Kiki's Delivery Service

In April 2020, I watched the animated movie Kiki's Delivery Service on TV. The movie was released in 1989. The director is Hayao Miyazaki. I watched it for the first time years ago when it was kind of fun. 

It follows a girl named Kiki, who came from a line of witches, decides to live as a witch and strives to do in a big town where she has never been.

When I watched Kiki flying riding on the broomstick, I thought that an old man looked funny and weird if he flied with a broomstick like her. I believe that when a person flies with a broomstick, the right persons are children like Kiki and old ladies looking like witches. If I can fly myself, I want to fly like Superman and the fighters in Dragon Ball, of course, without a broomstick. 

I felt Kiki to be very cute but I was not touched by the film so much. I was at least impressed with the scene in which Kiki had became not to be able to work magic anymore, so she asked a female painter what she would do in a slump, and then the painter replied that she does anything or nothing. I think that most of the people will do the same thing as the woman in a slump. Never giving up is the most important thing at the time.

I think that the movie is naturally popular among girls and their parents but it is a fantasy fiction far away from a single old man like me. However, if I vacantly watch it without thinking, it makes me comfortable because its characters and pictures are all cute, moreover, the movie is accessible. 

I actually was more moved by When Marnie Was There which I watched recently.

魔女の宅急便

2020年４月、アニメ映画『魔女の宅急便』をTVにて観賞。1989年公開。宮崎駿監督作。初観賞はかなり前。面白さはそこそこだった。 

魔女の血を受け継ぐ少女キキが、魔女として生きることを決意し、知らない町で奮闘する物語。 

ホウキにまたがって空を飛ぶキキを観ながら思った。オッサンがホウキにまたがって空を飛ぶのは、ちょっと不気味だな、と。あれは、キキのような子供や、いかにも魔女っぽいババアが似合うスタイルだと思う。やはり、空を飛べるなら、スーパーマンや『ドラゴンボール』の勇者達のように飛びたい。 

作品に関しては、キキが可愛い。正直感想はそれだけ。強いて上げるなら、魔法が使えなくなったキキが、画家のお姉さんにその話をした時、そのお姉さんが、スランプの時はジタバタするか何もしない、と言った場面は印象に残っている。スランプ時は、誰もがあのお姉さんのようにすると思う。大事なのは諦めない事。 

女の子やその親御さん達には親しみやすい作品だとは思うが、独り身のオッサンには遠い世界のファンタジー。何も考えずに漫然と観るだけなら、キャラクター達も可愛いし、画風も親しみやすいので、良い作品だとは思う。

だが、以前観た『思い出のマーニー』の方が心に響いた。

Laputa: Castle in the Sky

In April 2020, I watched Laputa: Castle in the Sky on my television set. It was released in 1986. The director is Hayao Miyazaki. I have watched it several times but have not done it on a big screen yet. In January 2019, I watched The Castle of Cagliostro released in 1979 at Kinepa Junpo Theater. Since then, I have been expecting revivals of Laputa and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind released in 1984 at theater somewhere. 

When I watched the movie for the first time in the 2000s, I cynically did it because I could not help but compare with the animated TV series Future Boy Conan whose characters are similar and which I used to love. I then felt that the 1986 movie was just good. After that, however, I heard that fans of Hayao Miyazaki movies divides into ones of Laputa and ones of Nausicaa on the whole. Nausicaa was my favorite and a great movie, so I thought that Laputa might be great like Nausicaa without cynically watching it. Then I seriously watched it again and I felt that it was enjoyable. I have loved to watch it several times since then. 

A boy named Pazu believes that Laputa Castle exists in the sky and the castle was successfully shot by his father. A girl called Sheeta is a descendant of the kings of Laputa. The movie describes the adventure of the boy and girl. 

The scene where Sheeta is coming down from the sky reminds me of the scene where Mineva Zabi is coming down from the sky in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn episode 1 released in 2010. I am happy as an animation fan if the scene in the Gundam movie is a homage to Hayao Miyazaki. Although Sheeta is cute, yet I prefer Lana in Future Boy Conan. It cannot be helped because Lana was my first love in animation characters. 

Pazu is not so strong, unlike Conan, but he is a lovable boy. I feel comfortable to watch the boy who purely likes Sheeta and struggles to help her somehow. Moreover, beautiful are his feelings toward Sheeta without lust. 

As for Dola who takes care of Pazu, the old lady is dynamic, exhilarating and amusing.

天空の城ラピュタ

2020年４月、『天空の城ラピュタ』をTVにて観賞。1986年公開の宮崎駿監督作。劇場観覧はしていないが、既に数回観ている。2019年１月に『ルパン三世 カリオストロの城』をキネマ旬報シアターで観覧して以降、この映画か『風の谷のナウシカ』もいつかどこかで上映頂けないかなと期待している。 

10数年前の初観賞時は、子供の頃観ていたので思い入れが有り、登場人物に類似性が有るTVアニメ『未来少年コナン』とどうしても比べてしまい、斜に構えて観ていたので、まあまあの印象だった。その後、宮崎アニメファンは、ナウシカ派かラピュタ派に分かれるという話を聞き、『ナウシカ』は好きな作品で名作なので、それと対峙する作品なら再観賞する価値があるだろうと思い、『コナン』と比べないようにして再び観てみたところ、結構面白かった。その後も何回か観ているお気に入りの映画。 

亡き父が撮影に成功した天空の城ラピュタの存在を信じている少年パズーと、そのラピュタの王の末裔の少女シータの冒険譚。 

シータが上空から舞い降りてくるシーンは映画『機動戦士ガンダム ユニコーン エピソード１』でミネバ・ザビがスペースコロニー内の上空から舞い降りてくるシーンを思い出させる。あれがガンダムのスタッフ達の宮崎駿へのオマージュだったら、アニメ好きとしては嬉しい。そんなシータは普通に可愛いが、やはり『未来少年コナン』のラナほど好きにはなれない。ラナは、私のアニメキャラの初恋の人だから仕方のない事だが。 

パズーは、コナンほど強くはないが、好感を持てる男の子。シータを純粋に好きで何とか助けようとする姿が微笑ましい。そして、肉欲の無い男の子の女の子への想いは美しい。 

そんなパズーを鍛え上げようとするドーラおばあちゃんが、豪快で痛快で愉快だ。 

Hannibal

In April 2020, I watched Hannibal on DVD. It was released in 2001. Ridley Scott directed it. I watched it for the first time on TV around in 2003. I have not seen a more realistic and grotesque scene than that shocking one in the movie. I am happy that I have not, though. 

The movie is the sequel to The Silence of the Lamb. It follows the interactions between Clarice, a FBI agent, and Dr. Lecter, a homicidal maniac, who several persons approach and become involved with. 

I like Sir Ridley Scott but I preferred the prequel. It maybe was absence of Jodie Foster in it. I thought that Julianne Moore as Clarice was good and beautiful, however, I felt that she seemed to be an actress of all trades and not so stricken. In a horrifying dinner, she looked fascinated in a sexy black dress but did not sexually attract me so much. Of course, she is pretty and if she worked as a waitress in a restaurant or an instructor in an enrichment lesson in my neighborhood, I would like to go see her like every day. 

Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Lecter gave a wonderful performance, which made me almost shudder again, as well as he did in 1991. The performance is artistic like the one Jack gave in The Shinning. In the dinner scene toward the end, which is cut when TV stations broadcast it, he was naturally playing the horrific man. It quite terrified me. 

As for Ray Liotta, he definitely became fat compared with him in Field of Dreams and Goodfella. He was 46 years old at the release. He had not become a movie superstar maybe because he had not been able to quit boozing, eating too much and something, and as a result, he could not keep a good figure. It is up to you whether or not you like to constantly make extra efforts to keep yourself good-looking, though. To oblige yourself to limit your meals so as to continue to be popular, or to accept your aging and enjoy your life, that is the question. I will choose to accept my aging, after all, even if I by some chance have the potential to be a big star. I hate to be bitter. I am such a man, so I have ordinarily lived and not gotten a big chance at all.

ハンニバル

2020年４月に『ハンニバル』をDVDにて観賞。2001年公開。リドリー・スコット監督作。2003年頃に初めて観たが、この映画の、あの衝撃的なシーン以上にリアルにグロテスクな映像にはまだお目にかかっていない。お目にかかりたくもないが。 

『羊たちの沈黙』の続編で、FBI捜査官クラリスと殺人鬼のレクター博士の関係を軸に、様々な登場人物が２人に絡んでくる。 

リドリー・スコットは好きな監督だが、前作の方が好きだ。理由は、本作におけるジョディ・フォスターの不在。ジュリアン・ムーアも綺麗で演技の上手い女優さんだとは思うが、器用過ぎて個性が薄い気がする。最後の例の晩餐では、セクシーな黒いドレスが似合っていたが、目を奪われる程ではなかった。無論、近所のレストランのウェイトレスとか、習い事のインストラクターにいたら、毎日のように通い始めたくなる位の美人ではあるが。 

アンソニー・ホプキンスがレクター博士を演じたのは10年振りだったが、その演技は変わらず身震いする程素晴らしかった。『シャイニング』のジャック・ニコルソンと同レベルの芸術的な演技だと思う。TV放映ではカットされる例の晩餐のシーンにおいて、あの凄惨な行為を自然に演じているのが恐ろしい。 

レイ・リオッタに関しては、『フィールド・オブ・ドリームス』や『グッドフェローズ』の頃と比べると、明らかに太っている。公開時46歳。スーパースターになれなかったのは、多分酒とか止められず、節制をしなかった結果、ルックスを維持する事が出来なかったからだろう。体型を維持するために絶え間ない努力を続ける事が、幸せかどうかは本人次第だが。スポットライトを浴び続けるために、食事制限等をして苦しむか、老化を受け入れて人生を楽しむか。仮に、私にスターになるチャンスがあったとしても、やっぱり後者を選ぶ。辛いのは嫌だ……こういう人間だから、チャンスも掴めずにただ平凡に生き永らえているのかもしれない。 

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

In April 2020, I watched A.I. Artificial Intelligence for the first time on DVD. It was released in 2001. Stanley Kubrick allegedly had been supposed to direct it but he passed away, then Steven Spielberg became the director. I am wondering how it would have been if Mr. Kubrick, the director of A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, had directed it. 

The story could occur in the future. It describes the sorrow and happiness of David that is a humanoid robot boy who can love a human and in fact loves his human mom, Monica. Haley Joel Osment acts David. 

In a word, a Haley Joel Osment show. 

The movie provoked a lot of thoughts but kind of depressed me. The length is 146 minutes, which made me feel it longer. Then, I did not exactly know what Mr. Spielberg intended to say through it. He might have wanted to describe David's pure love for Monica, give a warning against our modern society and produce an entertainment dealing with AI robots that was becoming a popular topic. Anyway, I did not like the gloomy film. If Mr. Kubrick had directed it, it would have become more daring and innovative. I also imagine that Mr. Spielberg reluctantly accepted the job when Mr. Kubrick's bereaved family eagerly asked him to direct it, however, the two-time Oscar-winning director actually had difficulty in doing it because it was not his original idea. 

I was most impressed with a bear robot named Teddy, which reminded me Winnie the Pooh in Christopher Robin and made me want to watch the Disney movie again. The lead, Haley Joel Osment, surely played well and was charming. I, however, did not like the child actor so much because he looked to be a goody-goody. Although parents with boys might be able to have a special fondness for him, yet, if anything, I like to watch brats like Marcus in About a Boy and the four kids in Stand by Me. They are all sassy and natural for kids.

A.I.

2020年４月、『A.I.』をDVDにて初めて観賞した。2001年公開。もともとスタンリー・キューブリックが監督する予定だったらしいが、お亡くなりになった為、スティーヴン・スピルバーグが監督になったらしい。『シャイニング』や『時計じかけのオレンジ』を監督したキューブリック氏がどのように演出していたかは興味深い。 

近未来に起こり得るお話。感情を持ち、人間の母親モニカを慕うAIロボット、デイヴィットの悲喜こもごもが描かれている。

一言で言うと、ハーレイ・ジョエル・オスメント劇場。 

色々考えさせられるが、若干気が滅入る映画。146分が長く感じた。スピルバーグ氏はこの映画を通して何が言いたかったのだろう。母親への純粋な愛情を表現したかったのか、現代社会への警鐘を鳴らしたかったのか、それとも、話題のAIを主人公に仕立てて娯楽作品を作りたかっただけなのか。いずれにしてもあまり好きにはなれない暗い映画。キューブリック氏だったらもっと斬新で大胆な作品に仕上げたのではないだろうか。スピルバーグ氏も、キューブリック氏の遺族から強い要望があったから仕方無く引き受けただけで、実際には、自分のアイデアでは無いからやりにくくて仕方がなかったのではないだろうか。 

一番印象に残っているのは、ペットロボットのテディ。『プーと大人になった僕』のプーをまた観たくなった。主役のハーレイ・ジョエル・オスメントは、可愛いし演技も上手いが、素直な良い子過ぎる感じがあまり好きになれない。お子さんをお持ちの親御さんなら半端無く感情移入出来るのだろうが、子供はやはり、『アバウト・ア・ボーイ』のマーカスや『スタンド・バイ・ミー』のあの４人組のような生意気な感じが、自然だし、好きだ。 

The Silence of the Lambs

In April 2020, I watched The Silence of the Lambs on DVD. The movie was released in 1991. I have not watched it at theaters but I have done it several times on TV monitors. It is obviously one of the greatest suspense movies and it impresses me whenever I watch it. 

Clarice is a new agent of the FBI which is pursuing a psychotic serial murderer. Dr. Lecter is a former psychiatrist and imprisoned cannibalistic serial murderer. The movie follows the interactions between the two of them. 

The scenes where Jodie Foster as Clarice was meeting with Anthony Hopkins as Lecter were really worth watching. Both of them won the Oscars for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively. I believed that their performances deserved the awards. 

Jodie was 28 years old at the release. She was quite beautiful with intelligence for a young lady and was really charming. I enjoyed watching her wonderful acting which was hot and cool to the end. By the way, I have not thought of her as sexually attractive. I had not known why, but I recognized the reason when I heard about her sexuality. All the same, she is absolutely beautiful and has given a superb performance in all the movies that I have watched. 

Anthony Hopkins gave an excellent performance as Lecter, too. He was diminutive but he could create a horrible atmosphere only with his voices, expressions and movements. Dr. Lecter was a homicidal maniac but looked like a philosopher, like John Doe who Kevin Spacey played in Seven. The doctor, moreover, seemed to really have great intelligence that a common psychopath never has. Incidentally, I have not watched a trashy movie that he appears in. Sir Anthony Hopkins must be quite capable of ascertaining whether or not the script is wonderful.

羊たちの沈黙

2020年４月、『羊たちの沈黙』をDVDにて観賞した。1991年公開。劇場での観賞は無いが、これまでに何度か観たことのある、言わずと知れたサスペンス映画の傑作の一つ。何度観ても面白い。 

連続猟奇殺人事件を捜査中のFBIの新人捜査官クラリスと、元精神科医で猟奇殺人鬼のレクター博士との奇妙な交流が描かれている。 

クラリス役のジョディ・フォスターとレクター博士役のアンソニー・ホプキンスが会話をするシーンは本当に見応えがある。両人ともアカデミー賞を受賞しているが、それにふさわしい演技だ。 

ジョディ・フォスターは公開時28歳。若くして知性を兼ね備えた超美人。本当に綺麗で、演技も、時に冷静で、時に熱く、いずれも素晴らしくて、終始見飽きる事が無かった。余談だが、昔から不思議と彼女をセクシーだと思ったことが無い。そして、彼女のレズ疑惑の報道を耳にし、その謎が解けた。それでも、彼女が美しい事に変わりはない。そして、どの作品でも素晴らしい演技を披露している。 

レスター役のアンソニー・ホプキンスも本当に演技が上手い。声や表情、そして、仕草だけで、小柄だが、恐ろしい雰囲気を見事に醸し出していた。また、『セブン』のケビン・スペイシー同様、殺人鬼なのに哲学者風でもあった。そして、ただのサイコパスでは持ち得ない、知性を感じた。因みに、彼が出演している映画で駄作だと思った作品にはまだお目にかかっていない。脚本の良し悪しを見極める能力が非常に高いのだろう。

Hearts in Atlantis

In April 2020, I watched Hearts in Atlantis on TV. It was released in 2001. It is based on the book of the same title written by Stephen King. I have not watched it at theaters but I have done it on TV displays many times. A good mystery drama film.

Ted is middle-aged and has psychic power. He rents a room of a house and starts to live in it. Then, he becomes friends with an 11-year-old boy called Bobby whose mother is the owner of the house. The story follows the friendship between Ted and Bobby. Most of the people around them seem disgusting except for Bobby's friends.

Anthony Hopkins gave a wonderful performance as Ted like always. Anton Yelchin as Bobby and Mika Boorem as Carol, Bobby's girlfriend, were really cute and charming. Moreover, the relationship between the cute couple also made me feel comfortable and smile several times. By the way, both of them have now not been popular so much. It seems that cute child actors will lose their popularity as they grow up. Haley Joel Osment having appeared in The Sixth Sense has now not been popular, either. Although the former super popular kid actor played a man in Ted Bandy, yet I did not even realize him when watching it. Most children are basically impudent, so child actors can play brats naturally and easily. Perhaps, child actors who play sassy kids can transform into adult actors more naturally and easily through their puberty years, like River Phoenix and Nicholas Hoult, than cute child actors.

アトランティスのこころ

2020年４月、『アトランティスのこころ』をTVにて観賞。2001年公開。スティーヴン・キング原作。劇場での観賞はないが、これまでに何度も観ている良い作品。ミステリーの要素があるヒューマンドラマ。

不思議な力を持った中年男テッドと、彼が住んでいる部屋の大家の息子ボビーとの心の交流が描かれている。二人とボビーの友達以外の、周りの人間達が醜い。

テッド役のアンソニー・ホプキンスは、この作品でも素晴らしい演技を披露している。そして、ボビー役のアントン・イェルチンとボビーの女友達キャロル役のミカ・ブーレムが本当に可愛らしくて、二人の関係性も本当に微笑ましかった。ただ、この子役達、成長後はそれほど活躍していない。可愛い子役は大成しないのかな。『シンクス・センス』に出ていたハーレイ・ジョエル・オスメントも、現在は子役の時ほどの人気は無さそうだし、『テッド・バンディ』に出演していたらしいが、気付かなかった。リバー・フェニックスやニコラス・ホルトのように、子役時代は生意気なガキを演じていた方が、子供なんて元々ほとんどがクソガキなのだから不自然ではないし、青年になった時に役者の仕事をしやすいのかもしれない。

Mile 22

In January 2019, I watched Mile 22 at Movix Kameari. I was quite touched by how tough the hero was. 

In April 2020, I watched it again on DVD. It was fun, though the pictures and sound were less spectacular than the last time. 

A realistic action movie. It depicts a fierce battle between a CIA agent team and the enemies. The CIA team is ordered to escort a man from the American Embassy in an Asian country to the airport for a reason but it is attacked by the enemies who desire to eliminate the man. I had not expected the turnabout toward the end at all and I do not want to watch it again when I have not fully prepared mentally and physically because it is too serious. 

Mark Wahlberg was acting the main character, James Silva, who is tougher and more nihilistic than the sniper who Wahlberg acted in Shooter. Silva is a crack CIA agent and the leader of the team that are ordered to guard the man. The crack agent has strong stomach and fortitude and he seems to think only about his mission and make a decision instantly as if he think of hesitating as wasting time, though he occasionally showed his emotions. In terms of having principles, Silva is similar to Tony, the Italian main character, in Green Book. 

I usually tend to think unnecessary things and as a result I make a simple thing complicated, so I adore their simple behavioral principles. I would like to quit being indecisive and worrying about things. I also want to be like them and become a man who can promptly decide, quickly act and fully concentrate on things that I am facing. Life is short. I have no time to worry. The 94-minute movie made me think about those things.

マイル22

2019年１月、『マイル22』をMovix亀有にて観覧。主人公のタフさに圧倒された。 

2020年４月、DVDにて再観賞。映画館と比べると臨場感が落ちるが割と楽しめた。 

本格的なアクション映画。諸々の事情で、アジアの小国内のアメリカ大使館からある男を空港まで護衛する事になったCIA工作員チームと、その男を始末しようとする追手との壮絶な戦いが描かれている。最後のどんでん返しは、全く予測出来なかった。シリアス過ぎるので心身ともに準備が必要な映画。 

主演はマーク・ウォールバーグ。『ザ・シューター』の狙撃手役よりタフでニヒルな凄腕CIA工作員役。男を護衛するチームのリーダーを演じている。強い意志と不屈の精神を持つタフガイ。任務を遂行する事しか頭にないような、かといって、感情が全く無いわけでもなく、悩んでいる時間がもったいないと言いたげに即決断する男。自分の中に明確な答えがあるという点では、『グリーンブック』のイタリア人トニーに通じるものがある。

普段、ついつい余計な事を考えて、単純な事を複雑にしてしまいがちな私にとっては、彼らの単純明快な思考や言動には憧れすら抱く。私も、優柔不断で直ぐにくよくよしてしまいがちな自分とは早くおさらばして、彼らのように、即決即実行、そして、目の前の事に集中出来る人間になりたい。人生は短い。もう悩んでいる暇なんかない。こういう風に色々考えさせてくれた94分であった。

Reservoir Dogs

In April 2020, I watched Reservoir Dogs on DVD. It was released in 1992 and it is Quentin Tarantino's debut movie as a director and screenwriter. Tarantino also appeared as an actor in it. I had watched it for the first time many years ago and I had avoided watching it due to plenty of the bloody scenes in it since then. 

A professional criminal and his son recruit six bad guys in order to carry out their robbery plan, and then the six guys wearing black suits and sunglasses attempt to rob a jewelry shop as a team following the plan. The story starts like that. 

I do not like a bloody scene knowing that the blood is fake, so I am really sorry that the film shows plenty of bloodshed. Aside from it, I really like it. It was produced with a low budget, so the scale was naturally small. However, all of the characters were always chatting and arguing with each other, so I never felt bored despite lack of women. Especially when they were joking with each other, the feel became peaceful in spite of a crime movie. The six men surely included a traitor, but the criminals were never pitiful and miserable about it when they became irritated and annoyed about it. I then thought that they embodied the phrase "bad boys will be bad boys" and I felt comfortable with the guys, though they were criminals. It was maybe because of Tarantino's direction. The film reminded me that the director's second movie, Pulp Fiction, and his latest movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood had the same air as it. I like Pulp Fiction the best among three of the movies. 

The lead, Harvey Keitel, was diminutive but sturdy. He showed his presence whenever he spoke. He was always cool. I have been a fan of him since I watched Mean Street in which he gave a wonderful performance as a young man who values friendship. The middle-aged Keitel looked good, too. By the way, Keitel sometimes reminds me Joe Pesci. Both of them appeared in Irishman together. Although each has not become a superstar like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, yet each always has its strong presence and is a wonderful actor. 

As for the other actors in it, I believe that all of them wonderfully acted, however, I also thought that it was thanks to Tarantino's brilliant script and direction, so I omit my comments about them here.

レザボア・ドッグス

2020年４月、『レザボア・ドッグス』をDVD観賞した。1992年公開の映画。クェンティン・タランティーノの監督および脚本デビュー作。彼は出演もしている。かなり前に一度観たが、流血シーンが多過ぎる為、それ以降は観賞した事がなかった。 

犯罪のプロであるジョーとその息子エディに集められた６人の悪党達が、黒いスーツに身を包み、サングラス姿で宝石店を強盗するお話。 

血のりと分かっていながら、流血シーンはやはり好きになれない。だから、この映画でそんなシーンが長く続くのは本当に残念だ。その点以外はかなり好きな作品。低予算だからスケールの小ささは否めないものの、登場人物達がそれぞれ喋り捲っていたので、女っ気はほとんど無いが、飽きることなく観続けられた。特に、ジョークが飛び交う場面は、犯罪映画なのに、和やかな雰囲気すら漂っていた。６人の内の誰かが裏切り者。悪党達の焦りやら苛々やらが伝わってくる場面も悲愴感等がまるで無く、不良少年が大人になってもやんちゃを続けている感じが犯罪者なのに微笑ましかった。タランティーノの演出ならではの雰囲気だ。彼の次回作である『パルプ・フィクション』でも、そして、最新作『ワンス・アポン・ア・タイム・イン・ハリウッド』でも、彼らしい演出がなされていた。因みに、３作品の中では『パルプ・フィクション』が一番好きだ。 

主演のハーヴェイ・カイテルは、小柄だが、がっしりした体格で喋り方にも存在感があってカッコよかった。『ミーン・ストリート』での仲間想いの若者役で好感を持ったが、中年になっても良い感じだ。彼を見ていると、『アイリッシュマン』で共演していたジョー・ペシを連想する。両人とも、デ・ニーロやアル・パチーノのようなスーパースターにはなれなかったが、存在感は抜群で、それぞれ素晴らしい俳優さん。 

ほかの役者たちに関しては、それ素晴らしかったったとは思うが、それはタランティーノの脚本や演出のおかげのような気もするので、ここでのコメントは差し控えたい。

When Marnie Was There

In April 2020, I watched the animated movie When Marnie Was There for the first time on TV. The Studio Ghibli film was released in 2014. The director is not Hayao Miyazaki but Hiromasa Yonebayashi. It is based on the novel of the same title written for children by Joan G. Robinson in 1967. 

A girl named Anna lost her mother and grandmother in her early childhood and has been raised by her foster parents. One day, she begins to close her heart against anybody, and then she suffers from asthma, so her foster parent Yoriko asks her relatives to take care of Anna during the summer at theirs in a village by the sea. Anna meets with a blond girl named Marnie in the wetlands and gradually changes. The movie elaborately describes the movement of Anna's mind through. 

I could not get interested in it at first but I began to be gradually drawn from around the middle. Then, I was moved at the end. I think that it is a shame to stop watching it halfway. The film was interesting and good. After watching it, I recalled some scenes where I could not understand, and then I appreciated the scenes, which was enjoyable. I think that I might feel newly impressed when I watch it next time. 

Anna is 12 years old. I think that children around at the age are most half-baked and difficult. When I was eleven, one day, my girl classmates suddenly started to frequently talk to me, so I felt that I became popular among them, then I was secretly overjoyed. Some weeks later, however, the most beautiful girl teasingly said to me that you quickly turned red and were really funny. I then realized that the girls talked to me only because they wanted to watch me reddening. The blushing me just quite amused them. In fact, I was not popular among them. I immediately came to hate the girls. Although the symptom gradually subsided as I grew older, yet even now I do not like girls in her early teens and when I see them, I swear in my mind and feel an impulse to tell them to grow up fast.

思い出のマーニー

2020年４月、アニメ映画『思い出のマーニー』をTVにて初観賞した。2014年公開。スタジオジブリ製作だが、監督は宮崎駿ではなく米林宏昌。原作は、イギリスの作家、ジョーン・Ｇ・ロビンソンが1967年に発表した同名の児童文学作品。 

幼い頃から里親に育てられた少女、杏奈は、ある時から周りの人間に対して心を閉ざす。その後、喘息を患った為、里親の頼子の親戚が住む浜辺の村でひと夏を過ごす事になり、そこで、異国の少女マーニーと出会い、そして、それを機に少しずつ変わっていく。そんな杏奈の心の動きが全編に渡って細やかに描かれている。 

観始めは全く感情移入出来なかったが、終盤から面白くなり、最後は結構感動した。途中で観るのを止めるのはもったいないと思う。鑑賞後も、よく理解出来なかったシーンを思い返したりして楽しめる、そして、再鑑賞時にはまた別の感動があるような気がする、良い作品。 

安奈は12歳。一番中途半端で面倒臭い年頃だと思う。私が11歳だった時、ある時から急にクラスの女子がやたらと声を掛けてくるようになった。モテ始めたのかもと有頂天になったが、数週間後、クラスで一番綺麗だった女の子に、また顔が赤くなってる、面白いと笑われ、実はモテていたのではなく、女の子に声をかけられると赤面してしまうのを笑われているだけだと悟り、一時期、同じクラスの女子達が嫌いになった。赤面症は徐々に収まったが、今でも10代前半の女の子を見ると、早く成長しろ、とか思う。 

Shooter

In April 2020, I watched Shooter for the first time on TV. The action thriller movie was released in 2007. It was serious and fun. 

The movie follows Swagger, a U.S. Army veteran and almighty sniper who receives a request from a retired U.S. Army Colonel who has still been connected to a U.S. senior government officer. Actually, the request is a trap to make the veteran a scapegoat, which has been set by the Colonel and his followers. Swagger somehow escapes from the setup and starts to fight back. 

It was serious but seems to be a parody of the Kennedy assassination. The lead was Mark Wahlberg. I watched the former rapper for the first time in The Yards released in 2000 which Joaquin Phoenix and Charlize Theron appeared in together. Now, the three of them have all become movie superstars. In it Wahlberg gave a great performance as a young man who is quiet but has fortitude. He costarred with Charlize Theron again in the fun movie The Italian Job in 2003 whose Japanese title is lame, though. He looks like Matt Damon if you vaguely see him, which is irony. Wahlberg used to be a hoodlum. Contrarily, Damon used to attend Harvard University. Both of them played in The Departed together in 2006. I was not impressed with the film and their acting so much. In January 2019, I watched Mile 22 starring Wahlberg who played well as a ruthless and highly skilled CIA agent. He was also playing well as a ruthless and stoic sniper in Shooter. He acted well a jovial and talkative guy when he paired up with Denzel Washington in 2 Guns in 2013, but all the same he is better at playing a quiet and crack shooter like Swagger.

ザ・シューター／極大射程

2020年４月、『ザ・シューター／極大射程』をTVにて初観賞。2007年公開のアクション・スリラー映画。シリアスで結構面白かった。 

元アメリカ軍人の凄腕狙撃手が引退後に政府関係者から仕事を依頼されるが、実は、それは彼を暗殺犯に仕立てる罠であった。彼は、その罠から何とか逃げ延び、その後、反撃に出る。そんなお話。 

シリアスだが、ケネディ大統領暗殺のパロディのようだった。マーク・ウォールバーグ主演。彼を初めて観たのは2000年公開の『裏切り者』。今やスーパースターのホアキン・フェニックスやシャーリーズ・セロンとの共演作。物静かだが芯の強い若者を好演していた。2003年公開の『ミニミニ大作戦』でシャーリーズ・セロンと再共演。邦題がダサいが結構面白かった。彼は、ぼんやり見るとマット・デイモン似。マークは元不良でマットはハーバード大学に通っていたから皮肉な話。そのマットとは2006年公開の『ディパーテッド』で共演。作品も彼等の演技もあまり印象に残っていない。最近では、彼は2019年公開の『マイル22』でCIAの非情な凄腕工作員を熱演していた。本作も、非情でストイックな役柄。デンゼル・ワシントンと共演した2013年公開の『２ガンズ』では陽気でおしゃべりな捜査官役だったが、彼は、本作のような寡黙で凄腕の狙撃手が本当によく似合う。 

Stan & Ollie

In April 2019, I watched Stan & Ollie at Movix Kameari. I remembered that I almost cried toward the end. 

In April 2020, I watched it again on DVD. I did not cry but I was really moved. 

The movie is based on the true story about a comedy duo named Laurel and Hardy who were popular but could not become superstars like Charlie Chaplin. It focuses on their longtime friendship and their last tour in the United Kingdom. The situation is similar to the one of Judy. 

Although they sometimes argued with each other, yet they had a strong friendship and they deep down trusted each other. I was really touched by the last stage where they showed their deep and beautiful bond. Each of them had stuck to what he wanted to do and each had not been able to lie to himself. I admired how they live. 

The duo consists of a fat and a small man. If their drama was adapted and filmed in Japan, Honjamaka would be the proper comedy duo. Toshiaki Megumi has now become a famous TV newscaster in Japan but he must be ready to star in the film if he has received the offer.

僕たちのラストステージ

2019年４月、『僕たちのラストステージ』をMovix亀有にて観覧した。最後で涙がこぼれそうなった記憶有り。 

2020年４月、DVDにて再観賞。泣きはしなかったが、また感動した。 

まあまあの人気は博したが、チャップリンのような大物にはなれなかった、実在したお笑いコンビ、ローレル＆ハーディの友情物語。『ジュディ』同様、彼等の晩年のイギリスツアーを描いている。 

喧嘩もするが、強い友情と信頼で結ばれている二人。最後のステージにおける彼等の美しい絆には本当に感動させられた。己れを貫き通してきた彼等、そして、最後まで自分に嘘をつけない彼等。本当に憧れる。 

デブとチビのコンビ。日本で映画化されたら、ホンジャマカが適役だろう。恵俊彰も今やテレビの大物MCだが、映画の主演となれば重い腰を上げるに違いない。

Beauty and the Beast

In April 2020, I watched the Disney live-action movie Beauty and the Beast for the first time on DVD. I first knew the story of it at the same time. 

Heart-warming was how the beast had changed since he met with a village girl named Belle. Disgusting was how arrogantly and selfishly the former soldier Gaston acted. 

The lead, Emma Watson, had debuted in the Harry Potter series and is known as one of the most beautiful actresses in the world. I, however, saw her for the first time and I did not feel that she was really beautiful maybe because I had hardly watched the popular series and as a result I had not emotionally involved with her, unlike her longtime fans. It also might be a matter of preference. Yet I felt that she was acting and singing quite well, so I believe that she is certainly an excellent actress. 

As for the film, I had expected it a lot because all the fans of the film around me had told me that it was wonderful, yet it was not better than I had expected and not better than the Disney animation film Coco that I watched just before then. It was as good as the Disney live-action movie Maleficent and it never bored me through, though. It also interested me in the animated version of it, so it was worth watching it over all. 

Evan McGregor appeared in it. Around the release of it, he allegedly had a difficult time due to his adultery. Basically, I am not interested in the personal matters of the famous persons but when I knew about it recently, I was kind of shocked because I thought of him as clean and pure. After that, I talked about it to a coworker who was a fan of him when she said that it could not have been helped because he is so cool that women around him are likely to fall in love with him and not let him alone. She was absolutely right, but all the same it was still shocking to me. Only they know what is happening between two people, though. By the way, it is said that Evan's present girlfriend is Mary Elizabeth Winstead who he allegedly had an affair with. Both of them appeared in Birds of Prey together where she was pretty and attractive. They must be happy now.

美女と野獣

2020年４月、ディズニー映画『美女と野獣』の実写版をDVDにて初観賞した。『美女と野獣』の物語自体も初めて知った。 

村娘ベルによって野獣が変わっていく様が微笑ましくて、元軍人の傲慢なガストンが醜悪だった。 

主演のエマ・トマソンは、『ハリー・ポッター』シリーズ出演でスターとなり、現在は美人女優との誉れが高い。だが、今回の視聴で初めて観たが、そんなに美しいとは思わなかった。これは好みの問題だろう。歌や演技は上手かった。優秀な女優さんであることは確かだ。

作品に関しては、この映画を推薦してくれた方が周りに大勢いたので期待し過ぎていた感もあるが、この直前に観た『リメンバー・ミー』程は楽しめなかった。それでも、以前観た『マレフィセント』と同じくらい良い映画だと思う。それ程退屈もしなかったし、物語は割と面白かった。アニメ版にも興味が湧いたので、視聴自体は無駄では無かったと思う。 

ユアン・マクレガーも出演。最近知ったが、公開当時、彼は不倫報道やら離婚問題で大変だったらしい。有名人の私生活にあまり興味は無いが、彼のクリーンで純粋そうなイメージから、不倫していたかもしれない事実は、結構ショックだった。だが、彼のファンである同僚の女性にその話をすると、彼女は、彼はカッコいいから周りの女性が放っておかないでしょうと言った。確かにその通りだ。それに、当人同士の問題は当人たちにしか分からないし。だが、それでもショックだった。ちなみに、ユアンの現在の恋人は、不倫相手と噂されたメアリー・エリザベス・ウィンステッド。二人とも『ハーレイ・クインの華麗なる覚醒』に出演していた。彼女は凄くキレイだった。幸せなんだろうな。

Coco

In December 2019, I watched the Disney Pixar animation film Coco on the television set for the first time. It was quite touching. I had thought that it was just a fantasy film which was not so deep, however, it turned out to be really wonderful and far better than I had expected. If I had watched it at a theater, I would have cried. 

In March 2020, I watched it again. I was really moved again. 

The movie is about a boy who desires to be a pro musician and whose families hate music. The boy named Miguel accidentally is transported to the Land of the Death on the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead and he knows the truth about his ancestors there, and then he strives to make his families and himself happy. 

The film is deep and thoughtful, so adults also can appreciate it. Moreover, the story is quite emotional. It is sad that you have to leave a person who is still misunderstanding you. 

I was amazed at how colorful and fantastic the scenery of the Land of the Death was. I would have felt it more magnificent if I had watched it at a theater. Then the skeletal creatures were cheerfully moving in the Land and they were all cute. Although they were the dead, yet they seemed to have no sorrow and sadness. Children would never be scared of them. 

I cannot imagine that human actors lightly play the skeletal creatures, so I believe that the animated version is the better way of telling the story than the live-action version. 

リメンバー・ミー

2019年12月にピクサーのアニメ映画『リメンバー・ミー』をTV画面にて初観賞した。凄く感動した。お気楽なファンタジーだと思っていたから、いい意味で期待を裏切られた。劇場観賞だったら泣いていたかもしれない。 

2020年３月、再観賞。2回目も十分感動出来た。 

音楽を毛嫌いする一族の中で密かにミュージシャンになる夢を抱いている少年ミゲルが、メキシコの祝日である死者の日に、偶然、その死者の国に迷い込んでしまい、そこで彼の祖先の真実を知り、家族の為、そして、自分の夢の為に奮闘する物語。 

大人も楽しめる、深い作品。そして、切ない物語。誤解されたままのお別れって、本当に悲しい。 

死者の国がカラフルで幻想的でとても美しかった。映画館での観賞だったらより壮観だっただろう。そして、死者の国の骸骨達の動きが可愛らしく、死人なのに全く悲愴感が無かった。子供でも普通に楽しめるだろう。 

また、死者の国の骸骨達のあの動きを、俳優達がポップに表現する事を私は想像出来ない。この作品はアニメーションの形態がベストだと思う。 

Sean Connery as 007

In March 2020, I watched the first movie to the fifth in the 007 series on TV. They were released between 1962 and 1967. Although their pictures were old after all, yet the movies were stylish and sophisticated. 

The still slender Sean Connery acted James Bond in the five movies when he was between 32 and 37 years old and did not look middle-aged. Connery's James Bond is cool and randomly have sex with hot women, which made me wonder why he did not suffer from sexual diseases. His Bond must have a super strong immune system. Connery reappeared in the James Bond series when Diamonds Are Forever was released in 1971. He was 41 years old at the release. I watched only the beginning part of it and I felt that he was not young anymore. By the way, the Scottish actor had given Japanese bold guys emotional support as a bold but cool man since he stopped hiding his bold head. I have had close-cropped hair since my hair started to thin but I am not cool at all, unlike Sir Sean Connery. 

I thought that Daniela Bianchi appearing in From Russia with Love was the most beautiful woman among the five films, though I felt that Mie Hama appearing in You Only Live Twice was not far behind from her. 

The action scenes were never compared with the ones of the recent action movies, which is natural because they were shot in the 1960s. I think that they certainly affected the following action movies, though.  

I have never watched movies in the 007 series at a theater. I had watched only Never Say Never Again on DVD because I desired to see the bewitching Kim Basinger at that time. I have loved Basinger and I remember only what a gorgeous lady she was. I have watched some Bond movies starring Roger Moore on TV but I have forgotten about them except that the handsome lead seemed to have kind of slow reflexes. I have not watched other Bond movies. When I heard the new Bond movie would be released in November 2020, I thought that I should watch all of the 007 films before the release. That is why I started to watch movies in the series. 

When I attended an English conversation school, I asked a teacher from Manchester how he thought of the James Bond movies. He said that the movies were their legacy. I do not know how I describe the It is Tough being a Man series that is the highly popular one in Japan. I might be criticized by many Japanese but I like James Bond far more than Torajiro Kuruma who is the main character familiarly called Tora-san.

ショーン・コネリーの007

2020年３月、『007』シリーズの第１作から第５作をTV観賞した。劇場公開は1962年から1967年。さすがに古いがスタイリッシュで洒落ていた。

ジェームズ・ボンドはショーン・コネリー。32歳から37歳まで。若くて痩せててカッコいい。そして、節操も無く美女とセックスしまくっている。性病とか大丈夫なのだろうか。恐らく免疫力が異常に高い設定なのだろう。第７作『ダイヤモンドは永遠に』でボンド役に復帰した時は41歳。数分だけ観たが、さすがに少し老けていた。その後、長い間、カッコいいハゲ男として日本の禿げたオッサン達の心の拠り所となる。私は、髪が薄くなったので数年前から丸坊主にしているが、彼のカッコよさには遠く及ばない。

ボンド・ガールに関しては、第２作のダニエラ・ビンキが一番綺麗だと思う。もちろん、第５作の浜美枝も負けてはいないが。

アクションに関しては、最近の映画と比べたら見劣りする。当然だ。50年以上前の作品。だが、後のアクション映画に多大な影響を与えたのは間違いない。

『007』シリーズの劇場観覧は１度も無い。DVD観賞も『ネバー・セイ・ネバー・アゲイン』だけ。ボンド・ガールがキム・ベイシンガーだったので視聴した。当然のように彼女のセクシーさしか印象に残っていない。ロジャー・ムーアのジェームズ・ボンドはTV放映で何度か観たが、ハンサムであまり運動神経が良くなさそうだった事以外は、あまり記憶に残っていない。その他の『007』は全く観ていないが、最新作が2020年11月に公開予定と聞いて、それまでに全作品を観ようと思い本シリーズを視聴し始めた。

英会話学校で出会ったイギリス人教師に『007』をどう思っているか授業中に尋ねたところ、彼は "legacy" と言っていた。我々日本人は、『男はつらいよ』シリーズを何と表現すればいいのだろう。顰蹙を買うかもしれないが、車寅次郎とジェームズ・ボンドでは圧倒的にボンドの方が好きだ。

One Chance

In March 2020, I watched One Chance on TV. The movie is about a man who exists and won a talent show competition as an opera singer. Speaking of a movie about a competition, I watched Teen Spirit in January that is a fiction and describes the success story of a girl. The girl acted by Elle Fanning was eye-pleasing to me and so pretty that I was never tired of the film through. About One Chance, however, the main character, Paul, was never eye-pleasing because he was fat and seemed dull. The story kind of moved me, though. 

The appearance of James Corden as Paul reminded me Richard in Richard Jewell. Both of them looked similar but their characters are widely different from each other. Richard assumes himself to be always right, yet Paul has no confidence in himself. Both of them would annoy me if they were around me, though I believe that each could cause drama in his life thanks to his unique character. 

The movie was good but did not satisfied me so much. The climax scene did not move me maybe because I had known the result of the competition. I was most impressed when Paul's dad punched a guy in a pub. It really touched me. A fool will be a fool. Anyway, I was moved by the paternal love more than the martial love. 

Alexandra Roach as Julz, Paul's wife, was very charming but she was not quite beautiful, which I think makes the film realistic. Wonderful women do not necessarily look pretty in the real world. Humanity counts for everything in the end, though I think that it is better to be good-looking for both men and women. 

ワン チャンス

2020年３月に映画『ワン チャンス』をTVにて観賞した。オーディションでチャンスを掴む男の物語。実話。オーディションを扱った映画と言えば、若い女の子のサクセス・ストーリーを描いたフィクションの『ティーンスピリット』を思い出す。エル・ファニングが綺麗で可憐だったので全編で見飽きることは無かったが、本作は、冴えない青年の物語だったので眼の保養には全くならなかった。割と感動は出来たが。 

主人公ポールを演じたジェームズ・コーデンの太った容姿から、映画『リチャード・ジュエル』のリチャードを連想した。両作の主人公はいずれも同じ太った体型だが、それぞれの人間性はまるで違う。リチャードは自分が正しいと思い込む質。ポールは自分に自信が無い。どちらも周りにいたら面倒臭い男達。でも、そんな彼等だからこそドラマが生まれたのだろう。 

良い映画だが、何か物足りない。結果が分かっているせいか、オーディションのシーンではそれほど感動しなかった。そんな中、一番心に残っているのは、主人公の父親が酒場で男を殴った場面。スカッとした。クズはいくつになってもクズ。夫婦愛よりも親子愛の方が心に響いた。 

ポールの奥さん役のアレクサンドラ・ローチが、魅力的だけど、典型的な美人女優ではないことが本作をより現実的にしていると思う。現実世界でも、素敵な女性の容姿は普通であることが多い気がする。美しいに越したことはないが、最後にものを言うのは、男女共に人間性だと思う。