Upcoming Films and the Death of My Wallet
*headdesk*
Going through the f-list, I realized how many films are coming out that I desperately want to see and yet can't see because I'm not in Japan. *headdeskcry* Can't someone kidnap me and take me to Japan and just make me watch movies all day? I will totally do it. Since I've finally decided that I'm going to study Communication/Media Arts/Film/Television/JE Boys in a year or so at Temple University Japan, I realized that I will continually be poor because I'll spend most of my free time going to the movies and/or renting movies. Don't get me started on why America doesn't import more films (cause Hollywood is elitist) from other countries (they have to be very successful) and makes foreign films so expensive (cause they want money, the moneygrubbers!).
In fact, right now, I'm saddened by the fact that I'm no longer watching old Japanese films every Thursday. There is a severe lack of samurai in my life. For that matter, there's a severe lack of Japan in my life. I went from studying about Japan almost every day to...nothing. Unless I choose to do so, but it's harder to keep motivated on your own.
But anyway, getting to my actual point *eyeroll at myself*, there are a lot of movies that came out recently or are coming out this year that I desperately want to see but can't until they come out on DVD. Hence the crying, coughing, sputting, and eventual death of my wallet. I'm not including Ningen Shikkaku because that's a given, and I've beaten that horse to death.
The first trailer thingie for Hanamizuki is up!!!! Surprising, since there's still no trailer for Seaside Motel, but hey, I'm not complaining. It looks even better than it seemed at first. To be honest, I was somewhat skeptical of the plot because the "pure love" stories nowadays turn out kinda boring. Plus, I only had a vague idea of the plot (since it's based on a song of all things), but it looks a lot better than it seems. Somehow the Hokkaido-ness suits Toma (of course).
Click to viewDareka ga Watashi ni Kisu wo Shita is a film I've been tracking since I first heard about it. When I heard it's based on a YA novel, I got really excited, got the book, read it, and fell in love with it. Gabrielle Zevin is one of the best YA writers and also, sadly, one of the least known and underappreciated authors as well. Gabby doesn't go in for all of the Twitter/YouTube/internet stuff and she rarely updates her blog. But you know, I think that actually enhances her writing. She has this very real, somewhat serious style that I envy. Her writing is very well-paced, and she keeps things interesting. She actually wrote the English version of the screenplay.
"Trick" is one of my favorite J-dramas. It's not in my Top 10 Favorites of All Time, but the series is probably #11. There is just no better team than Nakama Yukie and Abe Hiroshi. "Trick" is a smart drama...well, it started off that way. The later seasons got kind of redundant. The writing is...dramatic. But funny dramatic. Does that make sense? It has a very dry sense of humor, and Nakama and Abe are perfectly suited to each other. They have great chemistry onscreen and their jokes are perfectly timed. I was sad to see the final film, thinking it was the very final film.
Nope, they made another called Trick: Reinosha Battle Royale that, in addition to the regular cast, has Sato Takeru (Bloody Monday), Katase Nana (Bloody Monday, Uta no Onii-san), Fujiki Naohito (Antique, ProDai), and Kaho (4 Shimai Tantei Dan, Otomen) will appear, so it looks to be a good movie. And apparently, Namase Katsuhisa's character, the inept Detective Yabe, is getting his own spinoff drama.
By the same guy who directed Trick, Tsutsumi Yukihiko, comes yet another band movie (it's a big year for band movies) that promises to be kind of made of awesome. It's a little film called Beck and stars Mizushima Hiro, Sato Takeru, Mukai Osamu, Kiritani Kenta, Nakamura Aoi, and Kutsuna Shiori. It's a story about a band trying to make it, as are all band films. The big thing is that all five boys will be playing their own songs, all of which will be original. I'm loving how Hiro and Takeru always seem to be put together--I think I actually missed that connection on my JE/Other Actors Relationship Diagram--and really, they should be together more often. Preferably with Shun and Haruma. That would make an excellent group.
Another band film, Solanin, which I mostly want to see for Miyazaki Aoi. She's one of the few Japanese actresses I truly respect an as actor. Oh, sure, I like other popular actresses because they're entertaining, and really, I'm just used to them. But Aoi is a real actress. She even refused a costarring role with KimuTaku all for the sake of craft. You go, girl. It's another movie based on yet another manga (Beck is based on a manga, as well...for that matter, I think Trick is also a manga...this brings up a good debate about whether Japanese films are becoming unoriginal by turning to manga much like American films are becoming unoriginal by turning to remakes, sequels, and books). It's a story about another band, except this time Aoi's boyfriend is the vocalist who dies. To keep the band together, Aoi starts playing and singing. It also stars Kengo Kora, who appeared in BANDAGE and Fish Story.
And the third band film...BANDAGE. Yep, despite the fact that Jin acts like a douchebag in the film, I still want to see it. The soundtrack is too addicting for its own good. Can't deny good music. The overall premise is the same as most band films. A band trying to make it in the music world. Only this time it's set in the 90's when the indie scene was really big in Japan. A lot of great music came out of that scene. Some bands survived, some didn't, and some had a good but short run.
One film I want to see just for the hilariosity is Darling wa Gaikokujin desu starring Inoue Mao and Jonathan Sherr, who is actually an actor working in Japan and represented by an agency who handles non-Japanese talent. It's yet another filmed based on yet another manga which is based on a true story of the mangaka Oguri Saori's relationship with American journalist Tony Lazlo (the man supremely hated by Arudou Debito, muaha). Aside from the hilariosity, I think the movie has a good message. The story, while, yes, kind of poking fun at foreigners who like Japanese culture, is about making a relationship work between two people with completely different backgrounds. And you have to give props to Jonathan for speaking AWESOME Japanese.
He can act! He can probably dance! He can direct! Yes, it's Oguri Shun, making his directorial debut in the film Surely Someday, in which he cast everyone he has ever met in his entire life and didn't have anything else to do (that's why Toma isn't it it, he's too busy). It stars Koide Keisuke, Katsuji Ryo, Ayano Go, Suzuki Ryohei, and Muro Tsuyoshi. The plot is actually NOT manga-based this time, rather, it's written by Muto Shogo who also wrote Crows Zero. It does involve a band, however, practicing for their school festival. When the festival is abruptly canceled, the five idiots create a plan for a fake bomb threat. The plan seems to go well until an actual bomb goes off, and the five are kicked out of school. Three years later, they reflect on their lives and discover more about the incident. Shun supposedly cast all of his friends, giving B-chan and I proof that Shun-kun is a metaphorical whore.
It may be out of theatres now (I don't know! I'm in not Japan! *headdesk*) but I cannot wait to see Nodame Cantabile: The Final Movement, the first of two Nodame Cantabile films. It's a continuation of Nodame's and Chiaki's European adventure. Chiaki is off conducting while Nodame studies piano. Madness ensues because, heck, it's Nodame. The regular cast returns (that's where Eiji's been!) along with a few new faces. What makes the Nodame series work so well is its strong ensemble cast. All of the actors are perfect for their roles (does Tamaki Hiroshi look skinnier to anyone else?) and have amazing onscreen chemistry. When they add a new character, they're always a perfect fit. It also works because it uses very obvious anime techniques which the characters take completely seriously as if this is regular life. It wouldn't work otherwise. When Nodame is finally over, I'm going to be incredibly, deeply sad.
Last, but certainly not least in the very least, Toma's second film of the year, Seaside Motel. There hasn't been a lot of press about it yet (very surprisingly, really) and not even a teaser trailer. Another...sigh...manga-based film--okay, seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Eventually Japan is going to run out of manga to film. They had better get some good screenwriters to come up with more original content that doesn't involves bands--where Toma plays traveling salesman/conman who falls for a call girl who works at hotel called Seaside Motel which is actually not by a sea at all. A weird cast of characters appears throughtout the film as Toma tries to get the girl. It's a comedy, and the premise reminds me somewhat of Noises Off. I miss seeing Toma in a truly comedic role. He hasn't had one since Nakatsu, really.
Sadly, there is no trailer yet. Visit Nippon Cinema for movie stills.
Should be coming out on DVD soon, but I'd like to see Boku no Hatsukoi ni Kimi wo Sasagu because I love fluff stories and have a thing for Okada Masaki since I saw him in Jyuryoku Pierrot. It looks like a sweet film but probably one that will end tragically and rip my heart out. Ah, but tragic love stories are nice sometimes. Not sure if they'd be good date films because you'd be so depressed by the end that you'd think one of you would die early. Okada Masaaaakkkiiiii...
Are there films you guys are looking forward to? Any J-movies you want to recommend?
Okay, I'm off to actually do homework and lament the fact that I'm impatient for movies.
Ja ne!