The Journalist (2022) [Drama Review]

The Journalist; or, Checks and Balances
     After seeing how Ms Matsuda strives to give a voice to the voiceless no matter how difficult it may be, I became interested in becoming a journalist.
The Journalist a.k.a. Shinbun Kisha is a 2022 Netflix JDrama directed by Michihito Fujii and based on the director’s previous movie of the same title. The original story was inspired by a nonfiction book by Isoko Mochizuki, which centered on the Moritomo Gakuen scandal. I am always a sucker for political thrillers, so let’s see how this particular drama manages to penetrate through the red tape of corporate greed and media censorship.

Release Info

Directed by: Michihito Fujii Starring: Ryoko Yonekura, Go Ayano, Ryusei Yokohama

Langauge: Japanese Original Title: 新聞記者 No. of eps.: 6

Synopsis
Tokyo, 2019. The government prepares for the upcoming Olympic games. Anna Matsuda (Ryoko Yonekura) is a nonconformist reporter working for the Touto News network. Driven by personal tragedy, she is determined to expose corrupt officials and their shady deals. Matsuda investigates the case concerning a certain Eishin Academy. In the course of her work, the journalist discovers how IRS agents were framed by the government which desperately wants to protect the Prime Minister.

A Few Good Men
When I heard about the drama for the first time on social media, I mistakenly thought that it was going to be released in 2023, so I was pleasantly surprised when the show premiered in January, 2022. I am always up for a drama with the wonderful Ryoko Yonekura in the lead, but this role marks a departure from her iconic performances in Doctor X, Legal V, and The Negotiator.

What I mean is that The Journalist is not an over-the-top entertainment with epic moments and scenes played for laughs. This is a realistic story about a real tragedy. In the present-day political climate, when we see ultra nationalists and oligarchs accumulating power, it is important to stress the independence of free media and the right of ordinary voters to know the truth.

The first episode of the drama is very dire, to be honest. The viewers are presented with a lot of information, names, and characters. It is really hard to get into the thick of the intrigue, but it gets easier in episode 2. Ryoko Yonekura plays a fallen character. Anna Matsuda is by no means heroic or infallible. In fact, I would not even say that she is the main protagonist. The newspaper reporter relentlessly tracks down the people involved in the scandal and the narrative unfolds through their perspectives.

Hidetaka Yoshioka is freaking amazing as Mr Suzuki throughout the first three episodes, then the focus shifts to Shinbou Terajima as Mrs Suzuki, Go Ayano as Shinichi Murakami, and Ryusei Yokohama as Ryo Kinoshita. It is all about the determination of these few good people (their guilt and struggles) that makes this drama an interesting watch.

With regard to the supporting parts, it was great to see such veteran actors as Shiro Sano, Yusuke Santamaria, Tetsushi Tanaka, and Go Riju as the baddies. In my opinion, Yusuke Santamaria stole the show with his villainous performance. Although working mainly as a comedian, he proves once again (after Cold Case drama) how great a dramatic actor he can actually be. In addition, it was great to spot Satoshi Miki’s regulars: Ryo Iwamatsu and Eri Fuse in small roles.

Recommendations
All in all, The Journalist is an enjoyable slow burner. It manages to capture the greatness of several newspaper-oriented thrillers like Zodiac (2007) or Spotlight (2016), but the resolution in the final episode is a bit underwhelming. Personally, I believe that there is no potential to make a second season unless the writing team has some good ideas about developing the real estate/Eishin Academy intrigue further. I recommend The Journalist primarily because of the aforementioned performances and outstanding cinematography. Overall score: 7/10

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Doctor X 7 (2021) [Drama Review]

Doctor X 7; or, Michiko to the Rescue
     I can only save a patient who is in front of me.
When I heard about the seventh series of Doctor X being in development, I just could not believe it. I absolutely love this drama and regard the previous six seasons as sheer epicness. However, I got a little worried when I read that this time round the events are indeed going to be set within the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are my thoughts on the latest (mis)adventures of the infallible surgeon Daimon Michiko:

Release Info

Developed by: Miho Nakazono Starring: Ryoko Yonekura, Yuki Uchida, Ittoku Kishibe

Language: Japanese Original Title: ドクターX～外科医・大門未知子～ No. of eps.: 10

Synopsis
It’s the year 2021. Obviously, the Covid-19 pandemic has spread across the globe and impacted (negatively) each and every single human being out there. The infamous Totei University Hospital has somehow managed to withstand the crisis in the field of healthcare. Doctor Shigekatsu Hiruma (Toshiyuki Nishida) has been removed yet again from his directorial position at Totei. The new manager of the hospital is Doctor Ryotaro Hachisuka (Mansai Nomura), a specialist in virology and internal medicine. This man believes in treating patients as efficiently and as non-aggressively as possible. Nevertheless, some extreme cases require extraordinary intervention. In order to ensure the “100%-flawless” surgery, Hachisuka starts cooperating with Daimon Michiko (Ryoko Yonekura), a freelance surgeon who is always against authority, crowds, and herd mentality, a physician who is also known as… Doctor X.

All Quiet on the Totei Front
For years I have been meaning to review Doctor X, but I waited for the show to end. Nevertheless, it is never really certain if the show is going to end someday. It’s basically a flagship property of TV Asahi now. In addition, I already wrote an MDL article about the show with my friend ReikaBleu, so I will just share my opinion only on Series 7 here.

Well, after watching the first episode, I was convinced that this season is going to be something special. Doctor X is not only about the brilliant female lead and gripping medical cases, it is also a commentary on medicine and how the figure of Doctor-Hero is portrayed in the media. Episode 1 promises to viewers that the series is going to tackle and expose the pandemic with all the negative baggage of pathologies that developed in the course of its duration. Nevertheless, after episode 2, the whole concept is thrown out the window and we are back to the “good old” conventional episodes we have seen 60 times already!

I could forgive the writing team the shameless attempt to bait the viewers with the pandemic had they actually had something meaningful to convey in these 10 new episodes. Up until this point, each season surpassed the previous one with the level of excitement and unexpected twists. Season 6 ended on such a high note, that (I’m sorry) it makes Season 7 pale in comparison, especially when the writers repeatedly dismiss the supporting characters in order to provide comic relief.

This is my biggest issue with this outing. The supporting characters such as Kaji (Masanobu Katsumura), Ebina (Kenichi Endo), Hara (Kosuke Suzuki), and even Morimoto (Kei Tanaka), although good at heart, are unable to redeem themselves in the operating room. Daimon in action inspires them to do good, they want to save lives, but always in the moment of greatest crisis, they are unable to overcome the challenge, and Daimon has to step in to save the day…

Doctor X is no longer just centred on Daimon. The screenwriters should recognise and address that. It’s been 10 years since the show began and we have some many recurring, colourful characters who can have their own story arcs. For instance, episode 7 had the potential of developing Morimoto’s story and ending it on a grand scale. After all, through this character’s perspective, we met Daimon in Series 1 (2011). But no, everyone has to be incompetent and irredemable because we need at least five scenes of Hiruma and Ebina scheming about shady stuff.

Still, I appreciate this season for what it is. I love the Hara-centred story (episode 6), and the bromance level between him and Kaji is just amazing. Episode 8 was simply perfect for Jounouchi. Episode 9 focusing on Hiruma’s wife (played brilliantly by Mariko Fuji) is top notch across the board. The new characters are great as well, such as Masako Oma (Mio Imada), assistant Mikuni (Kaoru Sugita), and Doctor Kuwagata (Kazutoyo Koyabu). The absolute show stealer of the finale is Mansai Nomura as “Hachi”. The chemistry between his character and Daimon is off the freaking charts! Normally, you would not think that there is something like “a male love interest” for Daimon, but he manages to pull it off so well. Yeah, I’m not in Daimon/Jounouchi camp anymore. Now I ship Hachimon pairing all the way.

Recommendations
All in all, this is the first Doctor X season, I have had major problems with. Still, it was by no means a bad ride. The scripts may be wonky, but the actors and actresses really care about the legacy of this show and give their best performances. Now, I am hoping for Season 8 where (fingers crossed) we will see Daimon at her very own hospital! On a side note, please support the hard work of fansubbers and download subtitles directly from them. Do not rely on sites that shamelessly steal their work and capitalise on that through ads. My thanks go to MadmanSubs for translating Doctor X 7.

Overall score: 7/10

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The Negotiator The Movie (2010) [Film Review]

The Negotiator The Movie; or, This is NOT a Bayside Shakedown Spin-off!

     What I hate the most are people who subdue everything with strength!

During my search for a police procedural drama, I have found a conspicuously-looking show from TV Asahi called Koshonin (2008). I gave the first episode a go and the drama looks pretty solid; however, it turned out all of a sudden that there’s not only a second season to the series, but also a theatrical film called Koshonin The Movie: The Fight at 10,000 metres! Wait a minute, I think I’ve heard a similar title before... Anyways, I just had to check out the film about Ryoko Yonekura in a hijacked plane! This is my review of The Negotiator The Movie.

Release Info

Directed by: Toshio Terada Starring: Ryoko Yonekura, Takashi Sorimachi, Toshio Kakei

Language: Japanese Original Title: 交渉人 THE MOVIE〜タイムリミット高度10,000mの頭脳戦 Runtime: 122 min

 

Synopsis

Reiko Usagi (Ryoko Yonekura) is a member of the SIT (Special Investigation Team), which handles the most difficult cases as they happen at the crime scene. 260 million yen were stolen from an armoured vehicle. The robbers bust into a shopping mall and take customers hostage. Reiko tries to negotiate, as she was professionally trained to do so, but suddenly, a large explosion takes place. In the moment of chaos, customers rush out of the mall in panic and the criminals blend into the crowd. Only the head of the gang, Mido (Masahiko Tsugawa), is apprehended. Sometime later, Reiko intends to go on vacation. At Haneda Airport, she spots one of the hostages, Yusuke Kimoto (Kento Hayashi). Suspecting that something may be going on, Reiko follows the man. It turns out that the airplane they boarded is hijacked shortly after take-off...

 

“Watashi Shippai Shinai No De”

I have checked out The Negotiator quite spontaneously and without any high expectations. It was quite entertaining and well made, but if you expect to see a non-stop action in the style of Die Hard (1989) then I suggest watching Air Force One (1997) instead. In fact, The Negotiator is a slow burning suspense thriller, and its only fault is the reliance on the overused “hijacked plane” motif.

 

Evidently, the screenplay tries to move away from the standard terrorists-plotline by introducing a whole new subplot with a twist(!) which, unfortunately, is not all that breathtaking. By fiddling with the formula and trying to cram Law Abiding Citizen (2009) into Turbulence (1997), the story of The Negotiator, at best, passes as a mediocre idea, taken out of Security Police's in-joke, which would do better as the special episode of the drama.

 

Apart from this issue, there are only advantages. The cinematography is great, the music score quite distinct and catchy, but the ensemble cast is what makes this particular movie a fun to watch, especially if you are into J-dramas! I spotted so many familiar faces that I just couldn’t help myself and made the “Starring section” inspired by Honest Trailers at the very end of this review.

 

Ryoko Yonekura is wonderful as Reiko Usagi, but in my eyes she will always be the unbeatable Daimon Michiko-sensei. Sadly, The Negotiator to date remains Ryoko’s only theatrical effort. The supporting characters are awesome as well. Takashi Sorimachi deserves the highest praise as the main bad guy who takes over the airplane and keeps his cool at all times. In addition, it’s quite hilarious to see Toshiro Yanagiba and Toshio Kakei back in action together, even though this is most certainly not a Bayside Shakedown spin-off.

 

Recommendations

Safely recommended to anyone who likes the original Koshonin drama. The movie is A-okay to watch for one time, but it won’t leave a lasting impression on you. However, it has a lot of fun stuff to offer, in spite of an underdeveloped storyline. I am secretly hoping for a new theatrical feature with better material for Ryoko to work on. Maybe... Doctor X: The Movie? Please...?

Now, here comes the Starring Section:

AND

Trailer:

Overall score: 6/10