Movies
Wonderful World End is a quirky coming-of-age drama, adding romance and idol elements to make things a bit more interesting. Matsui's direction is pointed, the performances are strong and even though the themes have been explored at length before, the film adds a contemporary spin that turns the film into a time capsule for future generations. Some successful stylistic touches sealed the deal for me. A very nice drama and the first Matsui I truly loved.
A unique premise, which the director forces you to take at face value. It makes for an interesting, but slightly confusing first half hour, as Rino keeps losing the love of her life whenever he falls for her. The film won't leave you completely in the dark, though I feel I would've preferred the mystery intact. Mikami is spectacular, the setting is lovely (rural Japan during summer), the cinematography is bright and colorful and the romance is original. The film is just a little too frivolous at times and the ending was a little too simple for my liking. There's a lot to love here though, so if you're looking for a sweet and fun romance, this won't disappoint.Read all
Nikkatsu's Roman Porno series has been resurrected with great success. They managed to land some very talented directors, who aren't just making random pinku films but are actually using these opportunities to create worthwhile dramas about (female) sexuality. Daigo Matsui didn't disappoint. Yes, there is sex and nudity here, but like the better entries in the Roman Porno series, it's not so much the goal as it is just part of the theme of the film. The performances are solid, the styling is polished and Sawako's character is well-developed. If you're a fan of Matsui's work, be sure to catch this.Read all
A pleasant romantic drama from Matsui, but it lacks that little sparkle to make it stand out from the crowd. It reminded me of a few other Japanese dramas I've watched recently (We Couldn't Become Adults and And Your Bird Can Sing most notably), that simply did it better. The performances are solid, the cinematography is polished and the drama works well. The soundtrack wasn't entirely to my liking though and there's nothing that really draws attention to itself, but if you're looking for a good and respectable Japanese romantic drama, you can't go wrong with this one.Read all
Daigo Matsui takes a more serious approach with Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops. I know him as a comedy director, producing films that have goofy premises, but also harbor a slightly darker core. That darkness finally surfaces and dominates Matsui's latest, though it's not an easy puzzle to decipher. The film follows a theater group that is preparing for their very first show. Then comes the news that nobody is buying any tickets and that their production has been cancelled. But the film deliberately blurs the lines between reality and play and it's hard to know what's real and what is staged. The fact that it's a single take film and even switches between different locations only adds to the confusion, but it also increases the appeal. While it's a film that left me with more questions than answers, it's also a film that leaves a strong impression and won't be easily forgotten. Matsui deserves credit for his bravery and vision, the execution could've been a little tighter though.Read all
Haruko Azumi Is Missing
Cute little road trip drama. The film is sometimes billed as a comedy, because of the lighter atmosphere I guess, but it's really just a traditional Japanese drama following a group of people trying to get from A to B. Matsui does a good job capturing the youthful spirit of his lead characters, but it's not quite enough to set the film apart from its many peers. The performances are strong, the road trip feels pretty animated and the use of handy cams and text conversations gives the film a more dynamic vibe. As a coming-of-age drama, Our Huff and Puff Journey is a bit light though and while the ending is interesting, it's not quite powerful enough to leave a lasting impression. It's a very pleasant and agreeable film, just no masterpiece.Read all
A relatively basic high school romance, sporting a pretty peculiar premise. It's not all that uncommon really, the past decade has been a strange time for Japanese romance cinema, thanks to some rather outrageous setups. Though in the end, these films are by all pretty similar and predictable. We're dealing with a tale of unrequited love, a staple of Japanese high school romances. The hair thing is quirky, but it's little more than an excuse to get these two youngsters together. The performances are okay, the styling is decent but unremarkable. It's not a bad film, but it's not quite as strange or unique as the premise made it out to be.Read all