Director: Koreeda Hirokazu
Starring: Junichi Okada, Rie Miyazawa, Susumu Terajima, Tadanobu Asano
Genre: Japan, Samurai, Drama
Koreeda Hirokazu is the master of the saccharine. The man has managed to tackle such subjects ranging from dealing with the suicide of a spouse (Maborosi) to the prospect of life after death (After Life), and in each instance, rather than depressing the audience, he has somehow managed to lift their spirits. His latest, Hana (Flower), is no do different. With its tale of peace over revenge, Hirokazu yet again demonstrates an adept and skilled director, producing …

Directors: Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine (aka: Aniki),and Shunichiro Miki
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Susumu Terajima, Kazue Fukiishi, Rinko Kikuchi
Genre: Japan, Comedy
I’ve come to dig the works of Katsuhito Ishii over the course of his three previous theatrical releases. Sharkskin and Peach Hip Girl was endlessly hilarious. Party 7 was a bit of a nosedive, but all was forgiven following the excellent A Taste of Tea (though, to be completely honest, I can’t remember much of the movie at the moment). From what I’d seen of the Funky Forest trailers, it …

No, I haven’t been slacking on the film reviews. It’s just that we haven’t seen a lot worth talking about. This latest batch could be perceived as a nice drink after drought. Note that since Johnny To’s Exiled is playing at this year’s SFIAAFF I’ll try to have a review up this weekend. Read on for the reviews.
Love & Pop
Given the fact it features the directing talent of Hideaki Anno (of Neon Genesis fame), is based on a story by Ryu Murakami, and features both Tadanobu Asano and Yukie Nakama, …

A bit more catchup. And, really, what better time than the holidays? Since my “capsules” are rather lenghty, this column now has a new title. Please enjoy these Reviews In Brief.
Party 7 . Initially I wasn’t going to review this, but seeing as Party 7 will be released by Synapse in 2007, I know some of you will be interested. Straight off, Party 7 is definitely the least of Katsuhito Ishii’s films. The tale of seven people, and a suitcase of cash, converging in a seedy hotel (thoughtfully equipped with …

Vibrator
I do my best to see good in films these days. I think I’ve come a long way from my cranky green critic self. But Vibrator has brought out the cranky in me. It is an absolutely terrible film. Plodding, shallow, and self important, it is an absolute chore to sit through.
Lauded as “Japan’s Answer to Lost in Translation“, another tale of spoiled, ignorant losers awash in the seas of travel, Vibrator epitomizes the type of trendy VH1 Pop-existential garbage that’s so popular right now. It features a completely vacuous …

Summer’s over and stress is back, so, I offer up a review of a relaxing flick.

A Taste of Tea, not to be confused with Wayne Wang’s Eat a Bowl of Tea, concerns a family of dreamers living in the Japanese countryside, and their efforts to realize their respective dreams. Really, that’s about the simplest plot synopsis one can manage for this film. Mom (Satomi Tazuka) is an artist looking to get back into the animation field, and Father (Tomokazu Miura) is a hypnotist looking to provide for his family. Ayano …

If you’re a fan of Tadanobu Asano (and who isn’t?) you know he likes to pick some oddball projects. Likewise, if you’re a fan of Teruo Ishii, you know to expect anything, from the depraved to the profound, and potentially a mix of the two. But when the two team up to bring an influential manga artist’s tale of awkward love and loss to the big screen, you know you’re in for a treat.
Adapted from Yoshiharu Shiga’s Wind-Up Type, Screwed (aka: Neji-Shiki) stars Tadanobu Asano as Tsube, an unsuccessful Manga …

A lot of critics seem to be putting out their Best of Year (so far) lists, so we’ve decided to do the same. But, rather than list films guaranteed to garner critical acclaim (and respect of our academic elitist peers), we’re choosing those we would honestly watch more than once.
Best films (Chris):
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade
So good, and so sad. I really hope this gets a decent US release. I absolutely loved this film.
Takeshis’
500% Beat Takeshi indeed. A blast from start to finish. It may take a while to get a …

Kris and I first discovered Katsuhito Ishii with Sharkskin Man and Peach Hip Girl and Party 7 a few years back. Most of you probably know him from the Anime segment in Kill Bill Vol. 1. But, however you may know him, it’s obvious the guy has a wealth of talent, and is surely one director to keep an eye on in the coming years. The trailer for his latest film, Funky Forest: The First Contact, is now up and man, does it look crazy. Lots of cool talent in …

I must admit, Takeshi Kitano’s films are an acquired taste. For example, my first viewing of Sonatine I found to be quite tedious. However, upon my second viewing, a couple years and a few Kitano films later, I began to recognize the subtle nuances of Kitano’s performance and the dichotomy of the violent Yakuza city life and the tranquil beach antics. Kitano is not one for making a straightforward film, and it can be off-putting if you’re not ready for viewing a film you have to interpret. His pictures …

Aman (Tadanobu Asano, Party 7, Ichi the Killer) is having a bit of trouble with his wife (Reika Hashimoto). Every time he kills her, even though he is careful to bury her body deep in the woods, he finds her well and healthy inside his house, ready to deliver him a night’s worth of frenzied ass-kicking. Kobayashi (Ittoku Kishibe, Zatoichi), a salaryman, has a bit of a problem as well. Due to an unfortunate incident at famed hypnotist, and self proclaimed Casanova, Tiger Aoyama’s (Hiroshi Abe) sold-out show he has …

BEAT TAKESHI BEATDOWN To say that Zatoichi is one of cinema’s all time most iconic anti heroes would be an understatement. The tale of the blind, gambling masseur turned expert swordsman has spawned more sequels than Bond and generated countless imitators ranging from Marvel Comic’s cult hero, Daredevil, to Phillip Noyce’s Zatoichi remake, Blind Fury. His tale is at once both delightfully absurd and immensely entertaining, making it is no surprise that Zatoichi was bound to grace the big screen once again.
Having passed away in 1997, Shintaro Katsu, the …

WHAT’S A HOMICIDAL PSYCHOPATH TO DO?
SHE SAID:
Yakuza boss Anjo has been eviscerated. Entrails are scattered across the floor, ceiling, even the fish tank. A clean-up crew of rejected Yakuza erases every trace, including 300 million yen. But they have seen this all before; they are the ones who orchestrated it +have tidied up previous jobs. Even though Anjo’s clan thinks he has fled with the money, the traitor crew has little time to celebrate.. in the Syndicate Underworld of Japan, no enemy is safe for very long. Anjo’s implied …

A WHACKED OUT ANIME COME TO LIFE!
HE-SAID: SSM&PHG is an unabashedly cool, high-energy action/comedy filled with extremely colorful characters, subtle, yet hilarious humour, and a wonderfully engaging story adapted from the Japanese Manga of the same name. Samehada (Tadanobu Asano of Ichi the Killer fame) is a gangster who has double-crossed his own gang and they’ve come for his head. No pinky will make up for the double cross he’s done. Samehada is actually on the run from a few of the killers when a girl, Toshiko (Shie Koshinata) who …