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。