Suzuki-thon #4
The best Suzuki film so far. Jo Shishido is great again and this is where the style that would later become Tokyo Drifter and Branded To Kill.
This is a loose remake of Yojimbo before Sergio Leone made it cool. Although the lead character played by Shishido has a lot more backstory and motive than the man with no name. This is also set in a modern time and the samurai/cowboy is replaced by a former cop looking…
Suzuki-thon #3
This is where the Suzuki I already knew from Branded To Kill and Tokyo Drifter shows himself. Tons of style and in this case lots of colour. Where Kinji Fukasaku excels at chaotic action scenes, Suzuki excels at extravagant party scenes. I love all of the little music numbers in this film and especially the admittedly silly Charleston number with Jô Shishidos character joining one of his girlfriends. And although this is a Suzuki exploration the star of…
Watched on 35mm film with Koreeda present for a Q&A. When asked why his film are paced so slowly, he simply remarked, that they’re at the pace he feels suits the film. And he’s absolutely right.
This has evolved into one of my favourite films of all time, from a true cinematic master.
It will forever be a mystery to me, why the Oscar for best animated feature is not awarded to the actual best animated film. It’s not just that this year’s victim is from my own country, the academy seems to hand out the award to trivial Disney films, while films like Flee, The Wind Rises, Persepolis etc. have to settle for the honour of just being nominated. There’s more truth and beauty in every scene of this film, than in the entirety of Encanto.
