A Girl Named Ann (2024)

A Girl Named Ann. A Japanese drama film. Directed by Yu Irie. Starring Yuumi Kawai.

There are an equal number of nasty parents and unfortunate children. Too obedient children are especially sad because they need a long time to remove their parents' brainwashing. Adults with a secret intention pretend to be righteous and approach such children. The conditions are ugly and cruel. The film depicts the tragic reality, which was hard for me to watch. I felt comfortable only when the fragile Yuumi Kawai as Ann smiles occasionally. 

Drug addicts are said to never commit suicide. They seem to live a pleasure hell.

The role of Goro Inagaki might be suitable for a still unknown actor who are waiting for a chance.

Thinking the ending, it was more tragic than Ichiko. I do not want to believe that it is based on a true story. 

あんのこと（2024）

『あんのこと』。日本のドラマ映画。入江悠監督作。主演は河合優実。

下衆な父母の数だけ不幸な児童がいる。親の洗脳から解放されるのに時間がかかる素直すぎる子が特に哀しい。そんな彼らに下心を持つ大人が善人面して近づいてくる。醜悪で残酷な世界だ。そんな悲惨な現実が描かれた本作は観てて辛かった。救いは儚げな主役の河合優実が時折見せた笑顔。

薬物常習者は自殺をしないらしい。快楽地獄だな。

稲垣吾郎の役はチャンスを待っているまだ売れていない役者でよかったのでは。

ラストを思うと『市子』以上の悲劇だ。実話だとは信じたくない。

The Equalizer 2 (2018)

The Equalizer 2. An American action thriller movie. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Starring Denzel Washington.

It follows Robert McCall who is a former quite competent agent at a U.S. intelligence agency. He works as a taxi driver but eliminates the villains. 

I was sad to watch some of the intelligence agents losing their morals after they faithfully kept carrying out their missions of eliminating their enemies. At the same time, I thought that it was hard to keep on doing the right thing. All the same, McCall have continued to do the right things. He rescued a young man who became friendly with him and were almost forced to join a gang.

Bill Pullman appeared in it following the prequel. He had an innocent smile as usual for his age. Denzel as MaCall sharply moved in combat as always.

 

イコライザー２（2018）

 『イコライザー２』。アメリカのアクション・ドラマ。アントワーン・フークア監督作。主演はデンゼル・ワシントン。

元情報機関の凄腕工作員であるマッコールが、前作とは違って、タクシー運転手をしながら悪党達を始末するお話。

任務を忠実に遂行して殺人を重ねてきた情報機関の工作員の倫理観が壊れる様が哀しい。だが、正義を貫き続けるのもしんどい事なのだろう。 それでも、マッコールは正義を貫き通し続けて、不良グループに引き込まれそうになっていた、個人的に親しくなった青年をも救い出す。

前作同様、ビル・プルマンが出演。いい年なのに相変わらず人の良さそうな笑顔を見せていた。そして、デンゼルの戦闘時の動きもまた相変わらず鋭い。

Chips (2012)

Chips. A Japanese drama. Directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura.

Not only Fumino Kimura but also Mayu Matsuoka acted in it, so I had wanted to see it for a long time. I watched it. Kimura has been pretty since the time. I was amused by Nao Omori who played a man behaving like a psychopath. I felted that it was dated for a film released 12 years ago. The lead Gaku Hamada was charming but did not leave a deep impression on me.

ポテチ（2012）

『ポテチ』。日本のドラマ映画。中村義洋監督作。原作は伊坂幸太郎。

木村文乃だけでなく松岡茉優まで出演しているのでずっと気になっていて、観てみた。木村文乃はこの頃からお綺麗だ。大森南朋が演じていた男のサイコパスぶりが可笑しかった。12年前の作品。少し古く感じた。主演の濱田岳はチャーミングだが、印象薄め。

The Equalizer (2014)

The Equalizer. An American action thriller movie. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Starring Denzel Washington. Chloë Grace Moretz acted in it. 

It follows Robert McCall who used to be a competent agent for a U.S. intelligence organ and is a regular customer at a dinner where he meets with a young whore named Alina. He is saddened to hear that she is in a plight and decides to fight against the villains for her.

Denzel Washington as McCall was 59 years old at the release. He was surprisingly agile for his age, had a substantial presence and played a perfect killer. I prefer him to John Wick. Chloë Grace Moretz as Alina was really cute and gave a wonderful act.

It was kind of serious for an action movie. 

イコライザー（2014）

『イコライザー』。アメリカのアクション・スリラー。アントワーン・フークア監督作。デンゼル・ワシントン主演。クロエ・グレース・モレッツ出演。

アメリカの情報機関の凄腕エージェントだった過去を持つマッコールが、彼の行きつけの飲食店で出会った若い娼婦アリーナの不遇を悲しみ、彼女の為に悪党達と戦う物語。

マッコール役のデンゼル・ワシントンは公開時59歳。歳を考えると、体の切れが驚異的だ。存在感も半端無い。殺し屋としても完璧だった。ジョン・ウィックよりも好きだ。そして、アリーナ役のクロエ・グレース・モレッツが可愛らしすぎて演技も素晴らしかった。

アクション映画だけど割とシリアス。

My Sunshine (2024)

My Sunshine. A Japanese drama film. Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama. Starring Keitatsu Koshiyama. Sousuke Ikematsu acted in it.

A girl named Sakura has practiced figure skating with a glum expression on her face until she does ice dancing with Takuya, a purely humble boy with a stammer. She begins naturally to smile and be friendly with her coach, however, she knows a fact. A feeling of strangeness is transformed into an aversion. A jealousy. A misunderstanding.

A really sad story. The playing catch was very meaningful but casual, which made me sorrowful. I also thought that the Cannes Film Festival audience like the kind of film.

ぼくのお日さま（2024）

『ぼくのお日さま』。日本のドラマ映画。奥山大史監督作。主演は越山敬達。池松壮亮出演。

フィギュアスケートの稽古中に何かがひっかかって浮かない表情を見せていた少女さくら。生意気さの全く無い純真で愛らしい吃音症の少年タクヤとアイスダンスをするようになり自然と笑顔がこぼれ出してコーチとも打ち解け始めるが、ある事実を知る。違和感から嫌悪感。嫉妬。誤解。

哀しすぎるお話。意味のあり過ぎる何気ないキャッチボールに心がえぐられた。

カンヌってこういうお話が好きだねえ、とも思った。