Author Archives: philipbrasor

March 2014 movies

Posted on March 2, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the March issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Feb. 25. All Is Lost Literally a down-to-earth version of Gravity, this seafaring thriller, written and directed by J.C. Chandor, … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Feb. 16, 2014

Posted on February 16, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix about the Samuragochi scandal. In the past week all the media that covered the fraud composer have issued apologies, including NHK, which made a fawning documentary about him. As I said in the column people … Continue reading →

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February 2014 albums

Posted on February 3, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the Feb. issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Jan. 25. Wig Out at Jagbags -Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks (Matador/P-Vine) Too True -Dum Dum Girls (Sub Pop/Traffic) A … Continue reading →

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February 2014 movies

Posted on January 26, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the February issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on January 25. American Hustle If you didn’t actually live through the 70s, you probably think it was all about hair, … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Jan. 5, 2014

Posted on January 5, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix about the influence of money on issues related to Abe’s Yasukuni visit and the announcement by Okinawa governor Hirokazu Nakaima that he will approve the application to start the proposed air base in Nago. There’s … Continue reading →

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Best albums 2013

Posted on December 31, 2013 by philipbrasor

This post coincides with the final closure of Expert Witness, Robert Christgau’s wonderful blog, which, during its brief existence, garnered a following as dedicated and lively and acerbic as any you’ll find in cyberspace. Though I’ve only been a (semi-) … Continue reading →

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Best movies 2013

Posted on December 28, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here are my best movies for 2013. All were released in Japan during the previous 12 months, which means the best film I saw all year isn’t on here. That would be The Past, Asghar Farhadi’s gripping and heartbreaking film … Continue reading →

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January 2014 albums

Posted on December 26, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the January issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Wednesday. The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You -Neko Case … Continue reading →

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January 2014 movies

Posted on December 24, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the January issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Christmas Day. Before Midnight One of the great experiments in the history of film, Richard Linklater’s collaboration with Julie Delpy … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Dec. 22, 2013

Posted on December 22, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about the media’s fascination with the burgeoning ranks of the senile. Aside from the obvious economic ramifications, which the column goes into, there is an underlying question of whether or not dementia is … Continue reading →

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