Cute film about a Japanese "nerd" (which isn't quite right) who stands up for a woman on the train giving him a chance to make a break with his reclusive inner life. Not sure what to make of it - but I quite enjoyed the film. Egged on and advised by a diverse group of online community members he tries to make his fantasy life reality. Make sure you stay till the end of the credits. And if you figure out what's real and what's fantasy I'd appreciate some insight via the comments section. :-) Thanks.
A collection of my idiosyncratic thoughts & film reviews. I find spending time sitting in the dark watching far too many films back to back a deeply relaxing experience.
International, Indy, Hollywood, Vampires - I have very flexible tastes...
2/5/07
Trainman (Densha Otoko)
Cute film about a Japanese "nerd" (which isn't quite right) who stands up for a woman on the train giving him a chance to make a break with his reclusive inner life. Not sure what to make of it - but I quite enjoyed the film. Egged on and advised by a diverse group of online community members he tries to make his fantasy life reality. Make sure you stay till the end of the credits. And if you figure out what's real and what's fantasy I'd appreciate some insight via the comments section. :-) Thanks.
Kvetching about the Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Every year I feel I've got a complaint of some sort about the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. This year I find myself in the surprising position of being annoyed even before the thing even starts.
A recap of past issue from oldest to newest.
2005 - Talking - and plenty of it. Yes - really - and singing at one point. Did I mention the talking was from one of the lead organizers? No joke.
2006 - Worst theater ever for subtitled film (MOHAI). It's so bad I'm blaming the theater choice not the people who sat on top of the seats so they could see (even if no one behind them could). BTW - MOHAI has lots of great stuff going for it, but the grading is way too shallow for subtitled film. If you must go, get there early and sit in one of the first few row. The screen is pretty small so this is better than it sounds.
So what's in store for us in 2007? Couldn't tell you as this year the group's website seems to treat the content of the films as a state secret. Maybe there are pictures up somewhere now - but I had a bear of a time trying to figure out what played each of the festival days. Try it and you'll see what I mean.
There might be some great films mixed in there, but I've given up looking for now. I did notice that "What a Wonderful Place" is playing. I saw that in early 2006 and reviewed it earlier. From what I can recall now it's not bad - but some of the themes are a bit rough. My guess is you wouldn't want to be sitting in front of the festival organizer who couldn't contain himself during the "Jews for Jesus" documentary. He's likely to get a bit worked up from this content too. :-)
I saw Wonderous Oblivion which is also playing (at SIFF several years ago). I really enjoyed it and it seemed like a good family film. Just don't get it mixed up with "What a Wonderful Place" - which is neither for kids nor has angels getting their wings. I don't actually recall there being a Jewish theme - but it was fun. Though I would have thought there was something actually released in the last year as this film is on Netflix.
A recap of past issue from oldest to newest.
2005 - Talking - and plenty of it. Yes - really - and singing at one point. Did I mention the talking was from one of the lead organizers? No joke.
2006 - Worst theater ever for subtitled film (MOHAI). It's so bad I'm blaming the theater choice not the people who sat on top of the seats so they could see (even if no one behind them could). BTW - MOHAI has lots of great stuff going for it, but the grading is way too shallow for subtitled film. If you must go, get there early and sit in one of the first few row. The screen is pretty small so this is better than it sounds.
So what's in store for us in 2007? Couldn't tell you as this year the group's website seems to treat the content of the films as a state secret. Maybe there are pictures up somewhere now - but I had a bear of a time trying to figure out what played each of the festival days. Try it and you'll see what I mean.
There might be some great films mixed in there, but I've given up looking for now. I did notice that "What a Wonderful Place" is playing. I saw that in early 2006 and reviewed it earlier. From what I can recall now it's not bad - but some of the themes are a bit rough. My guess is you wouldn't want to be sitting in front of the festival organizer who couldn't contain himself during the "Jews for Jesus" documentary. He's likely to get a bit worked up from this content too. :-)
I saw Wonderous Oblivion which is also playing (at SIFF several years ago). I really enjoyed it and it seemed like a good family film. Just don't get it mixed up with "What a Wonderful Place" - which is neither for kids nor has angels getting their wings. I don't actually recall there being a Jewish theme - but it was fun. Though I would have thought there was something actually released in the last year as this film is on Netflix.
Venus
I'm working to catchup on older things I've seen. I saw Venus back in Feb. I took the time to find a picture so I guess I should write something. :-) I Was hoping O'Toole won at the Oscars. Usually I don't root for someone to win for lifetime achievement but I figured Forest Whitaker has plenty of great portrayals of madmen in him still to come.Plenty of read out there on Venus. Not the best film of the year. Sort of interesting, sort of creepy. Not sure I learned that much about the human condition but I didn't feel I'd wasted the time. Now if someone could just explain O'Toole's eye makeup in Lawrence of Arabia I'd be very much obliged.
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