Thank-You

[wplucey@netzero.net]

I just wanted to extend my thanks to all who responded to my question about finding the film ``Audition''. I?m happy to report I did locate it. And thanks too for all the web site recommendations (midnighteye.com, greencine.com, and others) for finding Japanese films; and a special thanks to the mystery caller (a fellow south floridian no less) who offered his advice. They were all very much appreciated.
***
Here are a few notes in the news that I thought I would pass along, which probably isn't anything new to most of you:

Japan will be recognized at the 76th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on February 29th in 2 important categories.
Among them, Ken Wantabe for best supporting role in ``The Last Samurai'' (an American film with Japanese actors and setting) and director Yoji Yamada who was nominated for ``The Twilight Samurai'' in the best foreign language category--a film that won in 12 categories in Japan's own awards ceremony last year.
And with ``Lost in Translation' (an American film based in Tokyo) the talk of the town--Japan will be receiving some well deserved recognition--not that it needs approval from Tinsel Town.

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The San Francisco Chronicle (Jan 31, 2004) features director Satoshi Kon and his 3rd animated film: ``Tokyo Godfather'', a sobering film that looks at Tokyo's mounting homeless rate, calling attention to the decline of the Japanese family structure.

***
Asia Pulse (January 30, 2004) reports box office sales in Japan were up 3.3 percent in 2003, registering 203.25 billion yen (U.S.$1.92 billion), thanks to the smash hit: "Odoru Dai-Sosasen: (The Movie2 (Bayside Shakedown)", which took in 17.3 billion yen.
The previous box office record was 2001, the year the animated film``Spirited Away'' was released. That year, 200.2 billion was registered at the box offices overall.
Taken together, Japan movies earned 67.1 billion, accounting for 33 percent of all movie sales last year, a 26 percent increase from last year
The 162. 35 million moviegoers in Japan last year, was up 1 percent from the previous year.

-Bill Lucey
954-463-4451


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