ミッション：インポッシブル２

2020年６月、『ミッション・インポッシブル２』をTVにて観賞。2000年公開のスパイ・アクション映画。 

CIAの極秘諜報部隊IMFのエージェント、イーサン・ハントとその仲間たちの活躍が描かれている。今回は人工的に開発された殺人ウィルスを巡る攻防戦。現実世界でコロナウィルスに翻弄される日々を送っているので、若干複雑な気分になった。面白さは前作と同じくらいに感じたが、よりスタイリッシュになった気もした。 

主演のトム・クルーズは、前回より良い感じの好青年になっていたが、それほど好きにはなれなかった。良い俳優さんだとは思う。アクションも半端無かった。特にバイクで疾走するシーンは絵になっていた。 

アンソニー・ホプキンスも出演。前作のジョン・ボイド並みの活躍を期待したが、出演は２シーンだけ。少し残念だったが、彼のシーンが増えるとトム・クルーズが食われてしまう可能性があるので、あれで良かったとも思う。このシリーズでは、トム・クルーズの輝きを陰らしてはいけない。 

ハントの仲間としてお馴染みのルーサー役のヴィング・レイムスが口髭を生やしていた。生理的に口髭は好きにはなれない。『スティング』のポール・ニューマンや、『パルプ・フィクション』と『アイリッシュマン』でのハーヴェイ・カイテルは、二人ともとても好きな俳優さんではあるが、あの風貌だけは好きになれない。こんな個人的過ぎる嗜好を言いだしたらキリがないが、チャールズ・ブロンソンのような髭が似合う男だったらケチはつけない。 

ヒロインのタンディ・ニュートンはとても魅力的な女性だが、トム・クルーズの相手役には、彼女のような童顔の女性はあまり似合わない気がする。レベッカ・ファーガソンのような妖艶な美女の方が適役だと感じた。

The Blues Brothers

In June 2020, I watched The Blues Brothers, a revival, at Toho Cinemas Kinshicho. That was the first time for me to watch the movie on a big screen. It was wonderful time. The movie was released in 1980. I had watched it for the first time on the television set when I was a boy. I remembered that it was fun. Then I bought the cheap used DVD of it in the early 2000s and I have watched it several times since then.

The movie is a good old American slapstick musical. All of the songs and back ground music were so fantastic that I was never bored and fully enjoyed myself through. 

The story follows the Blues brothers. The brothers know that the orphanage, which had raised them, cannot pay its huge real property tax by the due day, so they reunite their band to earn money enough to pay the huge tax and they start to struggle.

I had watched John Belushi as Jake Blues several times and I first watched him as Jake on a big screen. Every time I saw the short and heavy guy, he looked very cool in spite of his figure. His unique actions and motions were sophisticated and amusing. He was laconic and hardly got upset no matter what happened, and then he pretended to calm until the last moment when crunches came, which was cool and funny. He really amused me. I could not stop chuckling especially at the scenes where the brothers were silently standing in the elevator that took forever to arrive at their destination floor.

Elwood Blues acted by Dan Aykroyd was a good performer on stage and he always stood by his big brother. The brotherhood was heart-warming. Twiggy played a chic girl who was asked out by Elwood but ended up being stood up. The cut in which the chic girl are waiting for Elwood is inserted in the middle of the scenes where the brothers are desperately running from the police. The edition was impeccable and stylish, which really impressed and amused me. Carrie Fisher gave a good performance as a mysterious and crazy girl. She acted in it just after she did in Star Wars and became famous as the role of Leia Organa.

The movie is known for the gorgeous cast members. As for the performers, however, I could recognize only James Brown, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. It is said that the other performers and actors were also popular in those days. The viewers can feel the vivid atmosphere in the days when the blockbuster entertainment was released. 

ブルース・ブラザーズ

2020年６月、『ブルース・ブラザーズ』をTOHOシネマズ錦糸町にて観覧。1980年公開作のリバイバル上映。子供の頃、ＴＶで初観賞。面白かった記憶があったので、大人になって安価だった中古DVDを購入。これまでにそれで何度か観ているが、劇場観覧は初めて。最高に楽しかった。

古き良きアメリカのドタバタコメディ・ミュージカル作品。歌およびBGMが本当に素晴らしくて、最後まで飽きる事無く楽しめた。

ブルース兄弟が、かつて育ててくれた孤児院が税金の支払いに困っている事を知り、その孤児院を助ける為に、昔彼らが組んでいたバンドを再結成してその税金分を稼ごうと奮闘する物語。

兄のジェイク・ブルースを演じたずんぐりむっくりのジョン・ベルーシが、何故か毎回カッコよく見える。彼独特の動きや仕草が洒落ていて、小気味良い。そして、無駄口を叩かず、どんな目に遭っても徒に慌てず、いざという時もギリギリまでクールを装っている様が本当に可笑しかった。特に、最後の方で、中々目的階に到着しないエレベーターの中で弟のエルウッドと一緒に黙って突っ立っている姿が、可笑しくてしょうがなかった。

ダン・エイクロイドが演じたエルウッドは、歌やダンスが上手くて、ジェイクの良い相棒。兄弟愛が微笑ましい。そのエルウッドが口説いていた女の子を演じていたのがツィギー。ブルース兄弟が警察に追われているシーンの最中に、彼女が待ちぼうけを食らっているカットが挿入されているが、そのタイミングが絶妙でオシャレだ。キャリー・フィッシャーも出演。『スター・ウォーズ』のレイア姫役でスターになったばかりの頃で、イカレた女を好演していた。

共演者がとにかく豪華な事でも有名な映画。私自身は、ジェームス・ブラウンとアレサ・フランクリン、そして、レイ・チャールズしか分からなかったが、他のミュージシャン・役者も相当な大物らしい。公開当時の時代の雰囲気が感じられる超娯楽大作だ。

Mission: Impossible

In June 2020, I watched the spy action movie Mission: Impossible for the first time on my television set. It was released in 1996. The first installment of the Mission: Impossible series. Tom Cruise is well-known as the lead in the series. 

The movie follows the activities of Ethan Hunt who is a young agent for the Impossible Missions Forces, also known as the IMF, a division of the CIA.

The movie was just good. 

Although Sean Connery and Roger Moore as James Bond are cool and completely matured men who are good at joking, yet Tom Cruise as Hunt was a passionate and vigorous man who was better in action than the two great actors as Bond. By the way, Cruise in the movie looked similar to Charlie Sheen.

I had not liked Cruise for a long time but I thought of him as a young and handsome actor playing well when I watched The Color of Money and Rain Man. In the two movies he costarred with my favorite actors Paul Newman and Dustin Hoffman respectively. I just had not been fond of the young Cruise because he looked impudent. I, however, have been a fan of him since I watched Fallout, the sixth installment of the series at a theater in 2018. Cruise in his fifties looked nice and matured. He has been a world-wide superstar since Top Gun, so he must have continued to make efforts without getting arrogant and being proud of his good-looking. What a great actor.

I was kind of surprised when Ving Rhames appeared with Jean Reno because I had seen him in the sixth movie. After watching the first one, I checked and knew that he had played the same role in all of the installments in the series. Cruise and he must be a good match. Rhames also played well as a crime boss in Pulp Fiction released in 1994. I was impressed with him in the scene where the boss is saying goodbye to an old boxer played by Bruce Wills. Rhame is a good actor who looks tough but has a winsome smile.

ミッション：インポッシブル

2020年６月、『ミッション：インポッシブル』をTVにて初観賞。1996年公開。スパイ・アクション映画『ミッション：インポッシブル』シリーズの第１作。主演は言わずと知れたトム・クルーズ。

CIAの極秘諜報部隊IMFの若きエージェント、イーサン・ハントの活躍を描いている。

まあまあ面白かった。

ジェームズ・ボンドは、十分に成熟した大人で落ち着き払っていたが、ハントは情熱的で血気盛んな青年。ボンドを演じたショーン・コネリーやロジャー・ムーアは洒落たジョークが得意だったが、ハント役のトム・クルーズはアクションが素晴らしかった。この頃のクルーズは、マイケル・シーンに似ている。

長い間、トム・クルーズは好きではなかった。ポール・ニューマン目当てで観た『ハスラー２』やダスティン・ホフマン目当てで観た『レイン・マン』にそれぞれ出演していた彼には、演技が上手いハンサムな若手俳優という印象は持てたが、彼の若い頃の生意気な感じは虫が好かなかった。だが、2018年に劇場観覧したシリーズ第６作の『フォールアウト』で、遅まきながら彼のファンになった。50代半ばの彼は、良い感じの大人になっていた。『トップガン』以来、世界のトップ・スターとして長年君臨し続けている彼。ルックスの良さに驕ることなく精進し続けていたんだろうな。偉大な俳優さん。

第６作に出ていたヴィング・レイムスが、ジャン・レノと一緒に現れた時は少し驚いた。彼はこのシリーズ全てに出演しているらしい。トム・クルーズとの相性が良いのだろう。『パルプ・フィクション』ではギャングのボス役を演じていたが、ボクサー役のブルース・ウィルスとの別れのシーンが印象に残っている。強面だが愛嬌がある良い役者さん。

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

In June 2019, I watched the movie Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot for the first time at Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho. It was released in 2018 in the U.S.

I had heard that the movie follows a late cartoonist, so I had expected that it was like a comedy. It, however, was unexpectedly serious. I went to the theater after work, so I was kind of tired before watching it and I became more tired after doing so. The story was very good, anyway, so I was really looking forward to the release of it on DVD.

In June 2020, I finally watched it again on DVD.

The story describes the late Mr. John Callahan. He has been an alcoholic and met a car accident that makes him live out of a wheelchair in the rest of his life. After that, he overcomes the addiction, find meaning in life and positively lives as a newspaper cartoonist.

Joaquin Phoenix gave a wonderful performance as Callahan who got through the distressful times. He won the Oscar for Best Actor in Joker in the next year, which seemed to be natural to me because I believed that his acting in the 2018 film had already deserved the award.

Rooney Mara as Annu, John's girlfriend, was very charming. She was really attractive especially after she met John for the first time in a few years. Although I was thinking that American women are generally strong and kind of arrogant, yet her gentle and elegant smile totally fascinated me.

Jack Black played Dexter who caused the car accident disabling Callahan. His acting was brilliant when Callahan finally visited him. Then I smiled in spite of myself when I watched Dexter singing "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel in an easygoing way just before they met. I felt that Jack might usually sing the song that way in his private life, so I was pleased because the number has been my favorite one for a long time. 

ドント・ウォーリー

2019年６月、ヒューマントラストシネマ有楽町にて『ドント・ウォーリー』を初観覧。2018年に全米公開された作品。

実在した風刺漫画家のお話とのことで、コメディっぽい作品だろうと想像していたが、意外とシリアスだったので、仕事帰りで疲れていた私には少しキツかった。だが内容は素晴らしかったので、DVD化されたら絶対観ようと思っていた。

そして、2020年６月、DVDにて再観賞。

アルコール依存症に陥り、交通事故で身体障碍者になって車椅子生活を余儀なくされるが、その後、依存症を克服し、風刺漫画を描くことを生き甲斐にして前向きに生きたジョン・キャラハンの物語。

苦悩に満ちた人生を歩んだキャラハンを演じた、ホアキン・フェニックスの演技は素晴らしかった。翌年の『ジョーカー』のジョーカー役でアカデミー賞主演男優賞を受賞したが、その受賞は、時間の問題だったんだなと思える演技だった。そのキャラハンの彼女アンヌを演じたルーニー・マーラも、とても可愛らしかった。特に、キャラハンと再会して恋人同士になってからのアンヌは神がかりの愛らしさだった。アメリカの女性には自己中で高飛車なイメージが若干あったが、彼女の柔らかな笑顔には本当に魅せられた。

そして、ジャック・ブラック。キャラハンを障碍者にした男デクスターを演じていたが、キャラハンとの再会シーンの演技は流石の一言。そして、その再会直前にビリー・ジョエルの「ロックンロールが最高さ」を能天気に歌っていた姿には思わず笑ってしまった。普段からあんな風に口ずさんでいるように思えて、私も未だに聴いているお気に入りの曲なので、嬉しくもなった。

The Mummy

In June 2020, I watched The Mummy for the first time on my television set. The movie was released in 2017 and stars Tom Cruise.

It follows two men and a woman who are at the mercy of an ancient civilization.

The CGI was great. Tom Cruise was cool for his age. However, it was not fun and made me realize that I am not interested in movies with ancient civilizations. I used to watch the Indiana Jones series but I did not eventually get intrigued in it. I have also never been interested in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns staring Brendan Fraser.

I get interested in films set in the medieval era if they are based on true stories, though I like films set in the modern civilization, the present and the near future, moreover, I like utterly fictional ones, such as Star Wars. Ancient civilizations are very old but are dreamy, so I think that documentaries about them at least are worth watching. All the same, I prefer films set around in the present and completely fictional ones.

Russell Crowe was stout, so for the first few seconds I did not notice that the guy is him. Then I chuckled when I did. Although he could not help getting old, yet Tom Cruise who is senior to him by two years could show off his athletic build in the movie. Mr. Cruise is a great actor who has kept his figure. I think that he played well in it but I prefer him as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible - Fallout released in 2018. I watched it at a theater and I was amazed that the 56-year-old Tom Cruise was running and running in it. The sequels, the seventh and eighth movies in the Mission: Impossible series, are being filmed and both of them will be released in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Cruise will also appear in the sequel to Top Gun which will be released in 2020. All of the sequels will be hugely profitable for Cruise as not only an actor but a producer, so maybe his status as a celebrity will be secured for the next several years.

ザ・マミー／呪われた砂漠の王女

2020年６月、『ザ・マミー／呪われた砂漠の王女』 をTVにて初観賞。2017年公開。トム・クルーズ主演。

２人の男と１人の女がある古代文明に翻弄される物語。

CGIは普通に凄かった。公開時55歳のトム・クルーズも恰好良かった。だが、正直、映画自体はあまり面白くなかった。そして、この作品で、私が古代文明絡みの作品に興味が無い事に気付いてしまった。以前観た『インディ・ジョーンズ』シリーズにも、結局ハマらなかった事を思い出す。『ハムナプトラ』シリーズに全く興味が湧かないのも、それ故だろう。

史実を基にしている作品だったら中世でも興味は湧く。だが、好きなのは近代から現代におけるお話、または、近未来物、もしくは、『スター・ウォーズ』のような宇宙を舞台にした全く嘘っぱちな虚構の世界。古代文明は昔過ぎる。ロマンがあるので、ドキュメンタリーなら観る価値はあると思うが、映画では、現代と繋がるお話か、全くのファンタジーを楽しみたい。

ラッセル・クロウが太り過ぎていて最初分からなかった。そして、気付いた時には笑ってしまった。彼も歳には勝てないのかなと思ったが、実際には、トム・クルーズより２歳若い。そのクルーズは、劇中で自身の肉体美を披露している。体形をキープし続けている本当に偉大な俳優さん。本作でも好演していたとは思うが、翌年主演した『フォールアウト』のスパイ、イーサン・ハント役の方が合っている。その公開時に観覧した際、走り回る56歳の彼の姿に感嘆した。続編の『ミッション：インポッシブル』シリーズ７作目と８作目も製作中でそれぞれ2021年、2022年に公開予定のようだ。『トップガン』の続編にも主演予定で、2020年公開予定。莫大な収益を見込める作品が目白押しで、製作にも参加しているクルーズのセレブリティの地位は、当分安泰のようだ。

Akira

I watched the animated movie Akira for the first time around in 2005 on DVD. The movie was quite shocking. I am relaxing and doing something easy every time I watch a movie in my room, however, at that time I was deeply absorbed from the middle to the end. Then after watching it, I did it again twice on the same day. The film is filled with mysterious energy and power. I watched it again more than a couple of times after that day on DVD. I also bought the graphic novel with the same title in six volumes and read it many times. The story comic has different elements, so it is more intriguing. I hope that another Akira will be filmed based on the manga.

The animation film describes the incomplete both younger and older people at the mercy of a gigantic power that each human being could possess and a boy has obtained by chance.

I have little strength and do not like even to argue but as a man I understand the feelings of the main character Tetsuo who awakened and intoxicated with his own incredible power. Thugs with terrible strength and violent nature might stride in back streets and run wild with the feelings of a Tetsuo. Education is essential. Kaneda had been a close friend of and like a big brother of Tetuso's but he could not control Tetsuo who got awake, impudent and arrogant. All the same, Kanada confronted the arrogant boy. Friendship is beautiful in youth without reason.

I wonder how I would become if I got something like a supernatural power. I am already an old man, so I would not get too excited and parade it, unlike Tetsuo. I would stealthily do wrong, though. I would not stand up for something like world peace because I would end up being manipulated by cunning plotters after all if I did. I am quite ashamed that I am a coward like that.  

In August 2018, I watched the movie at a theater for the first time. It was amazing on a big screen, though the quality of the pictures was not so good at the theater, Meguro Cinema.

In June 2020, the novel coronavirus pandemic has gradually been settled in Japan, so I could watch the film at United Cinemas Terrace Mall Matsudo. The pictures were amazing because they were on IMAX. That was a fantastic experience.