Airport 2013 [Film Review]

Airport 2013; or, Mind Your Business!
     Everyone has their own secrets. Is there someone who doesn't have one in this world? But, They didn't lie out of ill-will, they lied to protect the family.
Director Koki Mitani is such an underrated filmmaker. Almost every enthusiast of Japanese Cinema marvels at the visual finesse of Takeshi Kitano, Takahi Miike, or Hirokazu Koreeda (and quite rightfully so), but Mitani’s movies often seem to slip by the general mainstream. I, for one, had a hard time tracking down this little TV movie he made titled Airport 2013.

Release Info

Directed by: Koki Mitani Starring: Yuko Takeuchi, Katsuhisa Namase, Misuzu Kanno, Joe Odagiri

Language: Japanese Original Title: 大空港2013 Runtime: 100 min

Synopsis
Chigusa Okouchi (Yuko Takeuchi) is a ground staff officer at a small Matsumoto airport which mainly handles local airlines. Nevertheless, an airplane bound for Tokyo forcefully lands in Matsumoto due to bad weather over Haneda airport. Until the meteorological conditions clear up, Okouchi has to take care of passengers who wait to resume their journey. In the course of her assignment, Okouchi will unravel lots of family secrets and conspiracies that will lead to many hilarious incidents.

Regarding Okouchi
My only wish is that I could have discovered this gem of a movie much earlier. Koki Mitani does not present a disaster scenario as in Airport 1970 or a happy-go-lucky take on how airlines operate as in Happy Flight (2008). Rather than that, the viewers are presented with a day in the life of a diligent ground staff worker who carries tough responsibilities on her shoulders.

Initially, you may think that Okouchi has to deal with a family of degenerates, but all of them are vibrant personalities who turn out to be extremely likable in the end. Okouchi’s interactions with each character are so amazing and the dialogue is so witty!

What is more, it has to be mentioned that the whole film was shot at one take… Yes, all 100 minutes are not interrupted by cuts. Shinichiro Ueda and Sam Mendes should learn from Mitani how to handle this difficult art of filmmaking like a boss! Evidently, the director’s theatre background gives the film yet another dimension of charm. With the camera constantly following our protagonist here and there, you really get the feeling as if you are watching a stage play!

With regard to the performances, I know Airport 2013 is only a TV production but it has such an A-list cast! The magnificent Yuko Takeuchi, Katsuhisa Namase, Erika Toda, Misuzu Kanno, Teruyuki Kagawa, Masahiro Komoto, and Joe Odagiri as phony Casanova! All of them are absolutely brilliant. I was rolling on the floor laughing at such scenes as the grandfather’s confession, the casting interview, and Joe escaping in a drag!

Recommendations
If you want to experience a heart-warming and motivational story exploring tough day at work and difficult family relations, then Airport 2013 is the sure-fire choice for you. You can never go wrong with Koki Mitani and his storytelling style. In addition, the movie is a marvelous showcase of Yuko Takeuchi’s talent. It’s such a shame that this great actress is no longer with us. Overall score: 10/10

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Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (2012-2013) [Tokusatsu Review]

Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger; or, Pain is Strength!

     I am… a man who’s so painful that I can break the barrier between delusion and reality! I don’t care if it’s reality or not! I will transform and fight!

My journey with Super Sentai continues for 2 years now. I have checked out roughly about a dozen of entries, and Tokusatsu Gagaga drama, but absolutely nothing prepared me for the wrecking ball of spellbinding grandeur that Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger [Unofficial Squadron Akibaranger] actually is.
Release Info

Created by: Hatte Saburo Starring: Masato Wada, Kyoko Hinami, Karin Ogino,

Maaya Uchida, Shione Sawada, Ai Shimomura

Language: Japanese Original Title: 非公認戦隊アキバレンジャー No. of eps.: 26 (2 seasons)

 

Synopsis

Hiroyo Hakase (Maaya Uchida) is the owner of a Super Sentai cafe shop in Akihabara district, Tokyo. She inherits from her missing father three strange Moe Moe Z-Cune devices. She recruits Nobuo Akagi (Masato Wada), a delivery guy; Yumeria Moegi (Karin Ogino), a cosplayer; and Mitsuki Aoyagi (Kyoko Hinami), a high-school student. Together, they use the devices and transform into Akibarangers; however, they are an unofficial Sentai team, not recognised by Toei. They battle evil in the realm of delusions, but very soon, malevolent villains find their way into reality. Now, Akibarangers have to protect not only their beloved district but also the entire Super Sentai Universe from being destroyed by numerous foes, including evil commander Malshinna (Ai Shimomura), mysterious Doctor Z (Kazuki Yao), and fanatic otaku Tsuu Shogun (Ryo Horikawa). Little do the Akibarangers know that there is a superior mastermind lurking in the shadows…

 

For the glory of Tokusatsu!

Let me start with stating that Hikonin Sentai Akibranger is the ultimate love letter to the Super Sentai franchise. Even though the show promotes itself as a Sentai parody meant for mature audiences (Remember, good little kids shouldn’t watch it!), it includes literally everything a Super Sentai fan would love to see: from countless Easter eggs through cameos of the tokusatsu veterans to featuring official teams. Akibaranger has it all and even more! That is to say, it is an enjoyable show.

 

Speaking about Season 1, the first five episodes are harmless fun, with Akibarangers poking fun at many clichés of the franchise. However, when the rules of the established universe are broken (which is described by the characters as a shake up), the show starts getting pretty serious. To be honest, I really felt as if I was watching a Japanese version of Doctor Who. Over-the-top villains and non-stop action left me breathless! (On a side note, Hatte Saburo is not a real person, but a collective pen name used by Super Sentai writers and producers).

 

With regard to Season 2, I had a feeling that I won’t like it, but it really surpassed my expectations. Everything seemed bigger and braver! The only thing I disliked was the replacement of AkibaBlue. The new character, Luna Iwashimizu (played by Sione Sawada), is very good, but Mitsuki (Kyoko Hinami) had better chemistry with the team. Also, this season was focused on fixing broken timelines (even more Doctor Who feels!), which I greatly enjoyed. I read that some fans disliked the finale, but I thought it was a brilliant send-off. It ended on such a high note! How I wish there was a third season!

 

Now, a few words about the characters. I totally love Akibarangers. If only they had not been the unofficial team. They have great personalities and they actually develop throughout the series. As for the villains, Malshiina (a.k.a. ©Na; meaning Copyrighted Name) steals every scene she is in (but Tsuu Shogun is the second best villain, to me). She’s got the looks, the swag, and the sass. Nevertheless, the prettiest female character of the series, in my opinion, is Hiroyo Hakase. I love her heart-warming smile and exaggerated mental breakdowns.

 

It has to be noted that many tokusatsu veterans served on this series, including Ryuta Tazaki (Kamen Rider), director/character designer Keiichi Satou (Tiger & Bunny, Gundam), writer Naruhisa Arakawa (Kamen Rider Kuuga), and the legendary composer Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell).

 

Recommendations

If you are in the mood for a ridiculous comedy mixed with science fiction elements, then please check out Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger. However, some previous knowledge of the Super Sentai franchise is required in order to fully enjoy it. All things considered, this show communicates the important message that you don’t have to be an officially recognised hero in order to make a difference. Being a fan who is good at heart is enough… Juu-Mousou Zukyuun!

Overall score: 10/10

The Lunchbox (2013) [Film Review]

The Lunchbox; or, A Stroke of Luck
     Somewhere I read that the wrong train can lead you to the right station...
Has it ever happened to you that you opened your lunchbox and were surprised by its content? This week’s review will cover the troubling topics of depression, letters, unexpected friendship, refuel of faith, and pursuit of happiness. Obviously, I want to discuss the 2013 international hit film The Lunchbox with Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur in the leading roles.

Release Info

Directed by: Ritesh Batra Starring: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Language: English, Hindi Runtime: 100 min

Synopsis
Mr Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan) is a widower who is trying to get by at his accounting job. Illa (Nimrat Kaur) is a housewife who is hopelessly attempting to get the attention of her busy husband. The wife even prepares a special meal which she sends via the food delivery system of Mumbai’s “dabbawalas”. Unfortunately, some kind of a mix-up happens en route and the lunchbox ends up on Mr Fernandes’ desk. Illa discovers that the meals are not reaching her husband and writes a letter to the unknown receiver of her dishes. Saajan responds and, in consequence, a long-lasting correspondence ensues. The unexpected communication through the lunchbox irreversibly changes the two strangers.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach
The first thing I would like to say about this movie is that I deeply regret not seeing it at the cinema. I picked it up on DVD a week ago (Indian food and Irrfan Khan on the cover did the trick) and, after watching it, I complained to myself: How could I miss such a gem on the big screen?! (Release date: February, 2014 in my country). Indeed, The Lunchbox is a shining gem polished with an enormous amount of noticeable love and patience from the cast and crew. What initially appears to be yet another romantic flick pleasantly surprises its viewers by becoming a warm-hearted story about regaining self-confidence and living life to the fullest.

The core of the film is transgressing cultural differences. The eponymous lunchbox is the inanimate facilitator that establishes a connection between people from totally different backgrounds. Mr Fernandes is a Scrooge-like character (living in painful solitude after the loss of his wife) who wants to be left alone. Illa, on the other hand, is a young housewife and a mother who seeks to renew the relationship with her husband. As the two start to exchange recipes, pieces of advice, daily anecdotes, and personal confessions, they get closer to each than they would ever be in reality. This shift in attitude is especially visible in Saajan who transforms from a recluse into a dreamer. He even befriends an outgoing office apprentice Shaikh (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and eventually becomes an important part of his life as well. This is the paradox that the director Ritesh Batra draws before us. Mumbai is the cultural melting pot of people always in a rush. Serendipity in the form of the lunchbox makes two of those people: a Christian (Fernandes) and a Hindu (Illa) stop and think for a moment.

However, there is still one more issue to be mentioned and it is the one of love. Namely, Saajan changes not just because of the excellent food he receives, but because of Illa herself. This is an impossible love story: a 52-year-old Christian falling for a married Hindu. Yet, the two try to find each other. Illa sets up a meeting in a cafe, but Saajan never approaches her, because he is aware of the social gap between them. Still, Illa eventually tracks down his office address, but he has already retired.

This leads us to the real villain of the piece, and no, it’s not Illa’s husband (though it is implied that the man is cheating on her). The true enemy of our characters is time. The Lunchbox touches upon a very universal problem of busy lifestyle in a metropolis. Mumbai workers need to be on time at work, but they prefer home-cooked meals for lunch. Thus, the “dabbawalas” came to existence in order to save the time (of housewives and workers). Yet, time is an obstacle for Saajan and Illa to be together, not only in terms of age difference, but also quite literally.

In the ending scene (which I liked very much, though it sparked many negative comments on the web) we see Saajan travelling with “dabbawalas” on a train. By doing so, Mr Fernandes hopes to find Illa during the process of returning the lunchbox (in the afternoon). However, on the same day, Illa decided to sell her jewellery and escape from her husband as soon as her daughter gets back from school. Will Saajan find her before she leaves? This is the question to which the viewers have to answer on their own. Personally, I believe that even the wrong train can lead you to the right station...

Irrfan Khan gives a superb performance and, out of his cinematic creations, the character of Mr Fernandes instantly became my second favourite (right after Ashoke Ganguli from The Namesake (2006)). Nimrat Kaur is convincing as Illa and handles the character with confidence. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a wonderful addition to the film as Shaikh. The subplot about this sympathetic extrovert is another advantage of the movie.

Recommendations
If you’re not into romantic films, that’s okay. If you’re not into colourful Bollywood love flicks, it’s also fine. The Lunchbox is neither of these and does not pretend to be. It takes an accident that may well occur in real life and turns it into a wonderful tale about the meaning of life. It’s been quite a while since a movie managed to set me in a positive mood. Maybe I’m being slightly too subjective about this film, but I can’t help to look at it from my personal experience of having a pen friend. Nevertheless, The Lunchbox is a moving and memorable story, which makes you root for its protagonists. I’ll certainly be revisiting it every now and then.
Overall score: 10/10 (Deservedly Earned)

Montage (2013) [Film Review]

Montage; or, To Catch a Kidnapper

     This is where I was wrong. You've mistaken yourself for the victim and not the cause of all these cases at the time.

This week’s review, or, in fact, reviews (as I’m going to discuss Te3n (2016) as well) will be about a surprisingly well-made crime story with a double twist straight from South Korea. Brace yourselves for an intense pursuit, investigation of two(!) kidnapping cases and ingenious catharsis at the very end. To be specific, I’m talking about Montage (2013).

Release Info 

Directed by: Jeong Keun Seob Starring: Kim Sang Kyung, Uhm Jung Hwa, Song Young Chang

Language: Korean Original Title: 몽타주 Runtime: 119 min

 

Synopsis

Detective Cheong Ho (Kim Sang Kyung) is still struggling with an unsolved kidnapping case which happened 15 years ago. Unexpectedly, the detective picks up a new lead only five days prior to the expiration of the case’s statute of limitations. Surprisingly, somebody left a flower on the crime scene. Even though Cheong Ho locates the man in question, the suspect manages to escape and it is already too late to prosecute him for his crimes. Detective quits the force, but soon after he is called again as it turns out that another kidnapping occurred with exactly the same methods used as in Cheong Ho’s old case. Is it possible that the same kidnapper is active once again?

Perfect Crime, Better Repetition

From the opening scene, director (and writer) Jeong Keun Seob leaves the viewers completely in the dark (similarly to the mother behind the wheel with a bag on her head) as the central sequence of the story sets in motion a chain of convoluted events leading up to the kidnapper’s identity. Although we have very little information about what happened 15 years earlier, we are almost immediately thrown into the thrilling search for the kidnapper. This is probably the first highlight of the film; as it does not attempt to provide a moral standpoint, but allows to get to know the main characters. On the one hand, there is the detective who treats the kidnapping case personally and almost seems to be obsessed with it. On the other hand, we have the mother, Ha Kyung (Uhm Jung Hwa), who is even more obsessed and determined. These two characters form the starting point of an amazing “whodunit” story.

So, what really happened 15 years ago that irreversibly changed the detective and the mother? Ha Kyung’s daughter (Kim Sung Kyung) was kidnapped when coming back from school. The kidnapper left a photograph of the child in a garbage truck and ordered $50,000 to be delivered in a bag at a railway station, where he swiftly took it into a crowd of army cadets. Ridiculed police officers focused on the lost money, but detective Cheong Ho came back to the mother’s apartment and listened to a recorded phone call from the kidnapper. The bad guy was willing to give the child back for more money.

I know it’s been three years (so far) since the release of Montage, but I don’t intend to reveal the ending so as not to ruin your own fun of watching the film. All you need to know is that 15 years later, the crime is committed again with the same methods (though, the idea of army cadets still appearing on the same railway station everyday for 15 years is too far-fetched), but, this time, the plan is pushed to perfection. Only Cheung Ho knows that the real kidnapper has got away again, but how to nail him down? The key is the old tape recording of a phone call.

Simultaneously to these events, we see the mother conducting her own investigation. Quite cleverly and meticulously Ha Kyung collects previously unknown pieces of evidence and creates a list of suspects. Eventually, she arrives at an empty house and finds a calendar marked with the countdown to the case’s statute of limitations expiration... Yet, the key to understanding the film's big twist at the end is the fact that the detective’s and the mother’s storylines do not occur simultaneously. Jeong Keun Seob tricks us into believing that what we see on screen happens in real time, but actually it does not. Once you get this, you will understand the beginning and the ending of the film.

In terms of performances, Kim Sang Kyung does a great job as a mentally broken detective. Yet, I couldn’t help but constantly think about his other police role from Memories of Murder (2003) (an unintentional reference?). Uhm Jung Hwa is also convincing as the mother, but her character is inconsequentially written. The actress clearly tried to do her best with the material she had, but towards the end of the film, it was the detective character whom I was rooting for.

Recommendations

I can’t remember the last time since I’ve seen such a clever thriller. Of course, it’s done very much in the Hollywood style, but it does not suffer from the accumulation of insane plot twists and mind-bending revelations. Some things could have been improved, but this was already done in Te3n which I want to focus on in my next post. All in all, Montage is a solid entertainment that will certainly keep you engaged in one sitting.

Overall score: 8/10