cledorurun Reviews

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

A Review

[21 October 2013]

This movie starts with a case of murder in a mansion located in Sunset Boulevard. The victim, Joe Gillis was an unsuccessful playwright. He was hired by a descended great actress, Norma Desmond and lived with Norma and her butler, Max. Joe begins to tell everything of this tragedy…

At that time of this movie, the movies changed from silents to voiced. Norma could not adapt the change and she dreams to return to the brilliant show business, believing that she is still a beautiful movie star. In the story, Norma and her old friends who were succeeded in movies play cards in her mansion. One of her friends is Buster Keaton who was an actor in silent films. I like his film originally. Including Keaton, their appearances and expressions are very sorrowful and Joe thinks that they are as if wax dolls. I can't stop feeling the rise and fall of life.

In this movie, the character of Max produces a mysterious atmosphere. I was really surprised at the reason why he serves Norma

The Reader (2008)

A Review

[21 October 2013]

In German, after the time World War 2, a young boy Michel is helped by an older lady named Hanna when he is suffered from sick on a street. After he gets better, he visits her house to thank her. Hanna always asks him to read books to her. In time, he gets crazy about her, but one day she vanishes from him…

To tell the truth, I do not like this movie well. It is true that the pictures of this movie are so beautiful. The views of the streets are the very European ones and I was enchanted with them. However, the pity point is this movie is that the scene of this movie is located in German, the characters speak English and call their names in English pronunciation. I want it to be unified.

Second, I do not like the personality of Michel. He loved Hanna when he was 15, but in the late part of the story, he takes a load on his mind about her but somewhat halfway to my eyes. I am disappointed though the story and pictures are great.

The King's Speech (2010)

Even A King has a trouble

[21 October 2013]

In 1934, the Prince of York, Albert (later becomes King George VI) fails in making speech in front of a large audience because of a speech defect he had. His wife Princess Elizabeth tries to find a good doctor for him and visits the office of Dr.Lionel Logue. Lionel talks to him too friendly and starts an unusual treatment…

The actors of this movie play so well. To pick any expressions or actions of the characters, I could see what they feel vaguely, but they have more complex feelings than to eyes. The actors showed it so skillfully. I can nod to the number of Academy Awards this movie won!

At first Albert has not only a speech defect, but also a terrible temper. It is the highlight of this movie that how he changes with Lionel. This is so great a movie as a historical drama and as a human drama.

University of Laughs (2004)

A Review

[21 October 2013]

In Showa era, before the World War 2, a prosecutor named Sakisaka and a dramatist named Tsubaki meets in an investigation room of the metropolitan police department. At first Sakisaka tries to prevent Tsubaki's theatrical company "University of Laughs," but as they rewrite the script, Sakisaka comes to enjoy the rewriting with Tsubaki…

This movie is almost composed of the conversations of the two and the situation hardly changes from the investigation room. Thus, some people may think this movie do not have passionate scene and the images are boring. On the other hand, the two actors play the contrastive characterized men. I think it great that their conversations which draws the attentions of the audience. Tsubaki has a ready wit and promptly thinks of the lines which are full of humor. The humor which Tsubaki think every time made me laugh.

I was also impressed with the set of the structure. Actually they are buildings now exist, they looks like the real Tokyo in the beginning of Showa era.

The Artist (I) (2011)

A Review

[21 October 2013]

One day in 1927, a star actor George meets a new face actress named Peppy. He advises her to make a noticeable feature to be a big actress and pencils a false spot on her face. Two years later, because of a change of the screen from silent to talkie, the popularity of George falls but Peppy becomes a top actress…

What it is important that though this movie was made in 2011, it catches the atmosphere of the movies in 1920s. The pictures in this movie is in black and white and the makeup of characters are the very same as the 20s. The discovery of story is a little simple, but the performance of actors and stage direction are great. Motions and expressions of Peppy are very attractive and appearances of George after lose his position are so pathetic. But, more than them, the best player of this movie is the Dog of George!

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

An Review

[21 October 2013]

This movie describes the relationship of a man and woman named Harry and Sally. When first they meet at their university, they had bad impressions each other, but the more they meet and talk, they come to be friends. Since then, they go round for many years just as friends, however, one day at a new year's dance, their relation starts to change…

The main theme of this movie, "Can a man and woman become real friends?" is a really difficult problem. At the beginning of story, Harry and Sally both have another lover. At first Harry and Sally see each other as her friend's lover and not as object of feeling of love. And I was fussed but enjoyed the way of their feelings change but can't take a step because of their high pride while and after I watch this story. Not only the two, their friends, Jess and Marie is also charming. They hold each other dear and also are concerned about Harry and Sally. They are admirable as a couple and friends!

Atonement (2007)

A Review

[21 October 2013]

In England, 1935, before the war, a noble woman Cecilia and a menial man Robbie was in love. One day, Cecilia's little sister named Briony finds their unusual behaviors by chance and misunderstands their relation. That night an incident happens and Briony charge Robbie falsely… Before I watched this movie, I had thought this is a story of a sad love between Cecilia and Robbie. Of course it is an important theme of this movie, after I watched the whole story, I was more impressed with the scenes of war. In the latter story, the three each have to do with the war and see the disastrous sights with their own eyes. The pictures are terribly realistic and I was creep while watching the scenes. Cecilia and Robbie suffers because of their parting, Briony suffers from the weight of her guilt. The refrain of the sound of typewriter and images of water emphasized the impressions of sorrows.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

500days of Summer

[21 October 2013]

This is a story of a man who believes in fate and true love. On the first day, the man, Tom meets a girl named Summer who looks so cute at his office. Four days later, he and she meet in elevator and enjoy talking about a band "The Smiths." Since then, he falls for her so much and they go to several places like IKEA, a park, record shop, and so on. Tom believes that Summer is his fated girl, but Summer's sense is not the same…

Summer is a girl who looks pretty but her personality is little selfish and she always trifles with Tom's love. Some people may do not like her character, but other people like her so much. I like her, but if another actress played Summer, my impression might not the same. The actress who played Summer looks clean and beautiful and matches her so much.

This movie surely describes a love between Tom and Summer, but at first it is written that this story is not a love story. That amplifies the uncommon charm of this movie.

Fish Story (2009)

A Review of "Fish Story"

[21 October 2013]

The characters of this movie each lives in different generations of Japan. The members of an unsalable band named "Gekirin", a timid collage student, a high school girl who is caught up in sea-jack. First their stories each go on without any connection, however, facing the world's end, their stories starts to link.

First, the structure of story is full of surprise. For a long time I like the original novel before watching this film. Sometimes movies which based on novels betray the original fans, this movie do not. The casts each suit the characters (especially I like Masashi!) and the song which"Gekirin" performs is taken charge of Kazuyoshi Saito and more than just a movie sound.

This movie describes an imaginary miracle but shows us the importance of taking an action actively. When I am puzzled with something, the scene of Masashi always inspires me with courage.

An Education (2009)

An Education

[20 October 2013]

In London in 1961, Jenny, an intelligent high school girl meets a man named David who is twice as old as she. For some times they meet and talk, he asks her out to a concert and a night club. She experiences many things that she did not know before and comes to be crazy about him on and on…

In this movie, there are many unreasonable adults such as Jenny's father who hopes her only to enter Oxford University and the Principle of her school who strictly objects Jenny's relationship with David. I am amazed at the scenes which she argues them boldly. She is so pretty and intelligent but so brave and sometimes simple-minded. These features of her make this movie more attractive.

The storyline of this movie and depictions of the characters are all-like fiction, but I felt a lot reality in this movie.