Day: July 18, 2014

LFM Reviews Man from Reno @ Japan Cuts

By Joe Bendel. Mystery novelist Aki Akahori’s Inspector Takabe is like a Japanese Maigret, but her life is about to turn into a Mary Higgins Clark novel, except darker. A chance encounter with a seductive stranger leads to more intrigue than Akahori bargained for in Dave Boyle’s Man from Reno, the best narrative award winner at the 2014 L.A. Film Festival, screens as part of this year’s Japan Cuts: the New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Film.

Although Takabe rules the Japanese bestseller lists, Akahori is uncomfortable with her success. Tired of her celebrity status, she deserts her publicity tour, taking refuge in San Francisco, where she once went to school. In her hotel, she meets a handsome Japanese tourist from Reno, or so she deduces. She did not have a tryst in mind, but she eventually yields to his charms. However, just when things start heating up, he precipitously vanishes. Even more disconcerting are the total strangers who suddenly want to take a quick look-see in her room.

Just north of town, Paul Del Moral, the sheriff of San Marco, is also searching for a Japanese man. In this case, it is the individual he accidentally hit during severe fog-in, who up and left the hospital in an equally rash manner. Soon a dead body turns up in San Marco who seems to have some connection to the fellow Del Moral dubbed “Running Man.” Inevitably, Del Moral’s investigation will lead him to the increasingly uneasy Akahori.

Reno represents a quantum step up for Boyle, whose previous films, like White on Rice, have been largely classifiable as romantic comedies. His frequent collaborator Hiroshi Watanabe is also back in the fold, but this time around he plays a strictly serious supporting role. Instead, Ayako Fujitani and veteran character actor Pepe Serna take star turns as Akahori and Del Moral, respectively. Expect to see more of them because they both make major statements with their smart, charismatic, yet understated performances.

From "Man from Reno."

As thrillers go, Reno (co-written by Boyle, Joel Clark, and Michael Lerman) has several fresh twists and it nicely captures the between-worlds vibe of the expatriate lifestyle. Technically polished, Richard Wong’s evocatively noir cinematographer also heightens the tension during several key scenes.

Murkier than one might expect, Reno is an effective, somewhat romantic suspenser that never rushes to tip its hand. However, it even more appealing to see a film anchored by people who look like Akahori and Del Moral. Granted, Fujitani is a beautiful woman, but in a mature, cerebral manner. Likewise, Serna is wonderfully grizzled, in a confidence-inspiring way. They are terrific, carrying the film relay-style during their many solo scenes. Highly recommended, Man from Reno screens tomorrow (7/19) at the Japan Society as part of the 2014 Japan Cuts.

LFM GRADE: A-

Posted on July 18th, 2014 at 11:34am.

LFM Reviews My Little Sweet Pea @ Japan Cuts

From "My Little Sweet Pea."

By Joe Bendel. Mugiko Koiwa’s life revolves around anime. Her brother Norio is all about pachinko. Neither is particularly industrious, but fortunately their long lost mother Saiko was helping pay the bills, unbeknownst to her daughter. Sadly, Saiko will not have enough time to rebuild their relationship, but Mugiko will learn to appreciate her mother after the fact in Keisuke Yoshida’s My Little Sweet Pea, which screens as part of this year’s Japan Cuts: the New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Film.

Pleading hardship, Saiko moves in with Mugiko and the surly Norio, who shacks-up with his girlfriend shortly thereafter. It is a decidedly awkward situation for Koiwa, who always thought Saiko had abandoned her family. While she makes some halting efforts, she never really accepts Saiko into her life before the older woman’s death. Unsure of her own feelings, Koiwa agrees to takes her mother’s ashes to her provincial home town for her forty-nine day ritual.

However, Koiwa is rather shocked when the community receives her like a rock star. Evidently, she is the spitting image of her mother in her younger years. Saiko only visited once after moving to Tokyo to fruitlessly pursue her pop star dreams, but she is fondly remembered by all, particularly her cabbie Manabu Inomoto, a luckless suitor, and Saiko’s best friend, Michiru. It turns out Koiwa has a lot to learn about her mother and she will have the time to learn, thanks to some missing internment paperwork.

If you prefer your films on the cynical side then Sweet Pea might just make you break out in hives. However, anime fans should sit up and take note, Production I.G (the studio behind Ghost in the Shell) created original animated sequences seen during Koiwa’s early fangirl sequences. They are pretty cool, but they are a distinct anomaly in their filmography.

From "My Little Sweet Pea."

The real point of Sweet Pea is Koiwa’s journey rediscovering her lost mother. As her host and guide, Michiru, Yumi Asou is wonderfully warm and humane, unexpectedly outshining just about everyone. On the other hand, Yoichi Nukumizu indulges in a bit of shtick as Inomoto. Nevertheless, he nicely turns his big serious third act speech. Maki Horikita portrays Koiwa’s internal arc of development with believable restraint, but Ryuhei Matsuda makes little impression as brother Norio, while Kimiko Yo’s Saiko never really lands the emotional haymaker.

The Oscar winning Departures (which co-starred Yo) is an obvious comparison film, with the misunderstood Saiko taking the place of the encoffineer’s absentee father. While Sweet Pea is not nearly as devastating, it feels more true to life. It is a wistful, endearing film that works on its own terms. Recommended for fans of tearjerkers with anime seasoning, My Little Sweat Pea screens tomorrow (7/19) at the Japan Society as part of the 2014 Japan Cuts.

LFM GRADE: B

Posted on July 18th, 2014 at 11:34am.