best New Zealand movie ever. I'm afraid it won't go far in the US as it needs some intelligence to understand Kiwi humour.

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comment / reply

Worth the watch

DnA Flicks Superstar (?)

We watched this as a family. Son having just turned 13 needed to produce ID. He says it was a good movie. For us we loved the music. Brilliant. The story was a bit thin but the characters and locations were great. We loved it for being more realistic. As well as the scenery. Well done to those that put this together. Cohen Holloway is very good.

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Press Reviews

Ain't It Cool News

A visually beautiful film, shot amazingly well on a slim budget – many of the more impressive shows of scenery are filmed from Inge and Mike’s moving car. Full review.

Hollywood Reporter

Imagine a Kiwi spaghetti western filtered through the offbeat sensibilities of early Sam Raimi or the Coen brothers and you’ve pretty much got the picture that is Good for Nothing. Full review.

Leonard Maltin

Lively and original... [it's a] cheerfully eccentric Western and I hope it finds the audience it deserves here in the States. Full review.

New York Times

The ravishing New Zealand landscape portrays the American West in Mike Wallis’s Good for Nothing, a slender movie of humble, welcome charms. Full review.

Variety (USA)

A droll New Zealand parody with a tone so deadpan it becomes laugh-out-loud funny. Full review.