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。

American Animals

In June 2019, I watched American Animals at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho in Tokyo. I had expected it to be a comedy because I had known that it was based on the foolish case which four American college students actually caused. It, however, was unexpectedly serious, so I was kind of tired after watching it. 

In March 2020, I watched it again on DVD. I had already known how serious it is and I had prepared mentally and physically, so I could enjoy it more than the last time. 

I was basically impressed with the thought-provoking film. It provoked these thoughts. I must carefully choose a friend. I must always hold on to myself. I must never be scared at a critical moment. I must never do things halfway. Those are all natural things. Everybody, however, makes a mistake, then, a thing goes wrong. 

The real former college students, who had actually caused the case, appeared and were talking in interviews in the film. It showed originality. 

The climax scenes became slow motion when I felt that the direction was quite exaggerated for the stupid case. I even chuckled in spite of myself. I then did not know whether the director made them dramatic or whether he made them ironic so as to make the viewers laugh. I now bet that he tried to make us laugh. 

I understand the feelings of young men who want to overly show off, yet the young men seem really foolish. Most of them realize it when they get old. Sadly, however, some of them age without noticing it. Their life might be happy, though I do not want to be friends with the kind of men.

アメリカン・アニマルズ

2019年６月、角川シネマ有楽町にて『アメリカン・アニマルズ』を観覧した。米国の大学生が実際に起こした間抜けな事件の話という前知識から喜劇を想定していたが、意外にシリアスだったので少し疲れた。 

2020年３月、DVDにて観賞。多少シリアスな作品であることは分かっていたので、体調を整えて臨んだせいか、前回よりも楽しめた。 

感動はそこそこ。色々考えさせられた作品。付き合う人間は選ばないと、とか、自分をしっかり持たないと、とか、いざという時にビビるな、とか、半端はダメ、とか。全て当たり前の事。でも、出来ないから狂いが生じる。 

実際に事件を起こした元大学生もインタビューを受ける形で出演している。結構斬新な構成。 

クライマックスでスロー・モーションになるところで、大した事件でもないのに大げさだなぁ、と思い笑ってしまった。ドラマチックにしたかったのか、皮肉で笑える感じにしたかったのか。私は後者だと思った。 

格好つけたがる若者は、気持ちは分かるが、本当にダサい。歳を重ねて少しずつ気付く事。それに気付かけずに老いる方々もいらっしゃる。それはそれで幸せな人生なのかもしれない。個人的には、そういう人種とはあまり関わりたくないが。