Beat Takeshi

[Lewis Saul]

Hi.

My name's Lewis Saul and I am hopelessly addicted to Japanese film...

I hope you'll forgive me if I run out my mouth here, but I'm *dying* to talk
about this stuff with somebody! My wife, bless her heart, just can't seem to
sit through these things -- I think she's got some sort of
subtitle-phobia...

**
I just finished watching Kikujiro and I was totally amazed! I have
everything Takeshi has done so far (except for the new one, "Brothers") --
and I think this is by far his greatest directorial effort...

I was very moved. The plot outline on the box doesn't come close to
describing this incredible movie! An intense storyline, told with fantastic
humor and a kind of bittersweet pathos...

His constant "hold" on a scene after a character or object moves out of the
frame reminds me a bit of the power of Kurosawa's wipes! At first I was a
bit annoyed (he does this quite a bit!) -- but in this film, particularly --
it seems to serve him well as a kind of transitory device...

But best of all, this guy really can tell a story cinematically! What great
acting by the little kid, too!

My favorite part was the boyfriend-girlfriend who entertained the kid with
the mechanical doll pantomime on the grass (Keep Off The Grass!)

**
Really enjoyed "Scene By The Sea" too. Amazing! Two leads with *zero*
dialogue!

**
I quickly toot my own horn for a moment: I hope those interested will take a
peek at my transcription/analysis of the early Kurosawa films at the URL
below...

Time for my new Mizoguchi -- the last one I didn't have: "Utamaro"

Lewis Saul
Kurosawa: http://www.onour.com/tfzmri/akira.htm
My music: http://www.mp3.com/lewissaul
lsaul at azstarnet.com