Stars: Nao Ômori, Lindsay Hayward, Mao Daichi, Hairi Katagiri, Gin Maeda, Suzuki Matsuo, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Eriko Satô, Shinobu Terajima, Ai Tominaga | Written by Hitoshi Matsumoto, Mitsuyoshi Takasu, Tomoji Hasegawa, Kôji Ema, Mitsuru Kuramoto | Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto
Hitoshi Matsumoto is a director who, though I can’t say I know a great deal about, only that he is a comedian known for his surreal and crazy style, I have enjoyed greatly in the past with his films Symbol (2009) and Big Man Japan (2007) so I was intrigued and excited to see that R100, Matsumoto’s latest, was going to be a part of Frightfest in 2014.
A stiff bodied and reticent office worker, Takafumi, joins a strange club which has one rule, the rule being that, under no circumstances can you cancel your membership within the year in which the membership runs for. Simple. No. What this results in is hard to quite explain,...
Hitoshi Matsumoto is a director who, though I can’t say I know a great deal about, only that he is a comedian known for his surreal and crazy style, I have enjoyed greatly in the past with his films Symbol (2009) and Big Man Japan (2007) so I was intrigued and excited to see that R100, Matsumoto’s latest, was going to be a part of Frightfest in 2014.
A stiff bodied and reticent office worker, Takafumi, joins a strange club which has one rule, the rule being that, under no circumstances can you cancel your membership within the year in which the membership runs for. Simple. No. What this results in is hard to quite explain,...
- 8/22/2014
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
Scabbard Samurai
Written by Mitsuyoshi Takasu, Tomoji Hasegawa, Kôji Ema, Mitsuru Koramoto, Itsuji Itao, and Hitoshi Matsumoto
Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto
Japan, 2010
Would-be samurai Kanjuro Nomi (Takaaki Nomi) has landed himself in quite a predicament. Wanted for desertion by the government, and pursued by a trio of variously skilled assassins, he nonetheless silently carries on, always protecting his wily young daughter Tae (Sea Kumada). Rendered silent by grief since the death of his wife, he no longer carries a sword – only its hilt. When he’s finally brought to justice, the local clan head dispenses his usual, and particularly cruel punishment: Kanjuro has one opportunity a day, for the next thirty days, to inspire a smile on the face of the clan leader’s son, who has been practically catatonic since the loss of his mother.
The latest comic hybrid from popular Japanese director Hitoshi Matsumoto (Big Man Japan, Symbol...
Written by Mitsuyoshi Takasu, Tomoji Hasegawa, Kôji Ema, Mitsuru Koramoto, Itsuji Itao, and Hitoshi Matsumoto
Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto
Japan, 2010
Would-be samurai Kanjuro Nomi (Takaaki Nomi) has landed himself in quite a predicament. Wanted for desertion by the government, and pursued by a trio of variously skilled assassins, he nonetheless silently carries on, always protecting his wily young daughter Tae (Sea Kumada). Rendered silent by grief since the death of his wife, he no longer carries a sword – only its hilt. When he’s finally brought to justice, the local clan head dispenses his usual, and particularly cruel punishment: Kanjuro has one opportunity a day, for the next thirty days, to inspire a smile on the face of the clan leader’s son, who has been practically catatonic since the loss of his mother.
The latest comic hybrid from popular Japanese director Hitoshi Matsumoto (Big Man Japan, Symbol...
- 10/24/2011
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
Here’s the teaser for Selfish Planet, a comedy directed by TV Asahi producer Hiroaki Ito. It premiered yesterday at the second annual Okinawa International Movie Festival.
The story revolves around five men, each with a unique personality, who get the chance to live out their dream of traveling into space. They’re hopeful and anxious while they live together in a space training facility, but are soon faced with a shocking truth. Unhindered, they remain enthusiastic and determined to reach their goal.
The screenplay was written by writer/director Takuro Oikawa with assistance by Mitsuyoshi Takasu (Big Man Japan) and Makoto Ueda (Summer Time Machine Blues, Magare! Spoon).
In case you’re wondering, that is indeed Puffy AmiYumi at the 20-second mark. As reported by Tokyograph yesterday, their song “Fish On” is being used as the film’s theme (unfortunately, it didn’t make it into the teaser). Former...
The story revolves around five men, each with a unique personality, who get the chance to live out their dream of traveling into space. They’re hopeful and anxious while they live together in a space training facility, but are soon faced with a shocking truth. Unhindered, they remain enthusiastic and determined to reach their goal.
The screenplay was written by writer/director Takuro Oikawa with assistance by Mitsuyoshi Takasu (Big Man Japan) and Makoto Ueda (Summer Time Machine Blues, Magare! Spoon).
In case you’re wondering, that is indeed Puffy AmiYumi at the 20-second mark. As reported by Tokyograph yesterday, their song “Fish On” is being used as the film’s theme (unfortunately, it didn’t make it into the teaser). Former...
- 3/28/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Year: 2009
Directors: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writers: Hitoshi Matsumoto
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Rick McGrath
Rating: 9 out of 10
It’s not often you come across a movie that’s both wildly thought provoking and wildly funny at the same time. But then again, it’s not often you come across a story that concerns itself with an overtly philosophic/explanatory treatise on symbolism and symbols.
And we all know about symbols, right? They’re a thing that stands for or represents something else, usually used in a concrete/abstract association, such as the color white symbolizing purity. That’s an easy one. Writers Hitoshi Matsumoto and Mitsuyoshi Takasu have come up with something much more interesting. Much, much more.
What we have here are what appears to be two completely separate stories. One involves a Mexican wrestler incongruously known as Escargoman (no kidding) and the other an unnamed Japanese man...
Directors: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writers: Hitoshi Matsumoto
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Rick McGrath
Rating: 9 out of 10
It’s not often you come across a movie that’s both wildly thought provoking and wildly funny at the same time. But then again, it’s not often you come across a story that concerns itself with an overtly philosophic/explanatory treatise on symbolism and symbols.
And we all know about symbols, right? They’re a thing that stands for or represents something else, usually used in a concrete/abstract association, such as the color white symbolizing purity. That’s an easy one. Writers Hitoshi Matsumoto and Mitsuyoshi Takasu have come up with something much more interesting. Much, much more.
What we have here are what appears to be two completely separate stories. One involves a Mexican wrestler incongruously known as Escargoman (no kidding) and the other an unnamed Japanese man...
- 9/19/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Year: 2009
Directors: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writers: Hitoshi Matsumoto
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Rick McGrath
Rating: 9 out of 10
It’s not often you come across a movie that’s both wildly thought provoking and wildly funny at the same time. But then again, it’s not often you come across a story that concerns itself with an overtly philosophic/explanatory treatise on symbolism and symbols.
And we all know about symbols, right? They’re a thing that stands for or represents something else, usually used in a concrete/abstract association, such as the color white symbolizing purity. That’s an easy one. Writers Hitoshi Matsumoto and Mitsuyoshi Takasu have come up with something much more interesting. Much, much more.
What we have here are what appears to be two completely separate stories. One involves a Mexican wrestler incongruously known as Escargoman (no kidding) and the other an unnamed Japanese man...
Directors: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writers: Hitoshi Matsumoto
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Rick McGrath
Rating: 9 out of 10
It’s not often you come across a movie that’s both wildly thought provoking and wildly funny at the same time. But then again, it’s not often you come across a story that concerns itself with an overtly philosophic/explanatory treatise on symbolism and symbols.
And we all know about symbols, right? They’re a thing that stands for or represents something else, usually used in a concrete/abstract association, such as the color white symbolizing purity. That’s an easy one. Writers Hitoshi Matsumoto and Mitsuyoshi Takasu have come up with something much more interesting. Much, much more.
What we have here are what appears to be two completely separate stories. One involves a Mexican wrestler incongruously known as Escargoman (no kidding) and the other an unnamed Japanese man...
- 9/13/2009
- QuietEarth.us
- #65. Dai Nipponjin (Big Man Japan) Director: Hitosi Matumoto Writers: Mitsuyoshi Takasu and MatumotoProducers: Akihiro Okamoto Distributor: Magnet Releasing The Gist: A middle-aged slacker living in a rundown, graffiti-ridden slum, Daisoto’s job involves being shocked by bolts of electricity that transform him into a stocky, stick-wielding giant several stories high who is entrusted with defending Japan from a host of bizarre monsters. Fact: This received its world premiere at the Cannes film festival. See It: I've passed on this film in two prior festivals until I finally gave it a chance. This directorial debut is one of the best fantasy comedies you'll find this year. Release Date/Status?: Magnoila Pictures' new division will release this sometime this year. ...
- 1/29/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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