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The film "Joker"

2019.10.06

Movies

 

I saw the "Joker." Speaking of the fated rival of Batman, Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" left a strong impression. But Joaquin Phoenix's soulful performance in this film blurred the memory of Joker by Heath. Joaquin was in the screen as Joker himself. The film depicted Joker's background and I couldn't help but feel Joker's humanity. So when Bruce Wayne (Batman) appeared as a child, I took Joker's side.

 

The dance scenes by Joaquin were so beautiful and avant-garde like Noh play or Tai Chi. They were just perfect. His running scenes were also picturesque.

 

In the scene when Joker in a police car was looking Gotham City, "White Room" by Cream was played, which was so cool and stylish. Such combination is one of the most excited appeals of movies. And, the song title implies the last scene, which is the excellent work. In the world today, there are many issues, such as social inequality, poverty, excluding immigrants, suppression, abuse and harassment. The film makes me think about those issues. (H.S)

The film "Rocketman"

2019.08.25

Movies

I saw the film "Rocketman".

 

Taron Egerton acted Elton John and sang the Elton's songs himself. When I saw him in "Kingsman" for the first time, I was sure he would rise to stardom and it happened. His straight and pure voice emphasized the beauty of Elton's songs. The scene that Elton is composing and singing "Your Song" made me cry and evoked feelings that I had forgotten.

 

Also, it was impressive that Elton met a songwriter, Bernie. I was surprised that the actor who played Bernie was Jamie Bell, who played Billy Elliot back in 2000. I was touched by when they met for the first time, formed a bond and their confidential relationship lasted for a long time.

 

I fully enjoyed Taron's acting and singing that expressed Elton's success, suffering, loneliness, alcohol and drug addiction and sexuality. Especially, his act when Elton visited his father after he became popular was amazing. And of course, you can enjoy Elton's most popular songs. (H.S)

 

The Japanese film "The Great War of Archimedes"

2019.07.28

Movies

I saw the film "The Great War of Archimedes" directed by Takashi Yamazaki, who is known as the director of "The Fighter Pilot" and "The Man They Called Pirate"

 

The main character, a mathematical genius is a fictional one, but many other characters existed. For him, who is a mathematician, everything in the world can be expressed in a mathematical formula. "Numbers never tell a lie" is the absolute truth, which was his justice.

 

However, the interpretation of justice depends on the person. In the scene of a meeting, the theme "protecting the country" had missed the point and become a personal attack.This kind of things may have happened in Japan today as well.

 

Hiroshi Tachi, who played Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, was stylish and so cool. Isoroku Yamamoto was played by famous actors such as Toshiro Mifune and Koji Yakusho etc. Hiroshi Tachi also played carefully Yamamoto's intellect, humanity and great ambitions as a military man.

 

　
Late in the film, Lieutenant General Hirayama said, "Japanese people don't know how to get defeated" "Japanese people will fight to the last man". I think that these are the keywords of this film. The tragic battleship Yamato was one of the world's largest and built with the best technology and aesthetic of Japanese people. On April 7th, 1945, the Yamato was under fierce attack from U.S. fighters and sunk.

 

　
From start to finish, the film was breathless. I thought that there were messages to today's Japan in each line and made me think. And, I want to visit Yamamto Museum one day. (H.S）

 

　

The Japanese film "The Journalist"

2019.07.04

Movies


I saw the film "The Journalist", which criticizes the current government. I don't think that this kind of film had been created in Japan.

 

The subjects of the film are an accusation by a female journalist Shiori Ito and Kake Gakuen scandal, which can be said that it is a controversial one that depicts the dark side of Japan in real time.

 

When I saw the scene that a bureaucrat of Japan's Cabinet Intelligence Investigation Room, Sugihara said, "I am a person on the government.", I questioned what he said. I wondered that just what "on the government" was, and the government and the citizens were enemies in the first place.

 

While seeing the film, I tried to figure out the meaning of the words that a journalist Yoshioka's father who had died left, "Believe and doubt yourself more than anyone else."

 

A Korean actress Shim Eun-kyung plays Yoshioka. Previously, her image was a merry girl because she played a younger sister in a Korean TV drama. But I was happy to see that now she became quite a charming woman. The quiet scenes with she and Tori Matsuzaka, who played Sugihara, were impressive. When the film ended, I thought it was really good that she played Yoshioka.

 

You can enjoy the film as a good piece of work regardless of your political beliefs. It made me realize that swallowing coverages and that thinking process comes to stop is the worst thing for Japanese people who have been pointed out that they are peace-addicted. So, I really felt that I should collect information as much as I can and think anything for myself first. (H.S)

 

Academy Award-winning film “Green Book”

2019.03.07

Movies

I went to see the film "Green Book", which won the Oscar for best picture this year.

 

The film was set in 1962 in the United States. Tony was hired by an African-American classical pianist Don Shirley for a concert tour into the Deep South states. Tony's job is to keep the Doctor safe during his playing tour in the American South that racial segregation existed, and drive him home at Carnegie Hall in New York City safely.

 

In the film, the Doctor said, "You never win with violence." At the time, in the United States, there was discrimination against not only African-Americans, but also Italians and Chinese. Living in Japan, it is difficult to imagine, but I wonder how much people were required patience to live under such severe discrimination. Even so, the Doctor stated, "You never win with violence." If I replace the phrase with in today's Japan, perhaps it can be said, "You　never win with bullying, domestic violence or power harassment."

 

Mahershala Ali, who plays the Doctor, is elegant and intellectual and I thought that was just wonderful. Viggo Mortensen also played very well Tony, who was rough but somehow lovable. It was a lovely film that filled me with warm feelings after I saw it.

 


One of my favorite scenes in the film. The Doctor touches up the letter that Tony writes to his wife.

 


Green Book: travel guide for safe travel through America's racial segregation had been published from 1936 to 1966 every year. The fact that this kind of book existed was itself shocking.

 

The film won the Oscar for best picture, best original screenplay and best supporting actor.

　

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