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November 22, 2024
 

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Kaori Shoji
Kaori Shoji writes about movies and movie-makers for the Film Page, plus takes a turn at the Bilingual Column. Biggest mistake of her career: taking the very dignified Nagisa Oshima to McDonald's for an iced coffee.
CULTURE / Film
Sep 19, 2001
Tinseltown, meet Chinatown
Rush Hour 2 Rating: * * * Director: Brett Ratner Running time: 90 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Sep 12, 2001
The untranslatable language of love
Captain Corelli's Mandolin Rating: * * * Japanese title: Koreri Taii no Mandorin Director: John Madden Running time: 129 minutes Language: English Opens Sept. 22 at the Marunouchi Louvre and other theaters
CULTURE / Film
Sep 5, 2001
Yes! Super film, hurrah!
Bridget Jones's Diary Rating: * * * 1/2 Japanese title: Bridget Jones no Nikki Director: Sharon Maguire Running time: 97 minutes Language: English Opens mid-September at Shibutoh Cine Tower and other theaters
CULTURE / Film
Aug 29, 2001
Don't they just drive you crazy?
Driven Rating: * * Director: Renny Harlin Running time: 116 minutes Language: English Now showing Cars! Babes! Money! Explosions! You'll get all of these in one huge dose in "Driven," a film that dares to flaunt all the things feminism has been trying to stamp out for the past 20 years.
CULTURE / Film
Aug 22, 2001
How one white girl found her groove
Save the Last Dance Rating: * * * Director: Thomas Carter Running time: 113 minutes Language: English Now showing How are your hips these days? Do they rotate, swivel, slither like a separate appendage you can just detach and unleash onto the dance floor? If the answer is "huh?" then see "Save the...
CULTURE / Film
Aug 15, 2001
So you think you're some sort of wiseguy?
Love, Honour and Obey Rating: * * * * Japanese title: London Dogs Director: Dominic Anciano and Ray Burdis Running time: 103 minutes Language: English Now showing "Oi, mate, what'ya up to this weekend?" "Dunno. Nothin' special -- maybe a spot of snooker." "How d'ya fancy making a film with us,...
CULTURE / Film
Aug 8, 2001
'Louise (Take 2)'
Rating: * * * * Director: Siegfried Running time: 110 minutes Language: FrenchOpens Aug. 18 at Shibuya Cinema Society 'Louise (Take 2)" is a "road movie" in the most truthful, undiluted sense of the term. And yet it is far, far removed from the liberating buoyancy of ordinary road movies in which...
CULTURE / Film
Aug 8, 2001
Siegfried finds a home on streets with no name
In an industry where self-advertisement is practically a prerequisite, filmmaker Siegfried is amazingly reticent about his personal background. From his refusal to disclose his last name to his disdain of promotional tours and interviews, Siegfried is and remains a mystery.
CULTURE / Film
Aug 1, 2001
There's 'cheerleader angst'
Bring It On Rating: * * * Director: Peyton Reed Running time: 98 minutes Language: EnglishNow showing Thank you, O Lord. Such was my reaction after viewing "Bring It On," a bouncing-with-exuberance tale of high school cheerleaders. Hey, where are you going? Don't put down the paper just because...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 25, 2001
Something for everyone under the big blue sea
Dykkerne Rating: * * 1/2 Director: Ake Sandgren Running time: 91 minutes Language: DanishNow showing This is my second week in a row writing on a film from Scandinavia, so I'm suffering somewhat from Big Blonde People Overload. Especially since the latest involves apple-cheeked, sturdy-boned youngsters...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 18, 2001
In praise of older actresses
Gossip Rating: * * * Director: Colin Nutley Running time: 135 minutes Language: SwedishOpens July 28 It's pretty hard to carry on as a woman in this world, but Swedish film "Gossip" tells you it's tougher for actresses. Especially when they are no longer young and must scheme and fight for love,...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 11, 2001
The family that bathes together . . .
Shower Japanese title: Kokoro no Yu Rating: * * * * Director: Zhang Yang Running time: 92 minutes Language: MandarinNow showing When you're born Japanese, certain notions are drummed into you at a very early age. Among them is the deep-seated conviction that a long soak in a hot bath is pretty much...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 11, 2001
Playing close to home
As in so many other films, Zhu Xu's role in "Shower" is that of a devoted father. He laughs that directors tend to see him in this light and though he would like to "branch out" sometimes, he feels quite comfortable with this role. "Shower" turned out to be one of his favorite projects -- he himself...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 4, 2001
Intrigue made to measure
The Tailor of Panama Rating: * * * * Director: John Boorman Running time: 109 minutes Language: English Opens July 7 at Cine Saison in Shibuya "The Tailor of Panama" is a genuine spy movie, but just a shade away from being "Saturday Night Live." One gentle push and it'd be a slapsticky comedy with...
CULTURE / Film
Jun 27, 2001
Stop me if you've heard this one before
Nadie Conoce a Nadie Rating: * * Japanese Title: PuzzleDirector: Mateo Gil Running time: 108 minutes Language: SpanishOpens June 30 at Cine La Sept in Yurakcho At this point in time, we, as an audience, have learned to expect things from the psycho-killer genre: elaborate mutilation; a hip and queasy...
CULTURE / Film
Jun 20, 2001
By the people, for the media
The Contender Rating: * * * * Director: Rod Lurie Running time: 127 minutes Language: English Now showing at Marunouchi Piccadilly and other theaters You see "The Contender" and you realize the level of puritanism in the United States, at least in terms of politics as presented by the media for public...
CULTURE / Film
Jun 13, 2001
And now, the greatest heroine on earth
The Invisible Circus Rating: * * * *Japanese title:Yukaihan Director: Adam Brooks Running time: 93 minutes Language: EnglishOpens July 7 at Yurakucho Subaru-za As we know from Julia Roberts, it's hard to be a heroine in Hollywood and stay that way. By heroine, I mean the classic, old-school types...
CULTURE / Film
May 30, 2001
Solitude, the big killer
Animals Rating: * * * Japanese Title: Yume no Tabiji Director: Michael Di Jiacomo Running time: 103 minutes Language: EnglishShowing at Theater Image Forum You'll probably need a long, stiff drink after "Animals" -- that's provided that you can last until the sad, sad ending. I foresee a lot of people...
CULTURE / Film
May 23, 2001
K.O. punch from the heart
Girlfight Rating: * * * * * Director: Karyn Kusama Running time: 111 minutes Language: English Now playing at Marunouchi Picadilly in Yurakucho and other theaters The only regret of seeing "Girlfight" is that it wasn't made two years earlier. Then it could have been released along with "Fight Club,"...
CULTURE / Film
May 16, 2001
Are you ready to be yelled at?
Men of Honor Rating: * * *Japanese title: The Diver Director: George Tillman Jr. Running time: 128 minutes Language: EnglishOpens May 26 To see "Men of Honor" (released in Japan as "The Diver") is to walk into one of those bars where the clientele is mostly male (but not gay), full of the type of...
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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