Solace

In June 2020, I watched the movie Solace for the first time on DVD. The thriller movie was opened in 2015. The lead is Anthony Hopkins. 

The outline is like this. The FBI gets stuck in the investigation of a serial murderer, then one of the agents visits his former colleague with second sight and asks him to help them. The former FBI agent, John Clancy, played by Anthony Hopkins cooperates with the FBI and joins the investigation, however, it turns out that the true culprit also has second sight, moreover, his capability is better than Clancy's. 

Although I was fascinated by the acting of Hopkins through, yet as a thriller film it was kind of more boring than The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Then I felt that it was ironical that Hopkins acted Dr. Lector, a cannibalistic murderer, in the two old movies but he played a FBI agent in the 2015 movie, though I admired him because he remarkably played the FBI agent as well as Dr. Lector. In terms of having psychic powers, Clancy resembled Ted also played by Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantic which I love as well as the two old films, so I appreciated the newer one with deep emotion. 

Abbie Cornish played well as a female FBI agent, though Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore had played a little bit better as Clarice. 

Known that Collin Farrell costarred, I thought of the FBI agent appearing from the beginning as him and I felt that Farrell had gotten old before I knew it, however, the real Farrell appeared in the middle and I realized that the looking old actor was different from him. I think of myself as a foreign movie fan, nevertheless, I sometimes still cannot tell one of white actors from the other.

ブレイン・ゲーム

2020年６月、映画『ブレイン・ゲーム』をDVDにて初観賞。2015年公開のスリラー映画。主演はアンソニー・ホプキンス。 

連続殺人犯を追っていたFBI捜査官が、捜査に行き詰まり、予知能力を持つ、アンソニー・ホプキンス扮する元同僚ジョン・クランシーに助けを求め、協力して犯人を追跡するものの、その凶悪犯は、実は、クランシーよりもより高い能力を備えていた。そんなお話。 

全体を通してアンソニー・ホプキンスの演技には魅せられたが、スリラー映画としては、『羊たちの沈黙』や『ハンニバル』よりも退屈だった。その２作品でレスター博士を演じていたホプキンスが、本作ではFBI 捜査官を演じていたのはなんだか皮肉だなと思いつつ、その演技には全く違和感が無かったので、流石だなとも思った。そして、特殊な能力を持っているという点が『アトランティスのこころ』のテッド役と同じなので、その３作品を好きな私にとっては、少し感慨深い作品であった。 

FBI 女性捜査官を演じたアビー・コーニッシュは、前述の２作品でクラリスを演じていたジョディ・フォスターやジュリアン・ムーアには僅かに及ばないが、良い演技をしていたと思う。 

また、コリン・ファレルが出演していると聞いていたので、冒頭から出ているFBI捜査官を彼だと思い、知らない間に老けたなぁと感じていたのだが、後半からコリン・ファレル本人が出てきて、違う役者さんだった事に気付いた。洋画ファンのつもりなのだが、未だに白人俳優は時折見分けがつかない。 

Little Women #2

I am still enjoying the afterglow of Little Women which I watched at a theater the other day. 

The story describes four sisters in a family who are all charming. 

Watching the movie, I really envied Laurie who had had a close relationship with all the sisters since they were very young. I also wondered why he fell in love with Jo, who was an unruly girl. I know that when a man has fallen in love with a woman, he tends to lose his reason, but, all the same, I felt that it seemed unnatural that Laurie really loved Jo. It might have been because Florence Pugh as Amy was quite charming and attractive. 

Laura Dern seemed to be the right actress for the role of the mother who raised the four sisters. I was impressed with her in it and I had been impressed that she had showed her presence comparable with Carrie Fisher's in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. 

I felt that the aunt played by Meryl Streep was the rightest in the female characters about how to live happily in those days as a woman. Realistically speaking, women have a slim chance of marring their destined soul mates, so it is wiser for them to focus on seeking a wealthy man. I, however, doubt that the aunt was truly happy. 

I felt comfortable with the old gentleman, the owner of a mansion in the neighborhood, who showed platonic consideration for the third daughter, Beth, who loves music, despite the elderly man looking stubborn and strict. I also felt ashamed that I had regarded his generous offer to permit Beth to freely play the piano in the mansion as his plot to come on to her when they are alone because he has his Lolita complex. I was really impressed with the scene where the gentleman was walking down the stairs near the room where Beth was playing the piano, and then he stopped and slowly sit on the stairs to listen to the beautiful tune that she was playing.

Little Women #1

ストーリー・オブ・マイライフ #2

先日劇場観覧した『ストーリー・オブ・マイライフ/わたしの若草物語』の余韻が未だ残っている。 

それぞれが魅力的な、ある４姉妹の物語。 

そんな彼女達と子供の頃からずっと仲良しの隣人、ローリーが、観てて羨ましくて仕方がなかった。それにしても、彼は、なぜ、あのじゃじゃ馬のジョーに一途になったのだろうか。誰かを物凄く好きになる時の気持ちは理屈では説明出来ないものだが、少し不自然に感じた。それは、四女のエイミーを演じていたフローレンス・ピューがとても魅力的だったせいかもしれない。 

４姉妹の母を演じていたのは、『スター・ウォーズ／エピソード８』でキャリー・フィッシャーに負けない存在感を示していたローラ・ダーン。娘達を立派に育て上げた母親役にはうってつけに感じた。 

そして、メリル・ストリープが演じていた姉妹達の叔母は、登場人物の女性の中では、当時の女性として一番正しい考え方をしていたと思う。運命の人と結ばれる確率なんてかなり低いだろうし、だったらまずは経済力という話になる。ただ、彼女が、心から幸せだったかどうかは別の話だが。 

姉妹達の家の隣にある立派な屋敷に住んでいた老紳士の、三女ベスに対するプラトニックな思いは、彼のような頑固そうな爺さんには似つかわしくないが、本当に微笑ましかった。そして、音楽が好きなベスに自分の屋敷のピアノを自由に弾かせてあげる彼の心優しい計らいを、実はロリコンで、二人きりになった時にいきなり襲いかかる魂胆じゃねーだろうな、と邪推していた事を恥じた。ベスがピアノを弾いている部屋の近くの階段を下りていた老紳士の彼が、途中で立ち止まり、そのまま階段に座り込んで彼女の奏でる音楽に聞き入ってしまうシーンは、強く印象に残った。

ストーリー・オブ・マイライフ　#1

Little Women #1

In June 2020, I watched Little Women for the first time at Toho Cinemas Kinshicho Orinas. The drama movie was released in 2019. It was based on the novel with the same title written by Louisa May Alcott and published in 1868. The story is set around in the 1860s in the United States and follows four sisters in a family. 

I had hardly known about the outline of the famous novel, so the story was almost new to me, however, I was really touched by how considerately they are concerned with and treat each other, though some of them sometimes started to argue with each other. When it was finished, I felt so lonely that I did not want to see the end-title credit and I liked to keep watching the heart-warming movie forever. 

The main character is the second daughter, Jo, who is as tough as a man and strives to become a professional writer, though most of the women had to depend on men those days. I was really moved by Jo's heart-felt cry against such a society, and then I was fascinated by the acting of Saoirse Ronan as the unruly girl from start to end. 

Jo often quarrels with the youngest daughter, Amy, who has worldly wisdom and hopes to become not independent but a wife in order to live happily at that time. I believe that many men including me tend to prefer Amy to Jo because she is convenient to us, though I think that governments have difficulty in realizing a gender equality society as long as men like us come to be fond of women like Amy who are convenient to us. I might be thinking too much about it, though. 

I think that Emma Watson is better suited for acting the role of a sensible and righteous woman like a class president and the oldest daughter. She also has the feel which makes me imagine that she will retire from acting in the near future and enter politics. I felt comfortable with how the three little sisters adore Meg played by the English actress. In the sisters' conversations I was the most impressed with this one in which the sickly third daughter, Beth, encouraged Jo to keep on writing when Beth was recuperating in the country and was relaxing with Joe at the beach. I was moved by how considerate the two sisters were to each other. The conversation also reminded me of the scene in Stand by Me where Chris, a brat, played by River Phoenix encouraged his best friend, Gordie, to become a writer in the future.

Little Women #2

ストーリー・オブ・マイライフ #1

2020年６月、『ストーリー・オブ・マイライフ/わたしの若草物語』をTOHOシネマズ錦糸町オリナスにて初観覧。2019年に公開されたドラマ映画。原作は、1868年に発表されたルイーザ・メイ・オルコットの小説『若草物語』。舞台は小説が発表された当時のアメリカ。ある４姉妹の物語。 

その有名な小説の粗筋すらもよく知らずに生きてきた。だから、物語はほぼ初見だったが、その４姉妹の、時に喧嘩もするが、お互いを思いやる姿や行動にとても感動し、終幕の際には名残惜しさの余り寂しさを感じた。いつまでも観ていたかった、心温まる物語。 

主人公は、男勝りで作家志望の次女、ジョー。当時の女性達は、男に頼って生きざるを得なかったが、そんな社会に反発するジョーの心の叫びは、とても胸に響いた。そして、彼女を演じたシアーシャ・ローナンには本当に魅せられた。 

そんなジョーがよく喧嘩をしていたのが末っ子のエイミー。自身の自立よりも花嫁になる事を望んでいる、世渡りが上手い女性。私もそうだが、多くの男性はエイミーの方が好きだと思う。だが、こういう、男にとって都合の良い女がモテるうちは、男女平等社会の実現は難しいだろうなとも思う。考え過ぎかな。 

エマ・ワトソンは、長女や学級委員長といった正義感の強いしっかり者の役に向いていると思う。そして、近い将来引退して政治活動を始めかねない雰囲気を漂わせている。彼女が演じた長女のメグが妹達に慕われている様は、とても微笑ましかった。 

姉妹の仲の良さに関して一番印象に残っているのは、病弱な三女のベスが、彼女の療養に付き添っていたジョーに小説を書き続けることを勧める場面。海辺で二人きりの時だったが、お互いがお互いを思いやる気持ちが本当に素敵だった。また、同時に、古い映画『スタンド・バイ・ミー』の中で親友のゴーディに小説家を目指すよう諭すガキ大将のクリスを演じた、リバー・フェニックスを思い出していた。

ストーリー・オブ・マイライフ　#2

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

In June 2020, I watched the movie Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol for the first time on TV. It is the fourth movie in the Mission Impossible series, which follows Ethan Hunt and his colleagues who are agents for the Impossible Missions Force, also known as the IMF, a division of the CIA. It was released in 2011.

Although the prequel was amazing partly thanks to the wonderful performance of Philip Seymour Hoffman, yet Ghost Protocol was fun more than that and as fun as the six movie Fallout which I watched at a theater two years ago, though I has started to forget about the details of the latest installment.

Hunt's two colleagues, Benji Dunn and William Brandt played by Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner respectively, sometimes humorously played in it, which soothed the feel of the movie which tended to become tense and serious, so I could happily watched it. The English actor is also a comedian and played longer in the sequel than in the prequel. His funny acting seemed to relax Hunt who were always in a serious mood. Renner is also a musician, which might be the reason why he looked kind of easy-going even when he was serious. I did not feel gloomy thanks to them when their team had difficulty in carrying out their mission.

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt was excellent in action as the prequels. Then I felt that he looked more mature in a good way than in the prequel released five years before, moreover, he somewhat had a dignified presence. He was 49 years old at the release. I think that men at the age of around fifty do not need to have a quite ambitious look peculiar to young men.

Paula Patton as Jane Carter, one of Hunt's team members, was exotic and beautiful. She played quite well as a attractive lady, though Rebecca Ferguson looks a little more enchanting.

Ving Rhames appeared toward the end with no mustache. He looked tough with a winsome smile, which made me feel happy.

Ｍ：Ｉ／ゴースト・プロトコル

2020年６月、『ミッション・インポッシブル／ゴースト・プロトコル』をDVDにて初観賞。CIAの極秘諜報部隊IMFのエージェント、イーサン・ハントとその仲間達が活躍する、スパイ・アクション映画シリーズの第４作。2011年公開。

前作は、フィリップ・シーモア・ホフマンの好演もあり、かなり面白かったが、本作はその面白さを超えてきた。そして、２年前に劇場観覧した第６作と、その記憶は少し薄れつつあるが、同じくらい面白く感じた。

まず、イーサン・ハントの仲間、ダンとブラントの二人が、時折、軽妙なやり取りでシリアスになりがちな雰囲気を和ませてくれていたので、楽しく視聴出来た。ダン役のサイモン・ペッグは前作も出演していたが、本作では出演時間も長く、元々英国のコメディアンなだけあって、そのコミカルな演技が、常にシリアスなハントの気分をも和ませているようだった。ブラント役のジェレミー・レナーも、ミュージシャンでもあるからなのか、真面目な顔をしていてもどこか飄々としていて、彼等が劣勢な時も、全く暗い気分にさせてくれなかった。

ハント役のトム・クルーズは、今回も素晴らしいアクションを披露していた。また、前作から５年経ったせいか、さらに良い感じに大人びていて、若干風格も出てきた。公開時49歳。もう若さ故の野心に満ちた顔はしなくてもいい年だと思う。

そして、ハントの仲間のエキゾチックな美女を演じたポーラ・パットン。レベッカ・ファーガソンの妖艶さにはギリ敵わないが、それでも、女の色気を感じる素晴らしい演技だった。

最後に、髭を剃ったヴィング・レイムスが、強面と愛嬌が共存する良い笑顔を見せていて、何だか嬉しくなった。

The Wizard of Oz

In June 2020, I watched the movie The Wizard of Oz for the first time on DVD. The American musical fantasy was released in 1939 and it was done 15 years later in Japan.

It follows a girl named Dorothy who is taken by a tornado into a dreamy land in which she makes three friends and struggles to get back to the real world with them singing and dancing so as to encourage her friends and herself. 

Although I first watched it, yet I felt nostalgia maybe because it was produced more than 80 years ago. All of the music sounded comfortable. The melody of "Over the Rainbow" was especially beautiful and was being played in my head for a while after watching it. As for the picture, the tone was at first sepia and changed to color when Dorothy wandered into the dreamy land as if she went over the rainbow, then it returned to sepia again toward the end. The direction was effective and tasteful.

In March 2020, I watched the movie Judy which describes Judy Garland's later days and in which a girl playing the young Garland was far prettier than the real Judy. Garland must be a typical beauty only in the middle of the twentieth century. Or it might be a matter of my personal preference. She was great at singing and dancing, though. Then I felt that Billie Burke was pretty as Glinda the Good Witch of the North. 

It was said that Garland was driven to chemical oblivion by adults around her so that she could keep her slender figure and continue to be awake at work when she was young. I had known about it from Judy, so I felt complicated when I watched her happily acting the lively Dorothy in the old movie. She passed away at the age of 47. Her early death might be due to the adults. 

However, a person's longevity might depend on their own genes because Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Elton John, who all used to be drug addicts, are all more than seventy years old and still active as musicians. I believe that how you live matters in the end.

オズの魔法使い

2020年６月、『オズの魔法使い』をDVDにて初観賞。1939年公開のファンタジー・ミュージカル映画。日本公開は1954年。

竜巻に巻き込まれて不思議な世界に迷い込んだ女の子ドロシーが、そこで出会った仲間達と共に、歌や踊りで自分達を鼓舞しながら元の世界に戻ろうと奮闘する物語。

80年以上も前の作品だからか、初観賞なのに懐かしく感じた。全ての楽曲が耳に心地良く、特に、「虹の彼方に」の美しい旋律は、鑑賞後、頭の中でしばらく鳴り響いていた。画面が、セピア色から、あたかも虹の彼方に行けたかのごとく、カラフルになり、そして、最後でまたセピア色に戻る演出もお洒落だった。

主演のジュディ・ガーランドの晩年を描いた映画『ジュディ』を観たのは2020年３月。その作品で若い頃のジュディを演じていた女の子はとても可愛かったが、本作のジュディ本人は、それほど綺麗には見えなかった。20世紀中頃の美人顔なのか、ただ単に私の好みではなかっただけなのか。歌や演技は上手かったと思う。「北の良い魔女」を演じたビリー・バークは綺麗だった。

この作品の頃のジュディは、彼女が細身の体型を維持する為に、そして、長時間働けるように、周りの大人達から薬漬けにされていたらしい。その事を『ジュディ』で知ってしまっていたので、『オズの魔法使い』で楽しそうに演技をしている彼女に対しては複雑な気分にもなった。47才で逝去。その早過ぎる死はその大人達の責任であるかもしれない。

しかし、若い頃ドラッグにハマっていた現在70歳代のキース・リチャーズやポール・マッカートニー、そして、エルトン・ジョンが未だ現役で活動しているのを目にすると、人の寿命はその人の遺伝子で決まるのかな、とも思う。大事なのは、死ぬまでにどう生きるか。