I think it is best to stay at home during New Year's Day. There are so many people everywhere you go, and you are usually working so hard that you want to rest at least during the New Year's vacation. Movies are the best accompaniment for such a sleepy New Year's. Nowadays, there are convenient movie distribution services. Nowadays, there are convenient movie distribution services, or you can go to your local TSUTAYA to rent DVDs. So here are 10 recommended movies for the New Year's holiday. There are also some new releases to add to the list.
Photo_Yuco Nakamura
Text&Edit_Yuri Sudo
NO.1 "Family Game
Who will solve the family's conundrum?
After the New Year holidays, the exam season is upon us. So here's one for you.
The story takes place in the Numata family of four. As their second son, Shigeyuki, prepares to take the high school entrance exam, his parents decide to hire a private tutor. The tutor is a man named Yoshimoto, who has been a student at a third-rate university for seven years. Despite his unusual teaching methods, Shigeyuki's grades gradually improve. As Shigeyuki's grades improve, so do the Numata family's. ......
The father is arrogant and overbearing, the mother is overly indulgent, the eldest son goes off to a famous high school, and the second son is a weakling with a screwed-up personality. The Numata family, with its characteristic Showa-era atmosphere and some kind of defect, is further distorted by the sudden appearance of their tutor, Yoshimoto, played by Yusaku Matsuda. This is exacerbated by the theatrical spatial design of the dining table in a horizontal row and the exaggerated sounds of everyday life. The direction by Yoshimitsu Morita, who was considered innovative at the time, shines through. Also noteworthy is the quiet performance by Yusaku Matsuda, who does not say much and does not show much.
family game
1983/106 min/Japan
Director: Yoshimitsu Morita
【【U-NEXT, Amazon Prime]
NO.2 "Vanishing Point
Running, running, white challenger and 70's rock.
For those whose minds and bodies are in full New Year's mode, I would like to recommend one of the American New Cinema films with such a sense of speed.
Kowalski, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, race driver, and police officer, now makes his living transporting cars. When he is tasked with delivering a white 1970 Dodge Challenger from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, he takes a gamble: he will complete the 2,000-kilometer journey in 15 hours. While the police chase him, ignoring traffic laws and speeding away at 200 km/h, Super Soul, a blind black DJ who happens to be listening to the police radio, begins to broadcast the car chase live on the radio. The conclusion of Kowalski's getaway drama can be seen at ........
Most of the shots in the film are of cars driving, but what makes it watchable is the elaborate camerawork, which is not only intense, but also Kowalski's taciturn demeanor, and the music by DJ Super Soul. The music, in particular, is a mix of 70s American rock from Jimmy Walker, Jimmy Reed, Mountain, Delaney & Bonnie, and others, as well as bluegrass with its lilting mandolin. Please take this opportunity to enjoy the cool finish of this album, which is different from the car chases of today.
Vanishing Point
1971 / 106 min / USA
【【Amazon Prime]
NO.3 "French Cancan
Put your life in a canker sack.
Hollywood musicals are often full of euphoria and escapism, but this one is a little different. This is a musical that reminds us of the subtleties of life in the works of French master Jean Renoir, known for "The Girl Who Sold Matches" (1928) and "The Picnic" (1946).
The story takes place in Paris in 1888. In the entertainment district of Montmartre, a club for the upper class run by the showman Danglard is full to capacity, but is in financial difficulties. One day, Danglard is inspired by the dancing of Nini, whom he meets in a downtown cabaret, and buys the cabaret with the money from the sale of his own store, and comes up with the idea of putting on a new show called "French Cancan. What happens to the cabaret and to Danglard and Nini?
Although there are many theories, "kankan" refers to a dance that originated in working-class ballrooms around 1830. It is characterized by high kicks and skirt raising, and is performed in a fast tempo of two-fourths time. The provocative dance created a frenzy in the ballrooms of the time, and this work is full of the same atmosphere. Hundreds of women's feet rhythmically fill the screen, and one cannot help but be dazzled by their stunning performance. At the same time, the human drama behind the scenes of the cabaret is too complex to be summed up in a single word. Perhaps it is precisely because this film is packed with both sweet and sour elements that it is able to stir the emotions of its audience. Please enjoy this historical masterpiece once again.
French cancan
1954 / 104 min / French-Italian co-production
Director/Screenplay:Jean Renoir
【【U-NEXT]
NO.4 "School
The nostalgia of Toshiyuki Nishida.
There is no end to the list of his masterpieces, but I think this film is one of the best films in which we can feel the depth and warmth of the actor, Toshiyuki Nishida.
Veteran teacher Kuroi, played by Toshiyuki Nishida, works at a night junior high school in downtown Tokyo, where students of various ages and backgrounds attend. One day, as graduation approaches, Kuroi looks at the profiles of the students as they write their essays for the graduation commemorative book and reflects on his memories of them.
The students are played by such famous actors as Kunie Tanaka, Masato Hagiwara, and Nae Hiroki, all of whom give excellent performances as the students with rich personalities. Toshiyuki Nishida listens attentively to their problems and even puts himself in their shoes at times. Because he is such a meddlesome teacher, he is trusted by his students, and they all reveal their true feelings. This sense of security seems to be a realm that cannot be attained by pretentious acting. Let's watch his wonderful works from the past and see how the actor Toshiyuki Nishida lives his life.
school
1993/128 min/Japan
Director: Yoji Yamada
【【Amazon Prime, U-NEXT, hulu, FOD]
NO.5 "The Guling Street Boy Murder Case
How do you feel?
Spectacular settings, brilliant foreshadowing, and shocking endings. Films that are shown at multiplexes are enjoyable in their own way, but they are not the only kind of films that exist in the world.
Guling Street Boy Murder" by Taiwanese master filmmaker Edward Yang is a coming-of-age ensemble piece based on Taiwan's first underage murder case. The film is a blockbuster in terms of length (236 minutes), but it is a work that modestly depicts the subtleties of human nature and the situation in Taiwan, centering on a murder case that took place in a certain town in Taiwan.
Although he refrains from giving a detailed synopsis, Yang's signature repetition of specific motifs and his extraordinary attention to composition and camerawork are still present in this film. Moreover, surprisingly, Yang has thought of backgrounds and personalities for each of the approximately 100 characters in the film, and has even conceived of a story for before and after the film. The interesting thing about Yang's films, however, is that while they are thoroughly thought out, they never leave out the important parts. He does not present any conclusions or answers that the audience can easily reach. This is surely because Yang feels the difficulty of understanding people and the world. And perhaps that is why he has not loosened his hand to express himself in his short life. Please take this opportunity to see one of the greatest masterpieces of Asian cinema.
Guling Street Juvenile Murder Case
1991/236min/Taiwan
Director: Edward Yang
【【Amazon Prime, U-NEXT]
NO.6 "20th Century Nostalgia
What's behind the camera.
The "POV shot" has long been a cinematographic technique, and recently, content from the girlfriend's or boyfriend's point of view has become a trend on social networking sites, and the subjective point of view has always attracted viewers. This film is at the forefront of such trends. This is Ryoko Hirosue's first starring role in a film, and the film does not fail to bring out all of her charms.
The story is surprisingly intricate. Toyama Anne, a sophomore at Sakuragi High School, decides to complete a video she shot with her classmate Kataoka Toru during their summer vacation into a film. She begins to edit the enormous amount of tapes left behind by Toru, who suddenly left for Australia, and begins to reminisce about her summer vacation through the images of herself on the tapes. In the tapes, the two characters are Chun-se (Toru) and Bou-se (Anzu), who have been body-jacked by aliens. They walk around Tokyo trying to capture the dying Earth on camera. After reviewing the footage, Anzu realizes something and goes back out into the city to re-shoot the footage. What happens to the completed film and to Toru and Anzu?
The film is a nested structure in which a movie is created within a film, and surely as we approach the end, we will come to understand the effect of this format and the meaning of the title. Furthermore, the POV shots mentioned at the beginning of the film not only bring out the cuteness of Ryoko Hirosue, but also function to reflect the young people's Koufuji and true feelings. We hope that people who are struggling with something vague or who were captivated by Ryoko Hirosue's gaze in "Maji de Koisuru 5 seconds ago" will watch this film.
20th century nostalgia
1997/93 min/Japan
Director: Masato Hara
【【Amazon Prime, U-NEXT]
NO.7 "If we meet again
A night in New York City, where expectations and coincidences lead the way.
"Love begins on Xmas Eve, love comes on Valentine's Day ......". This is the claim of the film, and the story is exactly what it says. And it is the radio that gives us the opportunity to do so. The main character, Hanks, is grieving the loss of his wife, but his son's accidental decision to share his troubles on a radio show quickly leads to the film's premiere on "Seattle's Best Hits". He quickly becomes famous as "Seattle's Sleepless Man," and he receives a flood of love letters from women all over the state. The heroine, Ryan, is one of them. Ryan, a reporter, continues to approach her in every possible way, but what will she do?
Ryan would be unthinkable in terms of the romance of 2021, where LIKE/NOPE swipes a finger at the opposite sex and meets them efficiently. That is why this film reminds us of the thrill of the puzzle pieces gradually fitting together. A twisted person might think, "How is it possible for such a beautiful man and woman to meet through radio and have all sorts of coincidences happen?" But that is the power of the film: the inclusion of the 1957 classic "Meguriwa" as a pun in the story and the nostalgia-inducing background music make this film even more entertaining than before. The inclusion of the 1957 classic "Meeting of the Minds" as a pun and the nostalgia-inducing background music sublimate the film's entertainment value. Above all, the final scene, set at a certain landmark in New York City, is sure to keep viewers of all ages glued to their seats. We hope that you will take courage from Ryan's rush for love and start a new year with him.
if we meet again
1993/105 min/USA
Director/Screenplay: Nora Ephron
Rights source: Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
Released and distributed by: Happinet Media Marketing, Inc.
©1993 TriStar Pictures, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Now on sale on Blu-ray and DVD
【【Amazon Prime, U-NEXT]
No.8 "Baghdad Cafe
Cleaning up changes lives.
If you ask why I recommend this film for the New Year, it is because, yes, everything turned around when the main character, Yasmin, cleaned up.
German woman, Yasmin, gets out of her car in the middle of the desert after a fight with her husband while traveling in the western United States. After walking with her luggage, she arrives at the Baghdad Café, a café, motel, and gas station. At first, the family that runs the cafe and its mysterious inhabitants don't take to him very well, but his meddlesome nature leads him to interfere with the cafe, and eventually...
Cleaning up the office of the café set various stories in motion, as if something stuck in the office had been lifted. Yasmin is a seemingly dull German, but in reality, she is a generous and charming person. Therefore, the restaurant, which until then had hardly any customers, becomes a thriving business thanks to Yasmin's special skills. The numerous image cuts interspersed throughout the film also show us this change. A boomerang that draws an orphan and returns, a picture of Jasmine drawn by one of the residents, a flower blooming in the desert. These are just a few of the details you should pay attention to.
This film has been restored in 4K 35 years after its release and is now being shown in movie theaters nationwide. This is a great chance to see one of the greatest films in the history of cinema in theaters. By the way, this film makes me think that in any age, it is the complaints of husbands that make wives get along with each other.
Baghdad Cafe 4K Restoration
1987/108 min/West Germany
Director: Percy Adlon
Screenplay: Percy & Eleonore Adlon
Theme song: "Calling You" by Jevetta Steele
Courtesy of Koremora/TC Entertainment
Distributor: Alphazbet
Official Site
NO.9 "Serial Mom
New Year's Eve in the ghetto.
For those of you who like cults but have a taste for the more vulgar, how about this movie? Serial Mom" is directed and written by John Waters, a master of bad taste films such as "Pink Flamingos. This is probably the scariest depiction of a "mama" in the history of cinema.
Beverly, a housewife living in a suburban Baltimore neighborhood, is happy with her dentist husband, daughter, and son. On the other hand, she is also a serial killer who will stop at nothing to protect her perfect family, killing outsiders who disrupt the rules and order without mercy. People around her gradually begin to realize who she really is, but her quick wits get her through the situation to a frightening degree...
John Waters, who has created images that are unbearable for ordinary people, such as humans covered in vomit and the bestiality of chickens, has dragged audiences into his world, and this film is no different. While following the brutality of "Mom" with a different approach, he tells a story with humor, biting criticism and irony toward society.
If you are looking for something exciting to start the new year with, I highly recommend it. Moreover, it will be screened at Cinemart Shinjuku from January 3 (Fri.) as part of the "Coquettish Zone" special program. Other films such as "Harawata of the Dead" and "Priscilla" will be released sequentially, so all the film lovers should gather at Shinjuku from the New Year!
Serial Mom
1994 / 95 min / USA
Director: John Waters
Screenplay : John Waters
Images Courtesy of Park Circus/Universal
NO.10 "Brutalist
215 minutes to confront a closed history.
There are many films that take the audience back to history, but this film stands out from the rest in terms of its approach and spectacular direction.
László Toth, a talented Hungarian-Jewish architect who survived the Holocaust during World War II, is forcibly separated from his wife Elgebet and his niece Jófia. To start a new life with his family, László moves to Pennsylvania, USA, where he meets Harrison, a wealthy and prominent businessman. Upon learning of László's brilliant achievements in Hungary, Harrison asked László to design and build a chapel with all the amenities in exchange for his family's early immigration to the United States. However, there were many obstacles to overcome in designing a chapel in the U.S., where the culture and rules were different from those in his home country. Despite László's hopes for the American dream, great difficulties and a certain price await him.
The title of this film, "Brutalist," is taken from "Brutalism," an architectural style born in the 1950s that emphasizes the texture of concrete and other building materials and features a rugged design. The architecture created by the protagonist, László, is also shown in the film, and while its dignified appearance is overwhelming, the film's emphasis on his and his family's struggle with suffering from which there is no escape is even more heart-wrenching. This 215-minute film makes us wonder how the protagonists can maintain their dignity in the face of unjust treatment, and what attitude we should adopt toward history that must not be forgotten. The film has received good reviews and won the Silver Lion at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, and is eagerly awaited for its release on February 21 (Friday). Please do not look away from this film in the enclosed space of a movie theater.
brutalist
2024 / USA, UK, Hungary / 215 min.
Director/Co-Writer/Producer: Brady Corbett
Co-written by Mona Fastvold
Distributor: PARCO Universal Pictures
Release: February 21 (Fri.) TOHO Cinemas Hibiya and other theaters nationwide
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