KineJun Best 10

Sun Jan 9 02:09:28 EST 2000

A big thank you to Aaron and Mark for the Best Ten lists.  I thought it 
would be useful to add "official" English titles, directors, release dates 
and festival debuts.  Hope this prompts the discussion further, and 
highlights the point already made about the influence of foreign 
recognition.  Remember, though, that the Kinema Junpo poll isn?t a private 
vote, it?s VERY public.  I?d love to see the results of a secret ballot with 
the same critics.  I?d also love a mark on that chart in KJ in February 
which actually indicates which films the critics watched.

I think the point about actors Michael raises is worth pursuing.  Why are 
"new faces" always such pretty young things?  Otake Shinobu should be 
disqualified for any actress awards forever after THE BLACK HOUSE, the worst 
casting of the year (and worst body double ever).  Osugi Ren has been just 
as prolific as last year and Nishimura Masahiko just as memorable (THE EXAM, 
THE BLACK HOUSE), but they won last year so they have to be overlooked.  And 
Shiina Kippei, Tanaka Yuko, Otake Shinobu, Takakura Ken, etc, are being 
awarded for their body of work over the years as much as for these recent 
rolls.  And of course Takakura was awarded in Montreal, so they better agree 
with that too.

Stephen Cremin
The Asian Film Library

PS: Did Fuji Sumiko ever prefer her name read "Junko" or was that always a 
mistranslation?  Kitamura Kazuki or Kitamura Ikki?  What are ENTOKO and AI 
NO TETSUDO and who directed them?  (Very embarassed by this last question!)  
Do email me if there are any mistakes below.

PPS: Also WAIT AND SEE and COQUILLE seem to have been around forever, they 
do unfortunately qualify for the Kinema Junpo Best Ten because of the 
official dates of their domestic release given below

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KINEMA JUNPO BEST TEN

01. WAIT AND SEE (Somai Shinji) 19/12/1998 [B1999]
02. JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND (Harada Masato) 18/9/1999 [B2000?]
03. KEIHO (Morita Yoshimitsu) 1/5/1999 [B1999]
04. POPPOYA: THE RAILROAD MAN (Furuhata Yasuo) 5/6/1999 [M1999]
05. M/OTHER (Suwa Nobubiro) 23/10/1999 [C1999]
06. NODO JIMAN: AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST (Izutsu Kazuyuki) 15/1/1999
07. KIKUJIRO (Kitano Takeshi) 5/6/1999 [C1999]
08. OSAKA STORY (Ichikawa Jun) 27/3/1999
09. DON?T LOOK BACK (Shiota Akihiko) 23/10/1999 [L1999]
10. COQUILLE (Nakahara Shun) 27/3/1999

(Note: B=BERLIN, C=CANNES, L=LOCARNO, M=MONTREAL)

Best director: Harada Masato (JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND)
Best screenplay: Takasugi Ryo, et al (JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND)
Best actress: Suzuki Kyoka (KEIHO)
Best actor: Takakura Ken (POPPOYA: THE RAILROAD MAN)
Best supporting actress: Fuji Sumiko (WAIT AND SEE, etc)
Best supporting actor: Shiina Kippei (JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND, etc.)
Best new actress: Ikewaki Chizuru (OSAKA STORY)
Best new actor: Kitamura Kazuki (MINAZUKI, etc)

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MARK SCHILLING BEST TEN

PORNOSTAR (Toyoda Toshiaki)
NODO JIMAN: THE AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST (Izutsu Kazuyuki)
A PERFECT EDUCATION (Wada Ben)
TOMIE (Oikawa Ataru)
OSAKA STORY (Ichikawa Jun)
AFTER LIFE (Kore?eda Hirokazu)
MY NEIGHBOURS, THE YAMADAS (Takahata Isao)
JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND (Harada Masato)
M/OTHER (Suwa Nobubiro)
MINAZUKI (Mochizuki Rokuro)

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YOKOHAMA FILM FESTIVAL

Best film:
KEIHO (Morita Yoshimitsu)
Best director:
Morita Yoshimitsu (KEIHO)
Best new directors:
Shiota Akihiko (MOONLIGHT WHISPERS, DON?T LOOK BACK)
Otani Kentaro (AVEC MON MARI)
Best screenplay:
Omori Sumio (KEIHO, THE BLACK HOUSE)
Best cinematography:
Kita Nobuyasu (THE BLACK HOUSE)
Best actress:
Otake Shinobu (THE BLACK HOUSE)
Best actor:
Takakura Ken (POPPOYA: THE RAILROAD MAN)
Best supporting actress:
Yoshimoto Takami (MINAZUKI)
Best supporting actor:
Kitamura Kazuki (MINAZUKI, etc)
Best new face:
Ikewaki Chizuru (OSAKA STORY)
Itaya Yuka (AVEC MON MARI)
Tsugumi (MOONLIGHT WHISPERS)

YOKOHAMA BEST TEN FOR 1999

01. KEIHO (Morita Yoshimitsu)
02. JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND (Harada Masato)
03. NODO JIMAN: THE AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST (Izutsu Kazuyuki)
04. MOONLIGHT WHISPERS (Shiota Akihiko)
05. KIKUJIRO (Kitano Takeshi)
06. OSAKA STORY (Ichikawa Jun)
07. WAIT AND SEE (Somai Shinji)
07. THE BLACK HOUSE (Morita Yoshimitsu)
09. AVEC MON MARI (Otani Kentaro)
10. ADRENALINE DRIVE (Yaguchi Shinobu)

Next: SECRET (Takita Yojiro)

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12th Nikkan Sports (a sports newspaper) Movie Awards:

Best film: POPPOYA: RAILROAD MAN (Furuhata Yasuo)
Best director: Fukasaku Kinji (THE GEISHA HOUSE)
Best actor: Motoki Masahiro (GEMINI)
Best actress: Fuji Sumiko (THE GEISHA HOUSE)
Best supporting actor: Shiina Kippei (JUBAKU/SPELLBOUND, etc)
Best supporting actress: Tanaka Yuko (THE EXAM, OSAKA STORY, etc)
Best new actress: Hirosue Ryoko (POPPOYA: RAILROAD MAN)

Ishihara Yujiro Award: OWL?S CASTLE (Shinoda Masahiro)

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CRITICS BEST FIVE LISTS:

Akiyama Noboru:
DON?T LOOK BACK (Shiota Akihiko)
FATHERLESS (Shigeno Yoshihisa)
WILL TO LIVE (Shindo Kaneto)
ENTOKO (???)
KIKUJIRO (Kitano Takeshi)

Sato Tadao:
FATHERLESS (Shigeno Yoshihisa)
MY NEIGHBOURS, THE YAMADAS (Takahata Isao)
POPPOYA: THE RAILROAD MAN (Furuhata Yasuo)
AI NO TETSUDO (???)
NODO JIMAN: THE AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST (Izutsu Kazuyuki)

Shinada Yukichi:
WILL TO LIVE (Shindo Kaneto)
THE GEISHA HOUSE (Fukasaku Kinji)
HAUNTED SCHOOL 4 (Hirayama Hideyuki)
NABBIE?S LOVE (Nakae Yuji)
THE EXAM (Takita Yojiro)

Shirai Yoshio:
MOONLIGHT WHISPERS (Shiota Akihiko)
SECRET (Takita Yojiro)
M/OTHER (Suwa Nobubiro)
COQUILLE (Nakahara Shun)
AFTER LIFE (Kore?eda Hirokazu)

Yamane Sadao:
KIKUJIRO (Kitano Takeshi)
WAIT AND SEE (Somai Shinji)
LICENSE TO LIVE (Kurosawa Kiyoshi)
PIG?S RETRIBUTION (Sai Yoichi)
DON?T LOOK BACK (Shiota Akihiko)

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