Comments on: Some Films Wot I Saw http://www.sumption.org/2004/01/17/some-films-wot-i-saw/ A small selection of the many things that have happened to Dan Sumption, his family, friends and colleagues Fri, 5 Dec 2008 01:57:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Dan http://www.sumption.org/2004/01/17/some-films-wot-i-saw/#comment-223 Dan Sun, 18 Jan 2004 08:27:33 +0000 http://www.sumption.org/wordpress/?p=727#comment-223 Hi Jan... err, Fan. Perhaps the fact you think it has nothing to say about life has something to do with your life. It had quite a bit to say about mine, and it rang extremely true with me and with Gill (especially the phone calls back to his wife). The film worked for me on a great many levels, probably because I could identify on a great many levels. What does it say about life? Nothing hugely revelatory, I agree, but... what a way to say it! It's about loneliness and relationships and the many ways in which people can touch other people, a celebration of humanity. The two characters end the film ostensibly with no more than they started, and yet their brief contact is something they'll carry with them forever. It's also about partying :-) the party scenes are awesome, and again rung very true to me (suddenly Tokyo at 4am doesn't seem all that different from London at 4am, 'cept perhaps for some extra neon). Partying hard makes everything else go away. The reason for using Japan is that it's an almost tabula rasa, alien landscape. It throws everything else into relief. Mars would have worked as well, though Tokyo made for more laughs. And of course, I hope I don't have to mention how blisteringly good the acting was. Ot the cinematography. Or the damn sound. Hi Jan… err, Fan.

Perhaps the fact you think it has nothing to say about life has something to do with your life. It had quite a bit to say about mine, and it rang extremely true with me and with Gill (especially the phone calls back to his wife).

The film worked for me on a great many levels, probably because I could identify on a great many levels. What does it say about life? Nothing hugely revelatory, I agree, but… what a way to say it! It’s about loneliness and relationships and the many ways in which people can touch other people, a celebration of humanity. The two characters end the film ostensibly with no more than they started, and yet their brief contact is something they’ll carry with them forever.

It’s also about partying :-) the party scenes are awesome, and again rung very true to me (suddenly Tokyo at 4am doesn’t seem all that different from London at 4am, ‘cept perhaps for some extra neon). Partying hard makes everything else go away.

The reason for using Japan is that it’s an almost tabula rasa, alien landscape. It throws everything else into relief. Mars would have worked as well, though Tokyo made for more laughs.

And of course, I hope I don’t have to mention how blisteringly good the acting was. Ot the cinematography. Or the damn sound.

]]> By: Fan Jex http://www.sumption.org/2004/01/17/some-films-wot-i-saw/#comment-222 Fan Jex Sun, 18 Jan 2004 01:16:17 +0000 http://www.sumption.org/wordpress/?p=727#comment-222 I saw Lost in Translation too. A very sweet film but ultimately just a trifle ;) So-bored commercial actor meets part time philosophy student and 'fools' around in Shibuya!?! Give me a break.. The film has nada to tell about life. Who sponsored her, the Japanese Turist ministry? This is ultimately a film by a brat kid with nothing to say but with good resources thanks to daddy. Sheesh. Rent Asia Argento's 'Scarlet Diva'. Also girl with director-daddy but more depth even if its a also a trifle. Erm...Grunt. a Fan I saw Lost in Translation too. A very sweet film but ultimately just a trifle ;) So-bored commercial actor meets part time philosophy student and ‘fools’ around in Shibuya!?! Give me a break.. The film has nada to tell about life.
Who sponsored her, the Japanese Turist ministry? This is ultimately a film by a brat kid with nothing to say but with good resources thanks to daddy. Sheesh. Rent Asia Argento’s ‘Scarlet Diva’. Also girl with director-daddy but more depth even if its a also a trifle. Erm…Grunt.

a Fan

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