Masaki Kobayashi is one of the most internationally recognized Japanese directors of his era, with many of his films still receiving continued and undiminished critical acclaim. The ghost anthology “Kwaidan”, the samurai films “Samurai Rebellion” and “Harakiri” and the anti-war epic “The Human Condition” are some of his films to remain highly regarded. In 1956, Kobayashi tackled the businesslike nature of Japan’s sports industry in a film with an extremely provoking title: “I Will Buy You”.
Daisuke Kishimoto is a talent scout working for the professional baseball team Toyo Flowers. He is sharp, no-nonsense and relentless in his ways to acquire new players for the team. His latest target is a promising pitcher, but the assignment fails when he finds out that the promising talent is recovering from losing a finger in an accident at the factory he works in. Kishimoto’s character is revealed further when...
Daisuke Kishimoto is a talent scout working for the professional baseball team Toyo Flowers. He is sharp, no-nonsense and relentless in his ways to acquire new players for the team. His latest target is a promising pitcher, but the assignment fails when he finds out that the promising talent is recovering from losing a finger in an accident at the factory he works in. Kishimoto’s character is revealed further when...
- 2/15/2021
- by Raktim Nandi
- AsianMoviePulse
It was a good day for both Hirokazu Koreeda’s Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters” as well as Kazuya Shiraishi’s crime thriller “The Blood of Wolves” who both managed to clean up at the 42nd Japan Academy Awards.
For a second year running, a Koreeda film managed to win most awards on the night, with “Shoplifters” picking up a total of eight awards.
The other big winner of the night was “The Blood of Wolves”, which, despite fierce competition in most of the categories in won in from Shoplifters” and others, managed to pick up an impressive four awards, including two for its male leading duo. The other two films to get a look-in were Mamoru Hosoda’s “Mirai” and Shinichiru Ueda’s “One Cut of the Dead“.
Check out all the winners below:s
Best Film: Shoplifters (Hirokazu Koreeda)
Best Animated Film: Mirai (Mamoru Hosoda)
Best Director: Hirokazu Koreeda...
For a second year running, a Koreeda film managed to win most awards on the night, with “Shoplifters” picking up a total of eight awards.
The other big winner of the night was “The Blood of Wolves”, which, despite fierce competition in most of the categories in won in from Shoplifters” and others, managed to pick up an impressive four awards, including two for its male leading duo. The other two films to get a look-in were Mamoru Hosoda’s “Mirai” and Shinichiru Ueda’s “One Cut of the Dead“.
Check out all the winners below:s
Best Film: Shoplifters (Hirokazu Koreeda)
Best Animated Film: Mirai (Mamoru Hosoda)
Best Director: Hirokazu Koreeda...
- 3/3/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The Yakuza
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1975 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 112 & 123 min. / Street Date February 14, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring Robert Mitchum, Takakura Ken, Brian Keith, Eiji Okada, Richard Jordan, Keiko Kishi, James Shigeta, Herb Edelman.
Cinematography: Kozo Okazaki, Duke Callaghan
Production Design: Stephen Grimes
Art Direction: Yoshiyuki Ishida
Film Editor: Don Guidice, Thomas Stanford
Original Music: Dave Grusin
Written by: Leonard Schrader, Paul Schrader, Robert Towne
Produced by: Michael Hamilburg, Sydney Pollack, Koji Shundo
Directed by Sydney Pollack
The Warner Archive Collection is on a roll with a 2017 schedule that has so far released one much-desired library Blu-ray per week. Coming shortly are Vincente Minnelli’s Bells are Ringing, Billy Wilder’s Love in the Afternoon Ken Russell’s The Boy Friend and Val Guest’s When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, and that only takes us through February. First up is a piercing action drama from 1975.
There are favorite movies around Savant central,...
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1975 / Color / 2:40 widescreen / 112 & 123 min. / Street Date February 14, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring Robert Mitchum, Takakura Ken, Brian Keith, Eiji Okada, Richard Jordan, Keiko Kishi, James Shigeta, Herb Edelman.
Cinematography: Kozo Okazaki, Duke Callaghan
Production Design: Stephen Grimes
Art Direction: Yoshiyuki Ishida
Film Editor: Don Guidice, Thomas Stanford
Original Music: Dave Grusin
Written by: Leonard Schrader, Paul Schrader, Robert Towne
Produced by: Michael Hamilburg, Sydney Pollack, Koji Shundo
Directed by Sydney Pollack
The Warner Archive Collection is on a roll with a 2017 schedule that has so far released one much-desired library Blu-ray per week. Coming shortly are Vincente Minnelli’s Bells are Ringing, Billy Wilder’s Love in the Afternoon Ken Russell’s The Boy Friend and Val Guest’s When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, and that only takes us through February. First up is a piercing action drama from 1975.
There are favorite movies around Savant central,...
- 1/24/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
What makes a Ghost Story scary? This classic was almost too artistic for the Japanese. Masaki Kobayashi's four stories of terror work their spells through intensely beautiful images -- weirdly painted skies, strange mists -- and a Toru Takemitsu audio track that incorporates strange sounds as spooky musical punctuation. Viewers never forget the Woman of the Snow, or the faithful Hoichi the Earless. Finally restored to its full three-hour length. Kwaidan Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 90 1964 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 183 161, 125 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date October 20, 2015 / 39.95 Starring Michiyo Aratama, Rentaro Mikuni; Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Kishi; Katsuo Nakamura, Tetsurao Tanba, Takashi Shimura; Osamu Takizawa. Cinematography Yoshio Miyajima Film Editor Hisashi Sagara Art Direction Shigemasa Toda Set Decoration Dai Arakawa Costumes Masahiro Kato Original Music Toru Takemitsu Written by Yoko Mizuki from stories collected by Kiozumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn) Produced by Shigeru Wakatsuki Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...
- 10/20/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Chicago – The Criterion Collection is one of the greatest gifts to pure cinema buffs ever perpetuated. Founded in 1984, their mission is to sell “important classic and contemporary films,” and they do just that with there latest Blu-ray releases, Nicolas Roeg’s “Insignificance” and Kon Ichikawa’s “The Makioka Sisters.”
It is an interesting pair of films indeed, made within two years of each other. Ichikawa was near the end of a long and fruitful career, the Sisters film represented a late career comeback. Roeg was on his sixth film with his outsider status intact, Insignificance has the happenstance of catching a couple of movie stars near their influential end (Tony Curtis, Will Sampson), and a couple near the beginning (Gary Busey, Theresa Russell).
”Insignificance” (1985)
As brilliant a metaphor as ever been made about American celebrity obsession, Insignificance capped an amazing period for director Nicolas Roeg that began with “Walkabout” (1971). Framed...
It is an interesting pair of films indeed, made within two years of each other. Ichikawa was near the end of a long and fruitful career, the Sisters film represented a late career comeback. Roeg was on his sixth film with his outsider status intact, Insignificance has the happenstance of catching a couple of movie stars near their influential end (Tony Curtis, Will Sampson), and a couple near the beginning (Gary Busey, Theresa Russell).
”Insignificance” (1985)
As brilliant a metaphor as ever been made about American celebrity obsession, Insignificance capped an amazing period for director Nicolas Roeg that began with “Walkabout” (1971). Framed...
- 7/3/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
The Green Lantern – Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
Mr. Popper’s Penguins – Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury
Movie of the Week
The Green Lantern
The Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
The Plot: A test pilot (Reynolds) is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe.
The Buzz: Just slightly to the right of the “kill me now” column (see Mr. Popper’s Penguins) lies DC’s feeble attempt to answer Marvel’s mighty Thor. I am stupefied at how nerdy Reynolds looks throughout all of The Green Lantern’s marketing efforts. I can’t get over it really, and I’ve never really enjoyed Reynolds at all. Blake Lively is lovely and Peter Sarsgaard is a solid heavyweight, but I just don’t...
The Green Lantern – Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
Mr. Popper’s Penguins – Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury
Movie of the Week
The Green Lantern
The Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
The Plot: A test pilot (Reynolds) is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe.
The Buzz: Just slightly to the right of the “kill me now” column (see Mr. Popper’s Penguins) lies DC’s feeble attempt to answer Marvel’s mighty Thor. I am stupefied at how nerdy Reynolds looks throughout all of The Green Lantern’s marketing efforts. I can’t get over it really, and I’ve never really enjoyed Reynolds at all. Blake Lively is lovely and Peter Sarsgaard is a solid heavyweight, but I just don’t...
- 6/15/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
Rank the week of June 14th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time:new Releasesbattle:los Angeles
(DVD and Blu-ray | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #3294
Times Ranked: 3631
Win Percentage: 42%
Top-20 Rankings: 9
Directed By: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart • Ramon Rodriguez
Cory Hardrict • Gino Anthony Pesi • Ne-Yo
Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Alien Invasion Films • Apocalyptic Film • Science Fiction • Sci-Fi Action • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
(DVD and Blu-ray | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #19020
Times Ranked: 83
Win Percentage: 31%
Top-20 Rankings: 1
Directed By: John Whitesell
Starring: Martin Lawrence • Brandon T. Jackson
Jessica Lucas • Michelle Ang • Portia Doubleday
Genres: Comedy • Police Comedy
Rank This Movie
Hall Pass
(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5878
Times Ranked: 1164
Win Percentage: 40%
Top-20 Rankings: 4
Directed By: Bobby & Peter Farrelly
Starring: Owen Wilson • Jason Sudeikis • Jenna Fischer • Christina Applegate • Nicky Whelan
Genres: Comedy • Romantic Comedy
Rank This Movie
Kill The Irishman
(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2011)
Flickchart...
(DVD and Blu-ray | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #3294
Times Ranked: 3631
Win Percentage: 42%
Top-20 Rankings: 9
Directed By: Jonathan Liebesman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart • Ramon Rodriguez
Cory Hardrict • Gino Anthony Pesi • Ne-Yo
Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Alien Invasion Films • Apocalyptic Film • Science Fiction • Sci-Fi Action • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
(DVD and Blu-ray | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #19020
Times Ranked: 83
Win Percentage: 31%
Top-20 Rankings: 1
Directed By: John Whitesell
Starring: Martin Lawrence • Brandon T. Jackson
Jessica Lucas • Michelle Ang • Portia Doubleday
Genres: Comedy • Police Comedy
Rank This Movie
Hall Pass
(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #5878
Times Ranked: 1164
Win Percentage: 40%
Top-20 Rankings: 4
Directed By: Bobby & Peter Farrelly
Starring: Owen Wilson • Jason Sudeikis • Jenna Fischer • Christina Applegate • Nicky Whelan
Genres: Comedy • Romantic Comedy
Rank This Movie
Kill The Irishman
(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2011)
Flickchart...
- 6/14/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
Updated through 5/5.
A new 35mm print of Kon Ichikawa's The Makioka Sisters opens today at New York's Film Forum, playing through May 12. Nick Pinkerton in the Voice: "The setting is the wartime precipice of 1938; the synthesizer score is distinctly 1983. When he finally succeeded in filming Junichiro Tanizaki's novel, Kon Ichikawa was 68 years old — a living link to Japan's cinematic Golden Age, taking on a self-consciously throwback prestige production. The Makioka Sisters details the interlocked emotional lives of four Osakan siblings, orphaned young and left as caretakers of the once-prestigious Makioka name. Observing each woman meeting this duty, The Makioka Sisters is a Whartonian work of compassionate nostalgia tinctured with irony."
"Make no mistake," adds David Fear in Time Out New York, "The Makioka Sisters is a melodrama, complete with public scandals, petulant ingenues, interclan power struggles, unrequited love and consummated love affairs. But Ichikawa plays everything cool without seeming cold,...
A new 35mm print of Kon Ichikawa's The Makioka Sisters opens today at New York's Film Forum, playing through May 12. Nick Pinkerton in the Voice: "The setting is the wartime precipice of 1938; the synthesizer score is distinctly 1983. When he finally succeeded in filming Junichiro Tanizaki's novel, Kon Ichikawa was 68 years old — a living link to Japan's cinematic Golden Age, taking on a self-consciously throwback prestige production. The Makioka Sisters details the interlocked emotional lives of four Osakan siblings, orphaned young and left as caretakers of the once-prestigious Makioka name. Observing each woman meeting this duty, The Makioka Sisters is a Whartonian work of compassionate nostalgia tinctured with irony."
"Make no mistake," adds David Fear in Time Out New York, "The Makioka Sisters is a melodrama, complete with public scandals, petulant ingenues, interclan power struggles, unrequited love and consummated love affairs. But Ichikawa plays everything cool without seeming cold,...
- 5/5/2011
- MUBI
[Our thanks to Chris Bourne for this review]
Yoji Yamada's About Her Brother is his first contemporary drama in a decade, following his samurai trilogy (The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, Love and Honor) and his previous film, the WWII reminiscence Kabei: Our Mother. However, despite its modern setting, his latest film has the same feel as Kon Ichikawa's 1960 classic Ototo (Her Brother); Yamada uses the same basic story for his film, which he dedicates to Ichikawa.
As in the earlier version, About Her Brother focuses on the relationship between Ginko (Sayuri Yoshinaga), a long-time widow and pharmacy owner who has never remarried, and her incorrigible younger brother Tetsuro (Tsurube Shofukutei), who causes much embarrassment with his casual approach to personal responsibility and his penchant for drinking and gambling. Ginko has put up with Tetsuro's antics ever since they were children, but Tetsuro severely tests the limits of her patience when he drunkenly wrecks the wedding reception...
Yoji Yamada's About Her Brother is his first contemporary drama in a decade, following his samurai trilogy (The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, Love and Honor) and his previous film, the WWII reminiscence Kabei: Our Mother. However, despite its modern setting, his latest film has the same feel as Kon Ichikawa's 1960 classic Ototo (Her Brother); Yamada uses the same basic story for his film, which he dedicates to Ichikawa.
As in the earlier version, About Her Brother focuses on the relationship between Ginko (Sayuri Yoshinaga), a long-time widow and pharmacy owner who has never remarried, and her incorrigible younger brother Tetsuro (Tsurube Shofukutei), who causes much embarrassment with his casual approach to personal responsibility and his penchant for drinking and gambling. Ginko has put up with Tetsuro's antics ever since they were children, but Tetsuro severely tests the limits of her patience when he drunkenly wrecks the wedding reception...
- 7/17/2010
- Screen Anarchy
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