Movies
A rather typical Fukuda drama. The premise is interesting enough, but the presentation is a little too generic for my taste. He's one of those directors who manages to land European funding for his films, and that influence is tangible. It doesn't always result in a better film though, especially in a genre that is already extremely competitive. The performances are strong and the setup is promising, but once the core of the drama has been revealed, the continuation is a tad underwhelming. The cinematography is rather basic too and the film could've been shorter, even though there are some impressive scenes scattered throughout. Like most Fukuda's, the quality is there, but it lacks distinctive elements.Read all
Fukada's latest is a somewhat expected drama. He's been bombarded as a Koreeda alternative this past decade, but it seems Fukada settled a little too much in this role. A Girl Missing isn't a bad film and touches upon some interesting topics, but overall it's too plain and pedestrian to make a real impact. Performances are decent and the concept of someone's life crumbling before her eyes, outside her control, is intriguing enough, but the cinematography is basic, the soundtrack is forgettable and the pacing is a little too slow. It's a very basic, average Japanese drama. Not bad, but nothing special.Read all
