Well, we did it. Three movies in three different parts of Tokyo. Didn’t quite manage the three different languages rule, but that’s OK.
First up was Gus van Sant’s Restless in Hibiya. Surprised this wasn’t a bigger hit as it has all the ingredients for prime melodrama … plus Dennis Hopper’s son. Not a classic, but a good way to start the day. Would like to see this in a morbid double bill with Harold and Maude
Next, after a ramen refueling stop, was the latest Mission Impossible in Shinjuku. I’m not a great fan of the franchise, but this was quite passable. We even had the bonus of a real live earthquake halfway through. It was scary enough, but luckily it wasn’t the big one. Might not even have noticed if it had happened during a car chase or other action sequence.
Finally, we caught the interesting, but overlong, Saudade in Kichijoji. I’ve never been to Kofu, where the film is set, but despite the fairly bleak view of the city it piqued my interest.
Other than the Triathalon, we’ve been ploughing through some DVDs over the break. Honorable mentions to Charlie Varrick (unreleased Lalo Schiffrin soundtrack), Monsters, and Seijun Suzuki’s Yumeji. Is there such a thing as a bad Suzuki Seijun film? If so I’ve yet to see it.
