ryuganji: film news from japan

Carrying on the gladiatorial theme of yesterday’s post, now it’s Kitano Takeshi calling out fellow filmmaker Izutsu Kazuyuki at the Japan premiere of “Kantoku: Banzai!” (opening on June 2nd).

The articles aren’t clear as to how the topic of Izutsu came up, but here’s what he had to say about the “Pacchigi! Love and Peace” director’s vehement declarations of his love for cinema. “There’s ones like that, twats like Izutsu. You don’t have to love movies. Leave that to the critics. Who gives a crap if people who make movies love them or not!” Will Izutsu take the bait? After his recent verbal set-to with “For Those We Love” producer/writer Ishihara Shintaro and Kubozuka Yosuke, the art of film promotion in Japan would seem to be taking its cues from Puroresu.

Controversy-mongering aside, Jason Gray seemed puzzled but cautiously positive about the film, while elsewhere I’ve seen some excoriating early reviews that denounce the incompetence and overindulgence of the whole exercise. As mentioned here before, he’s obviously quite intent on shedding his image as an art film auteur at the risk of alienating viewers outside his loyal fanbase, which in itself is probably quite commendable. On the other hand, is his recent output just a way of concealing a dearth of ideas? Kitano himself stated at the premiere that “Kantoku: Banzai!” is probably his most devisive work, as well as his desire to nuke what came before and start from zero.

Still, there’s at least one thing I can agree with him on: asked about recent trends at Cannes and in Japanese film, he replied: “It’s like a sickness these days, all these stupid overemotional weepy films. With things the way they are, the audience for films like mine is going to get even smaller.”

Final word goes to the Beat: “I’m thinking of [Takeshi's], this one and the next one as a trilogy. Once it’s finished I’ll sell it through [TV shopping giant] Japanet Takata for 16,800 yen!”

Check out the Oricon article for pics from the premiere, including the resurgent Uchida Yuki who plays Kitano’s love interest - try not to think too hard about that. (sources: Oricon, Sports Hochi)

Omake: footage from the August 2nd 1994 press conference Kitano gave after his near-fatal motorbike accident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgwaDlrFPfI