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。 

War of the Worlds

In March 2020, I watched War of the Worlds on TV. The movie was released in 2005 and based on the novel The War of the Worlds written by H. G. Wells in 1898. The director is Steven Spielberg. The story tells a fight against invaders from space. It is said that the 9.11 terrorist attacks had affected it. After watching it, I became depressed because I felt blue most of the time. Although it would have been more enjoyable if I had watched it at a theater, yet I did not like it because it was gloomy over all. I want to watch a movie that makes me comfortable. 

Tom Cruise superbly played the main character who is a kind of spoiled father. He was forty-three years old at the release but he was running vigorously in it. Then, he looked in his thirties to me. In September 2018, I watched Mission: Impossible – Fallout where he was running strenuously despite being 56 years old. What an energetic actor! 

Dakota Fanning also appeared in it and was 11 years old at that time. I had seen her for the first time in I am Sam and I had felt her really cute in it. She, however, seemed just cute in the science fiction movie. She might have changed for the four years between the releases of the two movies, or my memory might have gradually changed because human memories are basically ambiguous. In October 2019, I watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood but I did not realize that the former child star acted a woman in the film. It might be because I was too absorbed in the two leads who has been superstars for a long time. The other day, I saw a recent photograph of the former child star on the internet. She had a remnant of her childhood but had changed a lot. Time flies really fast. 

宇宙戦争

2020年３月、『宇宙戦争』をTV観賞した。Ｈ・Ｇ・ウェルズが1898年に発表した同名ＳＦ小説が原作で、スティーヴン・スピルバーグ監督作。宇宙からの侵略者との闘い。2005年公開。9.11同時多発テロの影響を受けているらしい。憂鬱な気分になる時間帯が長いので気が滅入った。映画館で観たらもっと楽しめる作品かもしれないが、全体的に暗いので好みではない。映画は笑顔で観たい。 

トム・クルーズがダメ親父を好演。公開時43歳。元気に走り回っていて、30歳代に見えた。2018年９月に劇場観覧した『ミッション：インポッシブル／フォール・アウト』でも56歳だったトムは走り回っていた。元気な俳優さん。 

ダコタ・ファニングも出演。公開時11歳。初めて観たのは『アイ・アム・サム』。すごく可愛かった記憶があるが、今回は普通の子役に見えた。４年経っているから少し変わったのかな。人の記憶の曖昧さ故かもしれない。2019年10月に観覧した『ワンス・アポン・ア・タイム・イン・ハリウッド』にも出演していたらしいが、２大俳優に気を取られていたせいか、気が付かなかった。先日、近影を観たが、面影は残っているけどかなり変わってしまっている。時が経つのは本当に早い。 

Crimson Tide

In March 2020, I watched Crimson Tide on my television set. It was released in 1995. I had watched it on DVD for the first time years before and I had felt that it was fun. The director is Tony Scott. I prefer his big brother, Ridley Scott, however, it was fun again. 

The film was set in the Cold War years. A circumstance occurred in Chechnya, which might have caused a nuclear war. Then in a US Navy submarine, the captain argued and conflicted with the executive officer over whether or not to launch their nuclear missiles in a preemptive strike. The story developed thrillingly, so I was never bored until the end. 

I was really impressed by a competition between Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman as the commanders. That was worth watching. Then I thought anew that the charm of actors depends on their acting, not their appearances. 

The 2020 Best Actor Oscar nominee Viggo Mortensen appeared in it and acted the weapons officer. He was in his late thirties at that time, looked like Ed Harris and gave a wonderful performance as the officer who got caught between the senior officers. Six years later, by the way, he appeared in The Lord of the Rings and became more famous afterward. It must be well-known among movie fans. However, I had not recognized him until I watched Green Book in March 2019, so I feel unqualified to say that I am a movie fan.

クリムゾン・タイド

2020年３月、『クリムゾン・タイド』をTV観賞した。1995年公開。初観賞はかなり前で、結構面白かった記憶有り。トニー・スコット監督作。兄のリドリーの方が好きだが、今回も面白かった。 

舞台は冷戦時代。核戦争に発展し得る事態がチェチェンで発生し、アメリカ海軍の潜水艦が出動。その艦内で、艦長と副艦長が、核ミサイルを先制攻撃で発射するか否かの選択で互いの主張をぶつけ合い、争いを繰り広げる物語。手に汗握る展開で最後まで退屈しなかった。 

ダブル主演のデンゼル・ワシントンとジーン・ハックマンの演技合戦は見応えがあった。俳優の魅力は、容姿よりも演技力。改めて思った。 

『グリーンブック』のヴィゴ・モーテンセンも出演。この頃はエド・ハリス似。上官同士の板挟みにあう悩ましい役を見事に演じ切っていた。この後、『ロード・オブ・ザ・リング』で名声を得たようだ。映画ファンにはお馴染みの人気俳優なのだろう。『グリーンブック』で初めて彼を認識した自分には、映画ファンだと公言する資格はないかもしれない。 

Rebel in the Rye

In February 2019, I watched Rabel in the Rye at Shinjuku Cinema Qualite, a theater in Tokyo. The lead looked familiar, so I checked him on the internet after watching it. Then, he turned out to have been the child actor playing the sassy Marcus in About a Boy. Time flies! 

In March 2020, I watched it again on DVD. 

The movie is based on the book J. D. Salinger: A Life written by Kenneth Slawenski in 2012 and it describes half the life of the writer J. D. Salinger who is the author of The Catcher in the Rye which I want to read someday. 

The film was basically serious but kind of casual and it was really good. Nicholas Hoult had played a brat in About a Boy, had grown up and gave a wonderful performance as the suffering Salinger in it. Although Kevin Spacey appeared, too, yet I could not stop smiling wryly at him because he reminded me of his scandal. He got what he deserved, anyway. 

I want to watch it again in some years and am planning to read The Catcher in the Rye before watching it. 

ライ麦畑の反逆児

2019年２月、新宿シネマカリテにて『ライ麦畑の反逆児／ひとりぼっちのサリンジャー』を観覧した。主演俳優に見覚えがあり、気になって観覧後に調べてみたら、『アバウト・ア・ボーイ』で生意気なマーカスを演じたあの子役が成長した姿であった。光陰矢の如し。 

2020年３月、DVDにて再観賞。 

ケネス・スラウェンスキーが2012年に上梓した評伝『サリンジャー 生涯91年の真実』が原作で、いつか読もうと思っている小説『ライ麦畑でつかまえて』の作家サリンジャーの半生を描いている。地味だが、全編に程良い緊張感が漂っている良い作品。『アバウト・ア・ボーイ』で小生意気な子供を演じていたニコラス・ホルトが青年になり、サリンジャーの苦悩を見事に演じている。ケビン・スペイシーも出ていたが、あのスキャンダルが頭にチラついて普通に観れなかった。ま、身から出た鯖。 

数年後また観たい作品。『ライ麦畑でつかまえて』もそれまでに読んでおきたい。 

Birds of Prey

In March 2020, I watched Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) at Movix Kameari. 

The story follows a girl called Harley Quinn who broke up with the dreadful Joker and decided to live without relying on men. Before watching it, I thought that the movie was produced to capitalize on to the popularity of the movie Joker, so I did not expected so much. However, it was fun, though it was not so deep, unlike Joker, as I had expected. I also could not empathize it because I am a man. 

It seemed to be a present for a woman who is usually frustrated at men around her. I was fascinated by the way Harley rampaged around. Then, she never felt depressed and she rebounded right away even if she was quite shocked. The positive girl refreshed me. Life is a struggle. You have no time to feel down because enemies are always watching for a chance to attack you. You cannot survive the real world unless you are tough. 

I think that a couple of a strong man and a modest woman has already become old-fashioned. Today's ideal couple consists of a strong man and a strong woman who never flatters with him. In fact, it is common knowledge that women are mentally far stronger than men. I do not intend to support feminism so much but I feel happy that strong female heroes have increased because I honestly have become tired of male heroes a little.

Margot Robbie was charming, though I want to watch the young female actor with normal makeup next time. Mary Elizabeth Winstead as The Huntress was also pretty but she was not as gorgeous as Rebecca Ferguson in Doctor Sleep and Jennifer Lopez in Hustlers. Evan McGregor does not seem evil to the core, so I felt that the villain acted by him was suitable for the entertaining movie.

ハーレイ・クインの華麗なる覚醒

2020年３月、Movix亀有にて『ハーレイ・クインの華麗なる覚醒』を観覧した。 

ジョーカーと別れたハーレイが、男に頼らない生き方を選択した物語。

観賞前は、『ジョーカー』人気にあやかろうという魂胆なんだろうと思い、それほど期待はしていなかった。だが、割と面白かった。予想通り、ジョーカーほどの深みは無かったし、男なので余り感情移入も出来なかったが。 

日頃周りの男共に鬱憤が溜まっている女性へのプレゼントみたいな作品。ハーレイ・クインの暴れっぷりが可愛らしかった。そして、ショックな事があっても決して落ち込まず直ちに前を向く彼女の姿からは勇気をもらった。人生は闘い。落ち込んでいたら寝首を掻かれる。タフでないと生き残れない。 

ありきたりの、たくましい男としおらしい女という構図はもう古い気がする。たくましい男とそれに媚びないたくましい女が世のトレンドだろう。メンタルは女の方が男より圧倒的に強いのは周知の事実。フェミニズムを殊更応援するつもりはないが、強い女の映画が増えるのは喜ばしい事。男によるヒロイズムは正直観飽きた。 

マーゴット・ロビー。チャーミングだった。次回は厚化粧していない彼女を観たい。ハントレス役のメアリー・エリザベス・ウィンステッドも綺麗だったが、『ドクター・スリープ』のレベッカ・ファーガソンや『ハスラーズ』のジェニファー・ロペスには及ばなかった。悪役のユアン・マクレガーは、根っからの悪党には見えないので、この娯楽作品にはマッチしていると思う。