EPIC MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (12A) 145min 0..
It’s rare to see a movie that goes to great lengths to get so many things right fall down because of one too many seemingly basic errors. Much has been made in the Asian press about the decision to cast non- Japanese actors in the leading roles. It’s a criticism that is misplaced because Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li are all fine actors who play their parts well. A more valid criticism would have been that, having decided to make this in English, the filmmakers should not have forced the actors to speak with affected Japanese accents straight out of 705 TV sitcom Mind Your Language. ‘Yoo rrrr to bekom geisha,’ was not in Arthur Golden’s book and should not have appeared in the film.
adaptation of Golden’s 1997 bestseller. In telling the story of how a Japanese child is torn from her penniless family to work as a maid at a geisha house and blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri (Ziyi), Marshall places the emphasis on aesthetic rather than dramatic content. As such he does not really give us enough reason to explain why Sayuri yearns desperately for the unobtainable Chairman (Watanabe). Marshall has also placed more emphasis on the aspirational ‘girl makes good’ element of the novel. As such his geisha is far from the tough working woman found in the work of Mikio Naruse (Floating Clouds, A Woman’s Life) and Kenji Mizoguchi (A Geisha, The Crucified Woman). Quibbles aside, Colleen Ed Wood Atwood’s costumes depicting pre-World War II Japan are brilliantly matched here by the superb photography from Dion Collateral Beebe. (Kaleem Aftab)
I General release from In 13 Jan.
Rob Chicago Marshall tries to go all ‘Ang Lee' in his
seguence rn the movre — rn whrch Joey's wife (Vera f’armrgar saves Oleg lrom paedophrles — rs self referential as rt closely resembles one of the key moments rn The Cooler.
That sard, Run/mtg Scared suffers from a weak opening sequence and an overlong conclusion which pushes the frlm past a two hour runtrrne. But wrth rts snappy pace and no brarner vrbe this will appeal to the more prepubescent fans of ’Tarantrno and Rodriguez. (Kaleem Attabl I General release from Fri (i Jan.
COMFDY DRAMA BREAKFAST ON PLUTO (15) 128min COO
The life story of androgynous cr: ss dresser Patrick ‘Krtten' Braden ((Zrllran Murphy; rs recounted by two robrns rn 4/1 rndrvrdually trtled chapters. 1 Ike Voltaire's Candrde, Kitten rs an rnnocent who rgrrores the harsh realrtres of hrs lrfe rn the narve beiref that all ‘.'-./l” end ‘.'.'e||. Krtten rs so deluded that he rs cormnced hrs mother ~ who abandoned hrm at brrth
- rs a lost angel and spends hrs trrne searching for her. The journey takes the transyestrte cabaret singer on many adxentures (most notably a wonderfully surreal sequence rn which he becomes a Wombler.
If writer drrector Nerl .Jordan was a rnusrcran. this adaptatron of Patrick McCabe's noyel would be hrs greatest hrts album. With Breakfast on Pluto he has thrown together the grrrn childhood elements of The Butcher Boy rhrs preyrous collaboratron wrth McCaber. the rough poetry of Angel. the tender redemptron of both The Crying Game and Mona lisa and the fantastrcal EEl()l\,’l(‘.“lll§] technrgue he used rn The Compan'. of Wolves. The Troubles are once agarn the polrtrcai force propelling the action and London rs the city of lost dreams and harsh realrtres.
Yet as so many musrcrans have proyed before. throwing together the best hrts from your best songs does not necessarily create a great whole. or anythrng close to rt. ertleerrr Attabr I General release from Fri 15’ Jan.
l HOT It) DRAMA
LOWER CITY (CIDADE BAIXA)
(18) 97min .0.
It rs sard that when you have seen Salvador de Bahra. the ancrent port that sprlls rnto the Atlantrc. you have seen Bra/rt. But all ancient beasts must have a belly and Salxador boasts an unenyrable ghetto and rnatchrng undercl.’ ss. It rs here that we ]()lll best
frrends Careca rl-larrldo Dedar and Sergrpano «Jose [)umonti. One nrght a beautrful. enrgmatrc prostitute Karrnna (Alrce Bragar walks rntc therr world and together they go on an emotional and sexual Journey that wrll change therr lryes toreyer.
Though obyrous comparrsens have already been made to Y tr; mama tame/en and City of God. writer drrector Sergio Machado's downbeat medrtatron ot a frlm has more in common with Vrgo's [ Vial/(tote rthe water metaphors come thrck and last as the boys own a matter taxrr and Last Tango rn Par/s. Though full of holes and odd lulls rn pace. Tower City rs held together by three remarkable performances (all allegedly achieved by torturous method preparationr. as well as loca Seabra's broodrng. rrch crrrernatography and unusually thoughtful and rnyentrye sound unrt work. Tower City rs a sweaty. dank and challengrng addrtron to modern South American crnema. (Paul Date,
I Cameo. I'd/rrburglr (ll/ed -l and The :').l.'1/:or,/yr. Gr’ 1. Glasgow from l-rr (S- fry/Ton 9.];1n only).
Film
Film news and giveaways for beautiful cineaste types
I The folk down the Miso Club, Glasgow have decided to start their own cinema. It’s free to club members (www.deepburnt.com) or £3 to non-members. The next one is on Tuesday 24 January at Bluu, Trongate. lt kicks off at 8pm with Dawn of the Dead (1978), followed by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Royal Tenenbaums.
I Shoot First is Edinburgh’s new monthly short film night, designed to expose undiscovered talent to a wider audience. it launches on Monday 9 January at 6.15pm at the Filmhouse, and from then on will be held on the first Monday of every month. To find out more please email shortsubmissions@hotmail.co.uk. I Fascinating British-made murder mystery The Truth is to have Q&A screenings at Cineworld Edinburgh and Glasgow on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 January at 7pm respectively. The film’s stars Elizabeth McGovern, Stephen Lord and director George Milton will be in attendance. Tickets available through the cinemas.
WIN DEAR WENDY ON DVD
Thomas Vrnterberg and Lars yon lr‘rer's stylish. funny and deeply odd satire of Arnerrcan gun culture starring .Jamre Bel} rs out new on DVD 'Metrodomei. We naxe frye copies to grye assay. lo wrn a copy send to an enrarl marked 'DT All \‘VLNLW' to prorrrotrerrs<-‘ listcouk by no later than 1‘.) January Please include a daytime telephone number and postal address.
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