You can tell that a fi lm was
made by Taika Waititi the same
way you can tell a piece was
painted by Picasso. Not in that
he doesn’t know where on the
face the eyes go, but in how he
expresses his unique voice.
The fi rst work of Taika’s I saw
was the 2014 mockumentary
What We Do in the Shadows—
a movie that could have been
a disaster, but was amazing.
It was brilliantly comic yet
somehow made me care pas-
sionately about the fate of a
bunch of murderous vampires.
So I set about trying to meet
Taika and convince him to work Taika and convince him to work Taika and convince him to work Taika and convince him to work Taika and convince him to work Taikaandconvincehimtowork
with me, which he obviously
refused to do.
Now, having watched all
his work, from Hunt for the
Wilderpeople to Reservation
Dogs, I’m really bitter. Taika
has won an Oscar and made
successful, hilarious, heartfelt
movies. Yet he always brings
to his work a light touch. He
tells stories that are utterly
watchable, even when they’re
sad, or satirical. And they are
always funny.
He represents the best of
the bygone era of wild, rock-
star Hollywood types, mixed
with the brilliance of a top
auteur ... Actually, sorry, but this
guy’s really starting to piss me
off. Mr. “I’m a bloody genius but
I’m still fun.” Can someone else
write this piece?Baron Cohen is an Oscar-
nominated actor and screenwriterWardle is the creator
of the fi ve-letter-word of the fi ve-letter-word
online game Wordle.online game Wordle.
Today.Today.
Alarm.Alarm.
Arise.Arise.
Teeth: brush, fl oss.Teeth: brush, fl oss.
Grabs phone. Grabs phone.
Loads. Rules clear.Loads. Rules clear.
Legit words, slang Legit words, slang
taboo.taboo.
Ready? Ready.Ready? Ready.
Plays.Plays.
Picks usual fi rst Picks usual fi rst
guess.guess.
Sonar? Cable? Novel? Sonar? Cable? Novel?
Stare?Stare?
Ashen block after Ashen block after
ashen block.ashen block.
Lucky!Lucky!Lucky!
Clues. Hints.Clues. Hints.
Tries again.Tries again.
Fifth space, amber Fifth space, amber
(maybe lemon?).(maybe lemon?).
Right vowel, wrong Right vowel, wrong
place.place.
Tries again.Tries again.
Three right!Three right!
First, green. Third, First, green. Third,
green. Fifth, amber green. Fifth, amber
(maybe lemon).(maybe lemon).
Brain stirs.Brain stirs.
Words. Order. Usage. Words. Order. Usage.
Logic.Logic.
Tries again. Worse.Tries again. Worse.
Feels faint. Think!Feels faint. Think!
Needs quiet.Needs quiet.
Fight doubt.Fight doubt.
Avoid doing badly.Avoid doing badly.
Tries again.Tries again.
Wrong!Wrong!
Shock, truly.Shock, truly.
Stuck.Stuck.
Brain blank.Brain blank.
Sharp panic.Sharp panic.
Takes pulse.Takes pulse.Keeps faith.Keeps faith.
Brain spark: vowel Brain spark: vowel
twice?twice?
Final guess.Final guess.
Every fi ber tense.Every fi ber tense.
Waits.Waits.
First block fl ips.First block fl ips.
Green.Green.
Green, green, green, Green, green, green,
green!green!
Bliss!Bliss!
Alive again!Alive again!
Prize: pride.Prize: pride.
Inner peace.Inner peace.
Waits.Waits.
Night, alarm, teeth, Night, alarm, teeth,
phone, newly blank phone, newly blank
board.board.
First guess again.First guess again.
Final point:Final point:
minor thing, major minor thing, major
magic.magic.
Daily light among Daily light among
bleak times.bleak times.
Happy place.Happy place.
Hence,Hence,
folks thankfolks thank
JoshW ardle.JoshW ardle.Questlove Questlove is a is a
Grammy- and Oscar-Grammy- and Oscar-
winning musical art-winning musical art-
ist and directorist and directorTaika Waititi
Hollywood maverick
BY SACHA BARON COHEN
Josh
WWardleardle
Great gamGreat gamerer
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