Laura Westbrook talks to director Mike Wallis and lead actress Inge Rademeyer, as the first New Zealand western is set to hit cinemas around the country.
Good for Nothing started out as a boy's fantasy. The young Mike Wallis spent most of his family holidays in Central Otago, and roaming the rugged and untamed territory he pictured himself being part of one of his beloved western movies.
Being a fan of Spaghetti Westerns, which take the stories of the Old West and shoot them half a world away in Italy, he thought to himself "wouldn't it be interesting...".
Long have sub genres of the films that immortalised Sergio Leone made their appearance: There's the Paella Western (Spain), the Noodle Western (China), the Sushi Western (Japan), and the Curry Western (India), so Wallis reckoned it was time to create the first feature Pavlova Western.
When watching this movie, bear in mind, this is not a Hollywood production with a big budget and cohorts of screen-writers and editors on the bill, this is a labour of love.
Wallis and his fiancée, actress Inge Rademeyer, had the dream of making a western, paying homage to the classical genre, but to pepper it up with some Kiwi trademark quirkiness and awkward humour and stage it on the backdrop of the stunning plains of Central Otago.
The journey took them six years, during which they put off all those 'sensible' decisions, like buying a house or actually getting married, and instead invested all their passion, enthusiasm and money into the making of Good for Nothing.
Holding down his day job as animation manager at Weta Digital, Wallis would spent his nights developing, writing and re-writing his own screenplays, and later directing and producing the self-funded film.
Although set in the States once upon a time, the story is also that of the Southern Man: A chap of few words or outward expressions.
The story-line is told quickly: An English lady, the beautiful Isabella Montgomery (Rademeyer) is emigrates out West after her father has died but is kidnapped by a rugged outlaw (Cohen Holloway).
The stroppy damsel's charm leaves it marks on 'The Man' and when he tries to rape her, he finds himself unable to perform due to a surprising bout of performance anxiety.
Without further ado he throws the struggling Isabella on his horse and starts his quest to cure his problem.
On the way he wordlessly kills scores of men, and has soon a posse on his tail, aiming to kill both him and Isabella, who is being mistaken for a whore and his accomplice.
For those who expect a deep, twisted tale of novel adaption proportions, Good For Nothing might not be the right fare.
But if you're into a good old fashioned western, with lots of shooting, a damsel in sparse clothing and dead-pan, laugh-out-loud humour, this film might be right down your alley.
Apart from the actors and attention for detail on costumes and sets (all made with the help of family and friends), the true heroes of the film are the stunningly shot scenery of Central Otago and the sweeping score.
Wallis made a great move getting John Psathas on board. The classical composer, known for his music for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympics, is channelled Ennio Morricone's unforgotten work on the genre.
The score, performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra adds to every scene and gives the film a dirty grittiness.
Although naysayers may point out that the film is no big deal and already available on DVD in the US: It is a great achievement for an independently funded and produced film to win a run in cinemas around the country (and a limited theatrical release in the US as well).
This is a movie that should be seen on a big screen. Take in the scenery and the music and enjoy this declaration of love to the three things Mike Wallis cares for deeply: Western movies, New Zealand and his fiancée.
Good for Nothing is opening in over 60 cinemas in New Zealand on May 3rd.
Starring: Cohen Holloway, Inge Rademeyer, Jon Pheloung, Richard Thompson
Directed by Mike Wallis
- © Fairfax NZ News
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