Recently I've been kept quite busy by Screen, writing about the success of the Japanese film industry this year. While I'm on a roll, a few facts:
Japanese films currently account for around 47% of the market share, which is the highest it's been since 1988. If it's surpasses 50% by the end of the year, which it looks to, it'll be the first time since 1985. Place your bets on Nana 2, released Dec. 9 against Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima and Love and Honor, currently in release. This is coming off year-on-year increases since the all time low of 27.1% in 2002. Japanese films account for 5 of the top 10 hits this year, but again with Nana 2, it could change in Japan's favour. 6 Japanese films (including Tales From Earthsea, Umizaru 2 and Suite Dreams) have surpassed the 5 billion yen ($43m) mark this year, which breaks any previous record. In terms of pure volume, there have also been year-on-year increases. The industry is on track to produce 400 movies this year -- a number not reached since 1973. Some decry the trend of quantity over quality, but if more people than ever are seeing local films, who are we to argue?Japanese films have pulled some impressive stunts at the box office this year, too, most notably when the original Death Note dethroned The Da Vinci Code. Then Kisarazu Cats Eye: Sayonara Game konked Clint Eastwood's Flags Of Our Fathers on the head. Finally, this past weekend, Yamada Yôji's Love and Honor trumped Casino Royale at the ticket wickets. In all three cases, the Hollywood films opened on more screens.
Speaking of Love and Honor, here's Aaron Gerow's review for The Daily Yomiuri. Alongside all the tearjerkers produced in recent years, I found it a lot more low key than he felt. I completely disagree about Kimura Takuya's performance as well. Aside from one moment right near the beginning of the film (the only time his character laughs), I forgot all about the duke of cool I see splashed on magazine covers and TV on a daily basis here. Also have to disagree about Yamada "cheating" -- I thought it was a really dramatic moment when Kimura's dead eyes stare straight through his wife. It's all just opinions in the end, so see it for yourself. Pictured is a Tokyo Metro subway card printed with an image from the film. See my October report on the world premiere, here.
Update:Mark Schilling's review in the Japan Times is "dead solid perfect," as they say in the golf world.
For more links to current Japanese film reviews, check out Ryuganji (back after a 2-week hiatus). Also see Hoga Central, which is as pleased as pie about the yamatodamashii on display this year (update: thanks for the trackback). Looking forward to seeing some of that spirit depicted onscreen in Eastwood's Letters -- loved the first installment.
Update: A trackback on Kaiju Shakedown. Somehow, when it becomes a Grady Hendrix story it feels..."huger".
8 comments:
still to see a full trailer for 'love and honor'. still, bound to appear on DVD with subtitles just about everwhere on the planet, like 'twilight samurai' and 'hidden blade' have.
as for the dominance of japanese film (or something like dominance), i often wonder if it's hollywoods talent at marketing (or rather, making) films that are so large and tempting that they overpower more modest domestic product across the globe, or if japan hasn't tuned into what their audience wants in recent decades, or if the films just don't work ... or what?! it's just a mystery.
logboy
Thanks Jason, for mentioning my blog!
To logboy: from my "business" point of view (not "movie quality" point of view), I think the influence of TV stations and cost structure have something to do with it.
Japanese film industry has gone through a bad period and knows how to produce movies cheaply, then big TV stations started to put money and resources in the movies, so the money has worked well. (But they don't know how to sell internationally, and that's a problem.)
In the meantime, Hollywood movie production cost bloated, so they tend to make lowest common denominator type films for global market, which may not necessarily match the local taste.
Please see my small article about Japanese film industry as well.
http://www.dmc.keio.ac.jp/en/review/0611_AFM_top.html
Mr. Gray, thank you for your interesting article!
After seeng some clips from Bushi no Ichibun I'm eagerly waiting for the moment when it comes to my country theaters. I loved 2 previous samurai films of Mr. Yamada and I'm almost sure the 3d one will be at the same highest level.
But what's the fass in Yomiuri about that Kimura man "bad acting"? I live far from Japan and don't know this actor well, but in the Bushi clips I've seen he did his job very well... In Wong Kar-Wai's "2046" his acting was very good, too, while his 2 roles were small.
logboy,
It's not a "dominance," but a definite evening of the playing field. Japanese audiences are loving their own movies more these days -- but of course there are failures and flops.
What's really been important is the synergy between different media (TV, 'net, games, publishing etc.), with many films based on popular manga and novels. Adding to what Michi said, movie-producing TV networks like Fuji TV and TBS are able to expertly penetrate all platforms.
Also as Michi said, the Hollywood imports are appealing less and less to locals. Johnny Depp is a veritable God here, but #1-ranked Pirates (and #2 ranked Da Vinci Code) excepted, this year was unimpressive. Aside from Spider Man, Japanese audiecees have limited interest in American superheroes like Superman and X-Men. M:i:III only made half of what the second film did. And when an animation style doesn't appeal, as in the case of Cars, it tanks no matter how huge the P&A budget is.
Karen,
Thanks for your comment. The third film in the trilogy is of the quality of the first two. Kimura has generally gotten good notices for his performance and the film's Yahoo! movie rating is 3.88/5 at the moment, which is quite good. You'll like it.
i've been thinking over the past year or so that the relationship between manga, anime, films, TV all seems to be a lot tighter than either i had previously imagined or perhaps tighter than it had been - though the connections always seemed to be there to some extent.
i understand there seems to be a global shift in peoples viewing habits that has resulted from things like the internet, DVD, the increasing budgets of TV (or the more cinematic drama content of TV) and how films have faired as a result, the kind of content they contain... it good to see japanese people apparently tuning into more domestic product, and i agree hollywood is increasingly digging a lowest common denominator approach via an increasing budget year after year, where as japan (korea too, perhaps even more so) continues to master the niche markets and broader mainstream markets with incredibly solid, creative movies that are comparatively cheaply made.
logboy
Dear Mr. Gray!
In December you kindly answered my questions about Bushi no Ichibun movie in your blog and promised that I'd like it. :)
Now I'm happy to tell you that you were right! I watched the movie this week (thanks to Japan DVD with Eng subs) and simply fall in love with it! IMHO, this is the best film of the Yamada's samurai trilogy - the most harmonic and beautiful among the three.
Also I have to admit that the male lead of Bushi, Kimura is superb! Exellent acting from him! Now I don't get that december rant about his "bad acting" even more.
I definetely need to find more films with this actor - he's very talented. It's only a pity that he's mostly the TV actor, as I was told. Japan TV dramas are more difficult to find at my side of the globe. :) But I'll try!
Many thanks again for your recommendations!
Hi Karen,
Thanks for coming back with your review of the film -- I'm glad you liked it. I'd like to see it again myself.
As for other Kimura Takuya films, you're in luck. He's starring in a feature film adaptation of his hit TV series HERO, in which he plays an unconvential prosecutor. You can find a bit of English info here and probably more if you dig around.
According to this article The film just wrapped after an unusually long 2 1/2 month shooting schedule, lengthened by the Korea location work and promotion in Cannes last month. HERO opens Sept. 8
Mr. Gray!
Thanks a lot for your answer and links.
Yeah, I've made so diggings on the subject and to my daze found a lot of into about this actors in English, but mostly in fandom communities of Japan TV drama. Seems Kimura's fanbase in our Western part of the globe is big enough.
Internet is a great thing - you can find almost everything in it. It seems to find Kimura's TV series with English subs is easy enough.
But there is another thing that surprises me. Why they in Japan so rarely make Englisg subs for DVD releases of popular films and TV dramas? I think they are loosing possible foreign costomers because of it.
Me as a curtomer, for example. ;) Searching for some films and dramas starring Kimura in Japan Internet shops, I managed to find only one more samurai flick - "Chushingura 1/47" - with English subs.
OK, I purchased it, but there were so many excellent editions of his TV dramas on DVD in these shops... But all with no subs. I was so upset! I would purchase them, if they were with Eng. subs. But now I will have to look for them in the Net. Of course, it will be cheaper for me, but honestly I'd prefer nice official editions.
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