ChaNee's Weekend Movie Recommendations
Strawberry Night (2013)
Country: Japan Year: 2013 Genre: Crime, Mystery
This is the movie spin-off of the 2012 Japanese series Strawberry Night and for the book fanatics like me, all are based off of the Reiko Himekawa series by Tetsuya Honda's quartet (4 book series): Strawberry Night, Invisible Rain, Soul Cage, & Blue Murder.
Reiko Himekawa (Takeuchi Yuko) is a no-nonsense female cop who leads her male team in the investigation of a gang related homicide. Until she receives a phone call that leads her to a fearless and charismatic crime boss (Osawa Takao) as well as possible corruption, tainted love, and a deep look into her dark past.
I really enjoyed this movie, not for the story itself because it's following a basic storyline. It has some corruption, some suspense, some of everything but it is well written directed. The pace lags a bit in some areas but it keeps you interested for the entire 2 hour ride. The cast meshes well together and that may be the result of the majority already working together in the drama series and the television movie.
Lakeside Murder Case
Country: Japan Year: 2005 Genre: Mystery
Ask yourself. In a winner-take-all society, how can one compete successfully and stay human?
Three couples along with their children attend a weekend long retreat to prepare for the entrance interview to an exclusive middle school with the help of Masaru Tsukumi (Toyokawa Etsushi). One of the fathers, Namiki Sunsuke (Yakusho Koji) has a different outlook than the other parents. He feels that children should be free to make their own choices and live a carefree life without parental pressure to be the best at everything. This attitude doesn't sit well with his estranged wife, Minako (Yakushimaru Hiroko) who keeps the fact that she and Sunsuke are separated a secret from the group. That secret doesn't stay hidden for long when an uninvited guest appears, Sunsuke's photography assistant, Takashina Eriko (Mano Yuko). A murder soon follows with a confession but all may not be what it seems.
This movie may not be for everyone. It's more introspective than it is a mystery so it tends to be more focused on the emotional feelings and thoughts of each character. If you love psychological themes that asks logical questions then this is up your alley.
Elevator To The Gallows
(Shikeidai no Elevator)
Country: Japan Year: 2010 Genre: Suspense, Thriller
This is a remake of the 1958 French classic, Elevator To The Gallows
Temiyako Meiko (Kichise Michiko) is the wife of Takamitsu Temiyako (Tsugawa Masahiko), president of a medical corporation where her lover, Tokito Takahiko (Abe Hiroshi) happens to be employed. They set out a plan to kill Meiko's husband and make it look like a suicide but things go aray when Takahiko gets stuck in the buildings elevator and his car is stolen by Kunie Akagi (Tamayama Tetsuji), a rookie police officer and Matsumoto Mikayo (Kitagawa Keiko), a young aquaintence of Takahiko.
If you have ever watched French movies or dramas, you know they are an acquired taste. The best way I can describe French cinema is saying they seem to be more in the art house movie genre. I enjoyed this remake because it followed the original storyline and I loved the original so I didn't have a lot to complain about. But you definitely want to stick around to find out how Takahiko got outta that dang elevator.
