Japanese Story

[Rod Hagen]

Diminutive, quiet, closed (but expansive), simultaneously distant and intimate. Comparisons to "Lost in Translation" are inescapable, it's the kind of movie critics say is charged with quiet power (quiet brilliance, quiet intelligence). The actors aren't in the same class, or even school, as Bill Murray and Chloe, however in its own way I feel Japanese Story is Lost In Translations equal. Thoughts? (obviously without mentioning the spoiler-a moment that truly spoke to me personally, based on something frighteningly similar, both in event and emotion, out of my past).

[Rod Hagen]

"Chole"! What the heck am I thinking? Obiously I meant Scarlett, the current "It Girl" (Chloë Sevigny being the WAS IT Girl).

 

Anyway, that's another thread. This is for addressing Japanese Story, a rather heavy bit of cinema that I imagine has left many viewers quite cold.

-Hagen

[Rick Munroe]

>Diminutive, quiet, closed (but expansive), simultaneously

>distant and intimate.

 

For a minute, I thought you were talking about the 'E' True Hollywood Story of The Olsen Twins.

 

>the spoiler-a moment that truly spoke to me

>personally, based on something frighteningly similar, both in

>event and emotion, out of my past).

 

That happened to me, too, while watching the 'E' True Hollywood Story of The Olsen Twins. Funny how it all comes back to Mary-Kate and Ashley. :o

[Trixie]

Rod, how is it that you get to see these films before the rest of us have even heard of them??

Every time you post about a movie, I don't see it mentioned locally until 3-6 weeks later. It's impossible even to the consider the idea that the Bay Area has become a cultural backwater, eclipsed by... Los Angeles. You must have connections, it's the only explanation.

BTW, what did you think of The Triplets of Bellevue"?

La Trix

[Guest DrBedlow]

RE: Japanese Story et. al.

 

Rod: I really have to disagree with you on “Japanese Story”. I thought it was a mess of a film. I am a HUGE Toni Collette fan and was really disappointed. I’m glad she had a plane to catch before my screening of the film in Toronto ended so I didn’t have to walk by her and give that “I’m so sorry you’re film sucked, but I still really like you” look. I thought the film was entirely too predictable. It didn’t have nearly the intensity or control of “Lost in Translation” (my second favorite film of the year). The characters were very one-dimensional. And unlike Sophia Coppola’s Tokyo in “Translation” that managed to make the city feel like a fascinating, ever present entity (an inferred third wheel or voyeur perhaps to Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray), Brooks’ Australian outback is no match and no more important than if it were filmed in Fargo, ND.

 

Trixie: If you care about my thoughts, I was equally disappointed with “Les Triplettes de Belleville”. It’s a film that got way too much hype. The animation was merely okay and the story was more than a little too slow for me (and a large group of people around me). Not a terrible film, just not as good as some have raved.

 

If you care to see some of the interesting (and wanna-be interesting) foreign language and indie films, I highly recommend the Toronto International Film Festival (http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/) that’s held at the beginning of September each year (it’s where I got to see all of the above mentioned films and many more), one of the largest of the world’s film fests, and very accessible to mere mortals and great for celebrity eye candy, if you’re into that sort of thing.

[Trixie]

RE: Japanese Story et. al.

 

Oooo, Dr. Bedlow, you are good! Let's try another: How about "The Barbarian Invasions"?

Trix

[Guest DrBedlow]

RE: Japanese Story et. al.

 

I loved the Denys Arcand film. It was much better than his last film “Stardom” which was a real snoozer, although “Jesus of Montreal” is still my favorite.

 

Of the 42 films that I managed to see while in Toronto, I’d recommend any of the following (no particular order):

 

“Zatoichi” – Takeshi Kitano’s thrill ride remake of the classic Japanese blind swordsman films. Kitano acts and directs this superb action flick. Miramax owns the rights, I’m hoping that they release it about the time that “Kill Bill – Volume 2” comes out…a great double feature.

 

“The Fog of War” – Errol Morris’ superb documentary on Robert S. McNamara (I’d recommend watching this and then seeing the recent DVD release of Christopher Hitchen’s “The Trial of Henry Kissinger”).

 

“The Mayor of Sunset Strip” – George Hickenlooper’s ode to an unlikely subject…Rodney Bingenheimer. He was the L.A. dj who introduced the US to such acts as The Ramones, Blondie, The Sex Pistols and David Bowie. He is the biggest star-fucker on the planet, and I wish I could have been him. I picked this documentary as filler, and it became one of my favorites.

 

“Bright Young Things” – an engaging and intensely amusing first film from actor Stephen Fry (“Wilde”).

 

“Casa de los Babys” – I can’t get enough of John Sayles.

 

“Coffee & Cigarettes” – same explanation as “Casa”, but this time with my hometown boy, Jim Jarmusch (plus I got to say hi to Meg White and my one of my idols, Iggy Pop).

 

“21 Grams” – Sean, Benicio & Naomi!

 

“Dogville” & “The Five Obstructions” two fantastic and very different entries from Danish director Lars von Trier. “Dogville” is a wonderful haunting stage-like production brought to film, with the first of several commanding performances by Nicole Kidman this year. It is supposed to be the first part of a trilogy, I’m curious how he’s going to pull it off. “The Five Obstructions” is a completely absorbing film with von Trier challenging one of his filmmaking heroes to remake one of his short films over again, as the title suggests, five times with various obstructions. It is part documentary, part drama. If you find the art of film making fascinating or perhaps are a film student, I’d highly recommend this one.

 

“Nothing” is a really funny Canadian film from Vincenzo Natali that really is a warning to be careful what you wish for.

 

“The Station Agent” – another first feature debut from Tod McCarthy in a wonderfully acted (I can’t decide who’s the better character actress this year Patricia Clarkson—who was also in “Dogville” or Laura Linney—in the forgettable “Love Actually) piece, very moving.

 

“The Tulse Luper Suitcases” – Peter Greenaway makes, and remakes this very visual, incredibly odd set of films. I cannot wait to see where he takes this concept.

 

“The Yes Men” – a very scary and incredibly funny documentary about a loose-knit group who do their best to point out to the world the absurdities of the World Trade Organization.

 

Finally, I can’t forget “Prey for Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Not a great film by any stretch, but fun. I had really low expectations, and came out surprisingly entertained. Gina Gershon is the only woman who ever gave me a hard-on!

 

Some films I wished were better:

 

“Elephant” – Gus van Sant’s Columbine inspired film was some wonderful performances. I was transfixed until the last 15 minutes and then it falls flat. I just left the theater dazed and disappointed.

 

“Code 46” – Michael Winterbottom’s futuristic meandering tale starts off well, but never really goes anywhere.

 

“Young Adam” – I thought, “Wow, a film with Tilda Swinton and Ewan McGregor, that should be good.” Well, I thought wrong. Way too slow, and now when it does play in the US, all scenes showing ALL of Ewan will be removed. No reason now to see it.

 

“Testosterone” – the promises of a great dark comedy never emerged. This film had some real possibilities, and despite getting to see Antonio Sabato, Jr, in the flesh, I was bored, although he did look fine!

 

 

And since I do know what message board I’m posting—I did manage to get away from the fest a few evenings to rub up against a few of the fine gentlemen at Remingtons.

[Huey]

K-R-O-Q

 

>“The Mayor of Sunset Strip” – George Hickenlooper’s ode to an

>unlikely subject…Rodney Bingenheimer. He was the L.A. dj who

>introduced the US to such acts as The Ramones, Blondie, The

>Sex Pistols and David Bowie. He is the biggest star-fucker on

>the planet, and I wish I could have been him. I picked this

>documentary as filler, and it became one of my favorites.

>

Let me give you a little reality about Rodney then see if you really still want to be him. He apparently enjoys the company of young girls not too unlike Michael apparently enjoys the company of young boys . Rodney stands all of 5'3" tall eats the exact same thing at the same location every day of the week when in town. Has an ego bigger than Kristian's cock, lived in the same one bedroom apartment for nearly 22 years only moving to a two bedroom apartment in 1997. He still has a Beatles haircut at the age of 62?. He has stated more than once he isn't the most gay friendly person in LA.

 

On the bright side, aside from what you watched in his documentary, he does do an amazing 3 hour a week radio show on KROQ. The word 'amazing' is what he says about every 4 minutes . Though I do mean his show is really amazing as he is free form and does receive a ton of imports that he plays.

 

BTW: A little KROQ triva for those in LA. Before and/or after every single song, exculding special programming such as Rodney on the Rox or Jason Bentley and so on, you will hear a station ID. That being the word/letters KROQ sometimes more than once. One time I counted 7 times between the air personality and the various carts that were played, lol. Anyway, if you're short lunch money and want to win a quick 10. then bet a friend ... I promise you won't lose .

 

This began when Rick Carroll the worlds best radio programmer who created the rock of the eighties format, who happened to be Gay and sadly died years ago from AIDS... wanted the audience to always know what station they were listening to. He felt that with all the channel surfing he had to brainwash them every chance he could.

 

Alright time for me to finish unpacking, I live being back here :7 .

[Guest 10cc]

RE: K-R-O-Q

 

I haven't seen either film yet but fuck .. Huey is right. I won a $20.00 bet just an hour ago. Thanks.

[Guest DrBedlow]

RE: K-R-O-Q

 

>Let me give you a little reality about Rodney then see if you

>really still want to be him. He apparently enjoys the company

>of young girls not too unlike Michael apparently enjoys the

>company of young boys . Rodney stands all of 5'3" tall eats

>the exact same thing at the same location every day of the

>week when in town. Has an ego bigger than Kristian's cock,

>lived in the same one bedroom apartment for nearly 22 years

>only moving to a two bedroom apartment in 1997. He still has a

>Beatles haircut at the age of 62?. He has stated more than

>once he isn't the most gay friendly person in LA.

 

 

Yeah, you got most of that from “Mayor”, and Rodney isn’t exactly a real good role model (My hair's bad enough). Okay, time for a new idol—I want to be Mr. Munroe after having my very tasty ass receive an all-night rim job. :9

 

Thanks Huey!

[Huey]

RE: K-R-O-Q

 

Sadly DrBedlow I know the guy. Anyway, I do agree it is a really cool documentary and I do have to give him credit for being at the right place at the right time and knowing what to do with all of it. What the film does leave out are all is failures so to speak . There are so many bands that he pushed that fell flat on their face though that is expected in this business.

 

The saddest part now about his show is he seems a little out of touch and not in a cool way. While he plays some exceptional music it doesn't seem to have the importance of a Ramones, Oasis, Blondie and even Van Halen, yes he goes that far back . He was playing the original demo of Running With the Devil long before Gene Simmons "discoverd" the band.

 

Though I do agree Rick would make a great idol :7

[Rod Hagen]

RE: K-R-O-Q

 

Dr. B,

 

I also disliked Triplets, waste of my time. Barbarian Invasions felt good, but are Canada Hospitals really d Holy Shit!

 

Someone on the IMDB had this to say about Japanese Story

"Date: 10 November 2003

Summary: A disappointment wrapped in an enigma, clothed in a mystery

 

 

This film has been raved about throughout Australia as a truly great piece of Australian Cinema. It is not.

There is nothing going on here - it is slow and pointless and ultimately nothing more than a shadow which might once have offered promise of something satisfying.

For two hours you are forced to watch nothing happen, then something does happen and I thought - wow okay this is going to finally go into a really interesting direction. We are going to see something interesting happen now. But we don't.

Instead we see an hour of people sitting around looking sad.

We never get into the minds of any of the people in this film. Every character is so closed to the audience that it feels like watching people pass by while sitting on a bench. They may well have interesting thoughts and stories but we never get to see them.

Toni Collette tries hard here - but she never gets a chance to truly show who her character is. The writer (also responsible for another homage to nothingness - Road to Nhill) has again made the mistake of thinking that just watching people is enough to create story. It isn't. Cinema is not about watching, it is about experiencing and we never get to experience anything here.

Ultimately th is film is a beautiful looking but basically vacant vessel which tries to hide it's lack of depth by trying to look enigmatic. Many viewers may fall for this, but for anyone who wants something a bit deeper look elsewhere. "

 

I disagree with you about the insignificance of the location, but I must agree with both you and this writer on some points, primarily about our not EXPERIENCING the characters, we're never made to understand why they do anything, and so we just sit back and feel (or don't, in your case and his). Certainly this no one will walk out and say NOW I understand the Japanese (Australians, Outback, what have you). And the lack of opportunities to experience, even just understand the characters, why the do things, as well as his mysterious 180 in personality english facility, are huge problems. But I found the silence, the quietness, of the film comforting (a bit like GVSant's "Jerry"-just a bit), and the SHOCK toward the end meant something to me, it did not seem contrived, or meaningless. I think the movie felt personal, but I also understand criticisms that the audience was made to feel cut off from most of the experience. I just didn't mind as much.

[Guest BenAJ]

RE: Movies

 

When it comes to movies, my taste are quite eclectic but I tend to like the "non-mainstream" independent/foreign movies. I find that they tend to be more interesting and tend to take chances that american movies don't usually try.

 

I loved Lost in Translation and was looking forward to the Japanese Story but I haven't heard anything bout it.

 

It sounds interesting so when I have a chance I will catch it for sure.

 

I heard that "The Station Agent" is great and I will catch that soon. I would be interested in hearing other peoples opinions on it or other movie suggestions.