Category Archives: Movies

Best movies 2011

Here are my ten-best-plus movies of the year, which I wrote for the Jan. issue of EL Magazine. All were released in Japan during the 2011 calendar year. Though I saw fewer movies than I did in 2010, I believe … Continue reading →

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Mission accomplishable: Tom Cruise draws a crowd

Who’s the biggest movie star today? If you say Tom Cruise or Will Smith, it’s not because they’re the biggest box office draws, but rather because they act like movie stars, and that’s because they love being movie stars. It’s … Continue reading →

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December 2011 movies

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the Dec. issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Nov. 25. The movies open in Japan between late Nov. and mid-Dec. The Adventures of Tintin Herge’s boyish Belgian reporter-adventurer … Continue reading →

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This is what I know: A tale of two press conferences

Like Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt would like you to admire him for more than his casual good looks and acting ability. He wants you to appreciate his mind, which is why Moneyball is such a gift for him as both … Continue reading →

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November 2011 movies

Here are the reviews I wrote for the November issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Nov. 25. The movies open in Tokyo from late October to mid-November. Another Year Much has been made of Mike Leigh’s … Continue reading →

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TIFF interviews

Here are links to the interviews I did for the Tokyo International Film Festival website. This year they wanted to concentrate on films in the Japanese Eyes section, for obvious reasons, but in any case the selection wasn’t that good. … Continue reading →

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BIFF Oct. 9

Yesterday while working in the press center I was cornered by a perky young reporter from Hong Kong and her cameraman. They wanted my opinion on the new Cinema Center, as well as the festival’s general organization. This has happened … Continue reading →

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BIFF Oct. 8

When I told the foreign press liaison that my flight would be arriving at Busan at 9:30 p.m. she said the film festival counter at the airport might be closed by then, so could I please take a limousine bus … Continue reading →

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October 2011 movies

Here are the movies I reviewed for the October issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last Sunday. L’age de raison Sophie Marceau is Margaret, a go-go executive for a French nuclear plant manufacturer who, whenever she suffers … Continue reading →

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September 2011 movies

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the September issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last week. The movies open in Tokyo from late August through mid-September. Battle: Los Angeles It would be easy to blame … Continue reading →

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