Tokyo Sonata (2008)

I watched Tokyo Sonata (2008) after Perfect Days, which made for a nice Koji Yakusho double bill (though he only plays a supporting role in Tokyo Sonata). There was also another moment of connection. While I found the upscale public toilets that Yakusho’s character cleans in Perfect Days almost too pristine, one of the main […]

Claire’s Camera (2017)

I think it was Gene Siskel who determined a movie’s quality by the following dictum: Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch? The films of Hong Sang-soo sometimes feel like you’re just watching a documentary actors sitting around and eating, though a key difference in the Sang-soo world […]

Tokyo Story (1953)

The canon of great movies can sometimes feel imposing. During the first twenty minutes of Tokyo Story (1953), as the elderly couple settle into their eldest son’s home during their visit to Tokyo, I did think, “This is one of the most acclaimed movies?” Less a reaction to the film being boring or bad, but […]

Do Not Expect Too Much From The End Of The World (2023)

“Where’s the director? … I have one word for you: emotion.” Do Not Expect Too Much From The End Of The World (2023) is the third film of Romanian director Radu Jude’s that I have seen and I love his approach and style. Taking inspiration from Jean-Luc Godard and others, Jadu makes essay-films that bring […]

Place Vendôme (1998)

Place Vendôme (1998) fits the bill for French neo-noir in that the key female characters are glamorous blondes while the men are all weathered looking mutts. The cinematography feels very 1990s “movie for adults” in the dark hues of the interiors, and its overall polished feeling, reminiscent of a Grisham or Le Carre adaption from […]