Movies
It's definitely a difficult film to recommend.
Not all that Japan touches turns into gold. I'm not the biggest fan of their music-centered cinema, not even Masanori Tominaga's latest could change my mind. It's still a lot better than I expected it to be, Tominaga is after all a very talented and peculiar director, but it still hits familiar limitations. A young pianist is asked by a lowly gangster to play the theme from The Godfather. He happily obliges, unaware that he is setting some big crime drama in motion. It's the favorite tune of a renowned Yakuza boss and only Minami, his favorite pianist, is allowed to play the song. And so the lives of the two pianists are about to intertwine. The music in the film isn't very impressive, even though it is supposed to be, which is par for the course. The crime story on the other hand is pretty fun, especially when it becomes more convoluted and even takes on surreal qualities. The final third of the film saved this one from mediocrity, and it did so with plenty of flair.Read all
A funny little crime comedy. In the beginning, you may be forgiven for thinking Rolling follows a more dramatic route, but it quickly dawns that we're dealing with a drier form of comedy here, hiding behind a light crime story. I really appreciated the film's quirkiness, but it was just a little too fleeting to make a big impression. Gondo is an ex-teacher, who got fired after people found out he was making videos in the girls' locker room. Years later he bumps into one of his old students. They hook up, and when they discover that one of his videos features a girl who is now famous, they come up with a plan to make some easy money. The deliberate pacing, the odd plot twists, and the particular soundtrack give the film a very smooth and enjoyable vibe. The performances are solid, the cinematography on point, and the runtime appropriate. Rolling offers distinct entertainment and does so confidently, but it lack that little extra to make it truly special.Read all
A pretty standard biopic. Not only are they quite easy to construe, but they're also the perfect excuse to chase a bit of marketable retro charm, something that will get all the film fans giddy. There's some decent drama here, but it does get a little tiresome after a while, especially after the film passed the 2-hour mark. Akira Suei had a rather traumatic youth, but he got his life back on track after meeting his first girlfriend. He trained himself to become a graphic artist, a career choice that would steer him to the world of erotic magazines. Later on, Akira would become the chief editor of one of Japan's most infamous erotic publications. The film's a little slow to get going, but the performances are quite strong and Suei's origin story is interesting. His life story is just that though, and there are better films handling Japan's adult industry. It's all a little too by the numbers, but if you're looking for decent filler drama, it's not the worst choice.Read all