Log: week 5 / 2024
A vibrant and respectful look into Tokyo's (underground) dance culture. It's rare to see an outsider fare well in Japan, but director Philippe McKie shows deep love and respect for the country. It would've been easy to turn this film into a freak show, instead, we get a rundown of interesting subcultures, strung together by dance motives. The performances are strong, the cinematography is lush, the soundtrack is an absolute dream, and the mix of drama and dance works very well, without resorting to too many clichés. A film that deserves broader recognition.
You never quite know with Chinese drama. Sometimes it's stylish and stylized, at other times it ends up being more toned down and grounded. Stonewalling falls a little in between both worlds and while there are some nice scenes, it's also a little too dry for my taste, especially at 2.5 hours long. Fans of Jia will probably like the film, though it isn't quite as drenched in drama. The characters and settings are also a bit more contemporary and urban, and the cinematography is a little more polished, but there's still a strong dramatic and narrative base here. An okay film, but too long and a little too forgettable to stand out.Read all
One of those films I watched as a kid but never bothered to revisit. You watched it because it aired on TV and that was pretty much the only way to watch movies back then. It's not a film worth rewatching either, as it has aged terribly and whatever gimmick was funny back then has long lost its appeal. The idea that the baby/toddler is commenting on the situation used to be quite funny, it just isn't anymore. Since the entire film rests on that single gimmick, there's not much left to enjoy. Travolta and Alley are pretty bad, the jokes are tiresome and the plot is negligible. At least it stopped after 90 minutes.Read all
Junta Yamaguchi is back with a film that looks a whole lot like his first (hit) one. It's not too surprising of course, Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes was an insane success for an indie film, but chasing the same kind of success twice rarely leads to a better film. That said, River is a very worthwhile attempt. The film's a bit more polished compared to Yamaguchi's earlier one, but the time loop setup isn't quite as original. It's still a nice mix of light comedy, mystery, and a tiny bit of sci-fi. The film is compact and there's plenty of charm here, but I do hope Yamaguchi can do more than repeat the same gimmick over and over.Read all
I wasn't really on board with the Middle-Eastern wave when it happened, so I'm slowly catching up with some of the most respected films of that movement. I still struggle to see the appeal, though the mix of societal critique and barebones styling clearly has its fans. I'm not one of them. The camera work is dire, the long takes are pretty dull as a result, and the performances aren't all that great either. The film does a decent job of highlighting the ails of these women, but I think plain documentaries are better suited to make that point. At least the film is relatively short and it changes focus quite often, but other than that, it wasn't for me.Read all
The name Kei Fujiwara may not ring a bell, but fans of Japanese cult cinema are sure to know her. She's the female lead in Shinya Tsukamoto's Tetsuo and part of his art troupe. It's no surprise then that Fujiwara's directing debut is a horror film but overt punk and body horror influences. The film isn't quite as intense as its more infamous peers, but if you like graphic horror, screaming people, and dark fantasy then Organ has you covered. It looks pretty good for a low-budget affair, the horror is visceral and there are some memorable moments, the kind that burn themselves into your retina. A good horror film, but not quite the marvel I remembered it to be.Read all
An interesting little genre film. I don't think Killing Words ever made any big waves, I'm not even sure how I landed at the film, but I was pleasantly surprised the first time I watched it. Since then, it has lost some of its original shine, but people with an affinity for 00s genre cinema should give it a go. It's a crafty thriller with tense scenes and solid performances. It's also one of those films where knowing the plot slightly lessens the experience. The styling is pleasant but nothing too out of the ordinary, the scenes with the cops are a little redundant, and even though the film is pretty short, a bit of tightening would've helped. Prime genre filler.Read all
Wenders teams up with Koji Yakusho to shoot a film in Japan. I'm not quite sure why, but it's rare to see a foreign director fare well in Japan, and Wenders fails to change that perception. Perfect Days is a tepid, old-fashioned, and dire drama that, once again, sports an unnecessarily ugly aspect ratio. The soundtrack is a selection of crappy pop classics (because our dearest Hirayama loves cassettes), the cinematography is lifeless, often downright ugly and Hirayama is an uninteresting character. Nor did I fully agree with the overarching message of this film. Apart from some solid performances, there's very little here. Disappointing.Read all
People sometimes complain that films these days are too long, but it's certainly not a new phenomenon. This silent classic runs well past the 2-hour mark, which is a bit excessive for what is a very basic plot. There is some cool imagery here though, but not enough to keep me engaged for 140 minutes. The cinematography is decent and there are a few memorable scenes, but 140 minutes with an overload of intertitles just isn't my idea of riveting cinema. The themes are risqué for their times, but hardly leave a big impression watching it back now. A decent silent classic, but only for those who love this type of thing.Read all
I wasn't prepared for this Wakamatsu. I know the 80s and 90s were a rough period for him and that he strayed from his original style to keep himself busy, but an art troupe dramedy is the last film I'd expected to see from him. I didn't recognize his hand in this film, but apart from that, it wasn't all that bad. The rural/Hokkaido setting is lovely, the comedy is amusing and the pacing is relatively high. The plot and drama aren't too original though and the film runs a little long, but it never gets too dull or dire. Decent and amusing, not the most notable film I've seen, but the fact that Wakamatsu made it does add to the intrigue.Read all
A pretty simple detective story, sporting a young Gene Hackman. It's a film with a decent reputation, though I have to admit I never heard of it before. Not too surprising maybe, as there is little here that stands out for people not wholly in love with the genre. And films like that tend to fade over time. Hackman isn't too bad and the film is decently paced, but that's about the end of it. The cinematography and score are very bland, the plot is by the numbers and the finale is forgettable. Maybe if I cared more about detective (or 70s cinema in general) this could've been more fun, alas.Read all
An amusing and smart little genre-bender from Jensen. It's not an outright comedy, but it should be obvious enough that an underlying stream of dark comedy keeps this film from becoming too dreary and serious. Add to that a competent cast and you have a film that will take you on an entertaining 2-hour ride. So a bunch of nerds and a war vet start their investigation into the accident. Of course, they're going to mess up along the way, but even though the plot gets quite silly, it never feels like a full-blown farce. The film is too smart for that. It's not quite distinct enough to be a true masterpiece, but if you're yearning for some amusing filler, look no further.Read all