The Bad Sleep Well, aka 悪い奴ほどよく眠る, or “the bad guys sleep well”…. an apt description for this complex drama from master Akira Kurosawa.

Look, I’m going to be honest with you.  This movie’s plot is quite complex.  I’m not even sure I understood exactly what all was happening.  Its a tangled web of deceit, intrigue, greed, and revenge.

Koichi Nishi (Toshiro Mifune) is an up-and-coming executive business type who’s married the daughter of one of his bosses to get a leg up in the company.  Not that unusual really.  But as events unfold, it becomes clear there is more going on than just a man looking for an “easy in.”

Events of the past, namely the suspicious death of one Mr. Furuya, start to come back to haunt the executives of “Public” corp.  Past payoffs, coverups, other mysterious deaths….  things get stranger and stranger, until….

It’s revealed that Nishi isn’t in fact who he says he is, but rather Furuya’s son come looking for revenge.  Which he exacts in nefarious ways.  Of course the situation is further complicated by the fact that he’s in fact fallen in love with the daughter…  argh.

Don’t let the complexities of the plot fool you.  If nothing else this film is brilliant to look at.  Kurosawa does not disappoint, setting up some brilliant shots that you can’t help but marvel at in their symbolism.  Its a bit long, like I said its complex, and somewhat difficult to follow.  The key points, though, are obvious enough once its done.  Full of action it isn’t, either, but its not supposed to be.

Decidedly a departure from the “samurai” fare… or is it? I dunno.  Toshiro Mifune is nearly unrecognizable in this.  Gone is the typical crazy-banzai-samurai which he’s played so many times before.  In his place is a stoic, driven, almost fanatical character, that you can’t help but fear.  Again, don’t miss it.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054460/
Amazon:The Bad Sleep Well – Criterion Collection

The Trailer, doesn’t do it justice:

A creepy murder-mystery with a ghost-story twist, Retribution (or 叫, “sakebi” actually isn’t all that bad!  Better than I was expecting, anyway.  Even if a bit predictable.

Police detective Yoshioka (Kouji Yakusho) is called upon to investigate a bizarre series of drownings.  They think that they’re dealing with a serial killer, due to the fact that all of the victims were found drowned in salt water, where there shouldn’t be any.

Turns out that the truth is much more sinister.  The ghost of an abandoned mental patient is out for revenge, and recognition, and has “infected” certain people who might’ve caught a glimpse of her before her death.

You won’t find (and I was expecting) a lot of the typical black hair/pale faces oni cliches here.  Sure there are a few, but this film runs on atmosphere alone.  It’s dark, bleak, and overall just plain creepy.   Most of the “scary” bits are driven by the suspense of the moment.

I won’t even spoil the twist ending for you.  Suffice it to say there are shades of “Angel Heart” going on here, and if you pay close attention, you might be able to figure it out as the movie unfolds.  There are clues to the near sixth-sense style ending, but you have to catch them.

It’s no masterpiece, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting to.  Which is saying quite a bit!

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0843302/
Amazon:Retribution

Here’s the trailer, for a taste….

Japanese Title: おくりびと (Okuribito, “Sent away” People?)
US Title: Departures

Wow, what a totally awesome movie.  For lots of different reasons.  It’s thoughtful, funny, well-written, well-acted…  It’s just that good.  Plus it offers a few insights into Japanese culture that you may or may not pick up on.  Read on for the whole scoop.

When Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) loses his new job as a cellist (celloist? I dunno!) in a Tokyo orchestra, he decides to head back to his hometown up north with his wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue), where his recently deceased mother has left him a house.

He goes to take a job at (what he thinks) his a travel agency.  Much to his chagrin, however, its for a “Nokanshi”, which are people who prepare the dead for burial or cremation.  The concept might be a bit fuzzy for us westerners, but think something along the lines of the folks who prepare/embalm bodies in funeral homes.  Except here they’re creating a “presentation” for the funeral, and in a way, performing a sort of cleansing ritual before cremation.

Anyway.  After a few initiation rituals, he finally starts to take to this new job.  Although he still hasn’t told his wife what he does.  And for good reason.  The concept of the “Burakumin” comes into play here.  Basically what used to be a “caste” of “untouchables” due to their professions, dealing with the dead, butchers, undertakers, that sort of thing.  It’s not supposed to be an issue nowadays, but yeah, it is.  And his wife and his old friends around town still think along these lines.

What’s great about this picture, at least in my opinion, is the “window” into Japanese culture and daily life you see.  Everything from the village bath-house, to the relationship between boss and employee, the formalities between customer and vendor, just the entire… “frame of mind” for lack of a better word.

Its also a brilliant portrayal of a man who finally finds his calling, after trying to fulfill what he and his family think it should be.  Despite the nature of the job, and everything that goes with it, he sees the value in it, and so does everyone around him.

Finally, its also a great story of a man coming to terms with his abandonment issues from his father.  It all comes together at the end.  All of it.  Its easy to see why this won an Oscar for best foreign language film.  You really should watch this film, whether you’re interested in Japanese language/life/etc. or not.  It’s really that good.  Well acted, written, directed…  Just go find it already!

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069238/
Amazon: Departures

What can I say about 2000’s Versus…?  Let’s see.  Just to put it shortly and succinctly…

I fell asleep watching this movie.  It made no sense, was ultimately dull, it made no sense, wasn’t funny, and made no sense.  I haven’t fallen asleep watching a movie in a long long time, especially one I’m planning on reviewing, but good lord almighty, I couldn’t help myself.

So there’s this guy, right, who gets broke out of prison with this other guy.  They meet up with some mafia types, a bunch of people die, then turn into zombies.   Turns out that this is all some plan of destiny between two ancient “spirits” or something in the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Or something.

What it actually is, at least as I saw it, is a series of  one bad kung fu/shootout encounters after another, with a twist of Matrix “bullet time” thrown in, along with a healthy and inconsistent dose of old fashioned Japanese “splatter” and humor I just didn’t get.  If there was a real plot other than that It must have happened after I dozed off, which was after the 235th silly battle of the zombies vs. the “good guy.”  He keeps killing them over and over and they keep coming back.  Yawn.

Just don’t bother unless you’re curious, or you know something I missed here.  Please tell me if I missed something important, because I still can’t believe it was that bloody awful!!!

I give it a one for effort, that’s about it.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275773/
Amazon: Versus (Director’s Cut)

Here’s the trailer, don’t be fooled:

No I suppose this isn’t a “Japanese Movie” per se.  It does take place in Tokyo, and a great deal of it is in Japanese, so humor me.

Abby (the late Brittany Murphy) gets dumped by her boyfriend in Tokyo, and in a fit of desparation, gets taken in by a local Ramen cook and his wife.  They train her up to be his successor, and while they ultimately fail “the test”, everyone feels good and there’s a happy ending and everything.  Yeah, I just summed it up for you.

But, beyond that is a typically formula story.  Think Karate Kid with noodles and you’re not far off the mark.  Actually it’s not a bad little picture. It’s funny, its supposedly heartwarming (at least the trailer-voice told me so) and there’s lots of Japanese spoken which is always nice.

Don’t let the cutesy cover and descriptions fool you though.  There’s plenty of coarse dialog, adult situations, drinking and (gasp!) smoking to go around.  No I don’t really care, but its probably not for the younger set.

Yes, the story is technically implausible.  Work visas and entry permits and whatnot aside, not to mention cultural issues, huge (really huge) apartments, and the ramen shop having “soba” written on the front (yes there’s a difference!)….  But that’s beside the point.  The intended audience really doesn’t care.

I hate to admit that I actually liked it, sort of, despite all of its flaws, technical and otherwise.  At least I didn’t hate it.  Which is something.  Don’t try and take it too seriously or you’ll be disappointed.

Ichi the Killer, the Japanese title translates to “murder dealer Ichi” is a seriously messed up bit of movie from a seriously messed up individual, Takashi Miike.  I  mean, I know I’ve said it before, but damn, what is the deal?!  A psychologist’s dream, this guy.

Look, I’m not even going to go into the details of this one.  Let’s just say there is lots of pointless, disgusting blood.  Everywhere.  On the walls, ceiling, and floor.  Bits of bodies getting deep fried and detached….  Just, WTF is about all I can muster.

I didn’t find it particularly funny, interesting, or scary.  Just turn after turn of “OMG what’s Ichi going to do to this poor slob.”

About the only thing I can recommend it for would be a Halloween gross-out movie festival or something.

In case you’re wondering… No, I didn’t like it.  I didn’t “get it.”   I still don’t.

Amazon: Ichi the Killer [Blu-ray]
Netflix: Ichi the Killer
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296042/

I dunno about Rashomon.  One of Kurosawa’s definitive classics, you really have to be prepared to stick through the whole thing to get to the heart of the matter.  Until then, you’re kind of wondering what the point of it all is.  Which, after all, is the point of it all….  Maybe I should explain.

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before.  A priest, a farmer, and a woodcutter walk into a ruined temple.  No?  Well, news is that a samurai was killed by a local bandito and his female companion raped, and here’s what happened….

…from each of their viewpoints.  Each gets to tell the story from either their own perspectives, or from what they heard at the suspect’s (Toshiro Mifune) trial.  So we get to hear the same story different times, and of course, each version depends on the person, their own prejudices, experience, etc.

In reality, though, none of that matters.  No, really, it doesn’t.  The point of the movie is not the events that transpired at all.  If you wait for the final scene at the temple, you’ll get it.  That humanity sucks, and is glorious, all at the same time.  That the priest rediscovers his faith in people, and that the woodcutter (or the farmer, I forget) is fulfilled.  That we all share the same experiences, yet they’re all quite different….  A bit convoluted, yes.  Absolutely, but in my opinion, that’s what its all about.  That final scene.  I don’t even think I can explain it properly, but just stick it out.

Once again, Mifune reprises his role as the completely psycho bandit.  Or begins it, I suppose.  Seems that role suited him for a time.  The rest, to me, is typical 1950’s/1960’s Japanese movie.  Kurosawa or not.  And I have to admit that I was starting to get plenty bored with it.

So, if you can live through it, wait for the ending of Rashomon.  Hopefully you won’t be disappointed.  I still can only bring myself to give it 3/5, because of the wait.

Amazon:Rashomon – Criterion Collection
Netflix: Rashomon
IMDB: Rashomon