Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 (2012) [Film Review]

Always: Sunset on Third Street 3; or, In the Shadow of the Olympics
     Today’s the first day of your new family. But remember… You will always be a part of your family, too.
It took ma a while, but here it is: my review of the third and final instalment of the Always series directed and written by Takashi Yamazaki. Is it a satisfactory conclusion of the trilogy? Let’s jump into the discussion.

Release Info

Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki Starring: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki, Maki Horikita

Language: Japanese Original Title: ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日'64 Runtime: 144 min

Synopsis
Tokyo, 1964. The city gears up for the famous Olympics that reintroduced Japan to international consciousness. The citizens of the third street also prepare to celebrate the sports event, but they also struggle with their personal affairs. Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka) has to compete against a young writer who takes over his reading audience, whereas Roku (Maki Horikita) falls for a surgeon from the local hospital.

Always 64
Honestly, Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 did not sit well with me. When compared to the previous two entries, the third movie is riddled with pacing issues, episodic structure, and some odd storytelling decisions.

First of all, the beginning lets you think that the Olympics are going to function as a major overarching theme in the film, but that’s not the case (these are important only in two scenes). Secondly, humour bits are thrown all the time to lighten up the mood, but these feel forced, even to such an extent that the same music cue signals their appearance. Finally, as a viewer who fell in love with the characters, I do not agree with their send off. Again, I avoid the spoilers territory, but the third film primarily focuses on the conflicts of Roku and Chagawa. While the first character was given a bitter-sweet ending, Chagawa was given closure against his warm, deeply kind character. To me, it’s unforgivable.

With regard to production aspects, there are the same as in the case of the previous Always movies. Takashi Yamazaki really has an eye for visual, and likes to freestyle with special effects to achieve a comedic effect. The music score Naoki Sato feels repetitive in the third film, but it hits you in the feels nonetheless.

Speaking about performances, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Shinichi Tsutsumi rock as always. True stars of the third film are Maki Horikita and Kenta Suga who really stand out with their interpretations of the characters.

Recommendations
All things considered, Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 was a bit of a disappointment for me, but I knew I had to see it because of Takashi Yamazaki. I recommend it only for the hardcore viewers who greatly enjoyed the previous two movies. I don’t think there’s any creative potential for the fourth movie at this point, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the new adventures of the third street inhabitants.Overall score: 6/10

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Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007) [Film Review]

Always: Sunset on Third Street 2; or, All Folks Here
     Those of us who survived should be as happy as possible.
As promised, I return to the world of Always: Sunset on Third Street with my review of the second part of the live-action trilogy made by director Takashi Yamazaki. Again, as I explained last week, please accept my apologies for the delay. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Release Info

Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki Starring: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki

Language: Japanese Original Title: ALWAYS 続・三丁目の夕日 Runtime: 146 min

Synopsis
We reunite with the heroes of the first movie two years later. Mr Suzuki’s (Shinichi Tsutsumi) auto repair business thrives, whereas Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka) does his best to raise Junnosuke (Kenta Suga). However, Junnosuke’s biological father (Fumiyo Kohinata) is unwilling to let go, so he pesters Chagawa about giving up the child, pointing out the writer’s poor living conditions. In order to prove that he can provide for Junnosuke, Chagawa decides to take part in the literary contest to win the prestigious Akutagawa Prize. At the same time, Chagawa struggles to meet with Hiromi (Koyuki) and disclose his feelings for her.

The Power of Word
Allow me to say that if you enjoyed the original Always: Sunset on Third Street, then you get the same package with the sequel, in which all the conflicts and touching moments are repeated. This sequel is not a bad film by any means, but it really feels like a washed down version of the first movie.

Nevertheless, Takashi Yamazaki threw some wonderful additions into the mix. For example, we get the traditional opening zoom out from a radio in Suzuki’s house only to reveal that Tokyo is being invaded by the King of the Monsters himself! This is the section of the film over which Godzilla fans relentlessly glow over in the internet, and it is indeed a real treat to watch. It is almost as if back in 2007 Yamazaki made this as a trump card for Toho, trying to say, “Here I am guys. Give me a chance to direct a Godzilla flick!”

Of course, glory of the intro does not constitute an entire movie. I liked Chagawa’s struggle to raise Junnosuke, but we have seen that already. The Suzuki family houses a newcomer in form of a distant cousin, and she feels like a fish out of the water exactly like Mutsuko in the first film. Mutsuko’s romance in the sequel also feels a bit forced. Sill, a breath of fresh air was Mr Suzuki’s nostalgia for the war buddies, a subplot taken straight from Nobuhiko Obayashi flicks.

With regard to performances, evidently, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Shinichi Tsutsumi are the showstealers, but Koyuki, Tomokazu Miura, and Fumiyo Kohinata have a lot more to do this time round.

Recommendations
All things considered, Always: Sunset on Third Street is a decent continuation, but it does on build upon the first movie. Instead, it kind of resets the characters and starts over to achieve the same happy ending outcome. Still, I don’t regret watching it.Overall score: 7/10

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Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005) [Film Review]

Always: Sunset on Third Street; or, The Virtue of Selflessness
     Think of it logically… You and I aren’t related in the slightest. We are completely strangers.
Continuing my obsession with Takashi Yamazaki, initiated by Godzilla Minus One, I decided to set aside some free time and check out the director’s previous cinematic endeavours. As a result, I am sharing my herein review of his 2005 movie Always: Sunset on Third Street.

Release Info

Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki Starring: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki

Language: Japanese Original Title: オールウェイズ 三丁目の夕 Runtime: 133 min

Synopsis
Tokyo, 1958. Japan is on the brink of technological advancements as TV broadcasts are becoming a nationwide thing, and the construction of Tokyo Tower is about to be completed. We follow the lives of inhabitants who live in a fictional neighbourhood called “Sunset on Third Street”. Mutsuko (Maki Horikita) is a young employee who arrives from the countryside to work in a car repair factory. Little does she know, the factory she is supposed to work at is actually a small repair shop owned by Norifumi Suzuki (Shinichi Tsutsumi), a bad-tempered head of a lovable family. Their neighbour is a good-for-nothing writer Ryunosuke Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka). He devoted his life to the craft of writing, but now he runs a shop selling toys and sweets. Suddenly, a local bar owner Hiromi (Koyuki) asks Chagawa to look after an abandoned boy Junnosuke (Kenta Soga).

A Tiny Bit of Hope
It should be explained at the beginning that Always: Sunset of Third Street is actually an adaptation of a popular manga series created by Ryohei Saigan in 1974, and it is still in publication today. There was also a short-lived anime show in 1990, but I couldn’t find any information about it, and the MAL profile has no fan discussion whatsoever.

Given the fact that Takashi Yamazaki operated on the basis of a pre-existing source material, it makes me wonder if the director was hired to do the job for the studio, or was he really passionate about the subject. Still, it goes without saying that (as in the majority of his other projects) he wrote the screenplay and supervised special effects.

The movie itself, in my opinion, feels like a heart-warming blanket for cinema enthusiasts who seek visual consolation after a day of hard work. This is exactly the type of uplifting, positive, and incredibly touching period piece that I needed at this point of my life. Some critics may claim that the film is too sentimental and utilises cheap tricks straight out of a TV drama, but I beg to disagree. Always: Sunset on Third Street presents a family-friendly tale about love and emotional connections set in the idiosyncratic period of the 1950s. This may have been a difficult period for Japan, but for some who lived back then, it is a sentimental time of old days long gone.

Apart from the story aspects, I have to praise the reserved cinematography by Kozo Shibasaki and top-notch production design that really captures that stylish post-war look of Japan. Evidently, some special effects had to be used for overview shots (and even comic gags, such as Mr Suzuki obliterating the entrance to his shop), but these are used sparingly and do not look dated. In addition, the music score composed by Naoki Sato is absolutely captivating.

With regard to performances, it is great to see Shinichi Tsutsumi in a non-serious comedic role as the father figure who discovers all the technological commodities like a TV set and a fridge. Hiroko Yakushimaru, Kazuki Koshimizu, and Maki Horikita are also wonderful as members of the Suzuki family. However, the real heart of the film is the outstanding performance of Hidetaka Yoshioka as Chagawa. His character’s tear-jerking story art is a must-see, and it is amplified by supporting parts done by Koyuki and Kazuki Koshimizu. Also, Tomokazu Miura has a small but heartbreaking part in the film, and the legendary Fumiyo Kohinata appears for one scene as well.

Recommendations
All things considered, I greatly enjoyed Always - Sunset on Third Street and I do not regret giving this movie a try. I have heard a lot about this film for a long time, but never actually knew what it is about. Well, now I really want to check out the remaining two parts of the movie trilogy, also done by Takashi Yamazaki. Certainly, this movie is for keeps. Like, please Criterion wake up and give this film a proper physical media treatment.Overall score: 10/10

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