Movies
A decent drama, the kind that fits Koji Yakusho perfectly. The quality is there, but the film prefers to stick to conventions and doesn't try all that hard to differentiate itself. I would've rated it a little lower, if not for Akira Emoto's lovely character and fitting performance. He's the real attraction here. Yakusho's character is pleasant but a tad dull. The same could be said about the cinematography, music, and drama. It's only Emoto who sticks out and adds some much-needed edge to this film. His portrayal is quite enigmatic, even difficult to read, but that's what keeps things interesting.Read all
The only reason I wanted to catch this film was Shin'ichi Tsutsumi and it turns out Tsutsumi's performance is the only really good reason to watch Fly, Daddy, Fly. It's pretty amusing fodder, light comedy with some minor drama, sports and crime influences, though ultimately not a very memorable film. The two-hour running time is a bit of a stretch and not all performances are great, but Tsutsumi is a hoot and there are certain moments where director Narushima does his best to break the mold. It's pretty decent filler, but it's all a bit too predictable, with not enough scenes that stick.Read all