Cinema is Dope

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

[ View Image (1024×680) ]

[ View Image (512×768) ]

New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Monday, August 25, 2008

Full production notes and cast and crew info follow…

Over at Ryuganji (view here), Don has a great post on the upcoming US release of Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django along with commentary on its strange US poster and the interview from its production notes. The US poster works fine as a character poster for Yusuke Iseya who plays the leader of the white clad Genji gang, Yoshitsune Minamoto. As an overall poster for the film itself it certainly falls short of what it could have been. This US release seems like it will be a blink and it’s gone type affair so be sure to check and double check your local listings, especially if you live in New York and LA where it kicks off its US run.

Related Coverage:
::: Midnight Madness SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO Intro with Special Message From Miike
::: Review by Todd - Twitch

Japanese Cinema:
::: Jason Gray
::: Mark Schilling’s Tokyo Ramen
::: Midnight Eye
::: Nippon Cinema
::: Outcast Cinema
::: Ryuganji
::: Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow

SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO - PRODUCTION NOTES:
An integration of the Western and the Japanese Tales of Heike…

It can be said that Westerns are the roots of Hollywood films while samurai dramas are the roots of Japanese films. That Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai inspired John Sturges’ The Magnificent Seven, one of the all-time great Hollywood westerns, is well known. It is also widely known that Kurosawa’s The Bodyguard became the basis for director Sergio Leone’s Italian film Per un pugno di dollari (Fistful of Dollars). The Made-in-Italy-westerns, dubbed “macaroni westerns” in Japan, and “spaghetti westerns” in the U.S, became a worldwide phenomenon from 1960’s to early 70’s.

The man infusing fresh blood into the genre today is Takashi Miike. While paying the homage to spaghetti westerns, Miike has created a unique and stylish action film in this never-before-seen “sukiyaki” world.

Gun smoke drifts in the air and the haunting sound of melodic whistling echoes as you step into a world that transcends time and space, a world where the Japanese shukuba-machi (post station) and western saloons co-exist. From the familiar scenes of spaghetti westerns, to elements from Tales of The Heike, the War of the Roses and the legendary goddess of murder “The Bloody Benten,” anything goes in the Miike world. The climactic scene even extends a nod to the world of the classic western film, Shane (1953). However, this film is by no means a parody. What emerges from the sukiyaki pot, in which all of these ingredients simmer together, is Miike’s magnificent view of the world.

Music…

The word “spaghetti western” immediately brings to mind the melodies of Ennio Morricone. In Sukiyaki Western Django, Koji Endo has created a melancholic score that combines trumpets, ocarinas and whistling. The original theme song for Django (1966), one of the best spaghetti westerns ever made, has been arranged into a new theme tune for Miike’s film. With newly written Japanese lyrics, a haunting new version is sung by Saburo Kitajima, the veteran enka (Japanese blues) singer, known for his powerful kobushi (a vibrato-like vocal technique).

What’s the connection between the renowned blues singer and Miike? In 1996, Miike directed a made-for-video movie Jingi naki Yabou at the Toei Uzumasa Studio. Saburo Kitajima, who was already major star, had been cast as the gambler. For the film, Miike had unsparingly splashed the great singer/actor with artificial blood. Kitajima had mumbled, “I’ve been acting for some twenty, thirty years and I never knew that artificial blood felt so cold!” Miike’s unconventional techniques left a strong impression on the blood soaked Kitajima.

Behind the Scenes…

A red and white rose blooming in the wilderness. Inside the sukiyaki pot live love and death.

Sukiyaki Western Django was filmed on a specially built outdoor set in Ishikura, Yamagata, deep in the mountains of Tsukiyama. A surreal set combining both a western theme and “Jidai-geki” (Japanese period dramas) suddenly emerged in the midst of Tsukiyama’s magnificent mountain scenery.

The logistical difficulties of the shoot made the production a constant struggle primarily due to the extreme weather conditions. The freezing Fall nights of Tsukiyama were severe enough to freeze the food on the plates of the cast and crew. To make matters worse, it rained for a whole month, turning the ground into mud and when the production needed snow, however, an unusually warm winter resulted in almost no snowfall.

For the scene shot at sunrise in the caves of Zao, the crew had to hit the trail on foot at 2 a.m. in the morning in order to arrive at the location by 4 p.m., allowing enough time to make up the actors. Walking in the darkness with only the lights of the lighting department to rely on, more than a few crew members were nearly lost in the mountains.

For one shot, forty horses, brought to the set from the Tohoku area, were required to gallop away at full speed, a stunt rarely seen in recent Japanese productions. Working with such a large number of extras and coordinating the complex gunfights was also challenge. As a result, Miike found the usual calls of “Ready!” and “Action!” were not adequate and he resorted to donning a ten-gallon hat, taking out a Smith & Wesson and firing a blank in the air instead! The unexpected sound of gunshot surprised the extras whose reactions were expertly captured on film by cinematographer Toyomichi Kurita. One could say that the ultimate thrill of the production was the “face-off in the wilderness of Shonai territory” between Miike, shooting his Smith & Wesson, and Kurita, shooting with his Arriflex ST&LT!

Sukiyaki Western Django was shot entirely in English. As with his other English language film, “Masters of Horror – Imprint,” Miike created a unique atmosphere on set. The actors went through a month-long intensive language training under Nadia Venesse, the dialogue coach who has worked with many of the top Hollywood stars in features such as Chocolat and North Country, and with Christian Storms, who translated the Japanese script into English. For Venesse and Storms, Sukiyaki Western Django was their second collaboration with Miike following “Masters of Horror – Imprint.”

Japanese star Koichi Sato’s comment on the experience was: “I realize now how effortlessly I’ve been making money all these years.” The actors not only had lessons in English but were required to learn horseback riding and gun slinging. The actress Kaori Momoi also had the additional challenge of working with flying wires and trampolines as the legendary fighter “Bloody Benten.” At one point her whole body was wrapped in plastic to protect her from the cold, which made even a simple somersault a challenging feat.

Cast & Crew Notes follow…

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

I hate to throw out the word, “cool”… but … this - has - to - be - the - coolest - image of Kaori Momoi ever! Am I wrong? This could easily be framed against an entire wall. Perfection.

Related Coverage:
::: Review by Todd

Japanese Cinema:
::: Jason Gray
::: Mark Schilling’s Tokyo Ramen
::: Midnight Eye
::: Nippon Cinema
::: Outcast Cinema
::: Ryuganji
::: Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

Peter Martin. Yes —> that Peter Martin. Not to be confused with <--- that Peter Martin, has confirmed that Miike’s Django has been picked up by First Look for what might be a limited theatrical run in the US and a DVD release. Bad news on that is it will be trimmed by 25 minutes (more from Peter here). If it gets proper life to breathe on the midnight circuit and catch on as a cult film it could very well be a Rilo Kiley Moneymaker for them.

Having seen this film at the recent 40th Sitges, I can tell you it’s by far one of the most entertaining films Miike has ever made. The only way to experience this film is in a rowdy midnight movie setting. In that context the film plays beautifully. Outside of that I don’t think it would work really well if your in a Neil Diamond (you-uuu-ewwww don’t bring me flowers, any-EEE-more) sort of mood. I also wouldn’t recommend it for a first date per say. It also really has to be said that the more knowledge you have of Spaghetti Westerns and Japanese cinema, the more you will get out of the film! Also I really hate it on MAC laptops when your scrolling up or down and this automated thing tries to kick in and take over your mousing up or down. Stay away you little devil you!

“Overall: A good time at the movies. There are perhaps too many ingredients in the stew, but fans of Miike, (Spaghetti) Westerns, Tarantino and genre films in general will have a taste for it, and possibly become addicted.” ~ Jason Gray (read more)

Related Coverage:
::: Review by Todd
::: View MM Listing
::: Visit the MM Blog (full of goodies!!!)

The white clad Genji, led by Yoshitsune and the red clad Heike led by Kiyomori, face off once again in a poor mountain town. Both sides searching for a legendary treasure that may be buried there. A lone gunman, burdened with emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Expectations reach boiling point as everyone wonders which gang the gunman will finally decide to join. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown.

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

Really quickly and I’ll be posting more about this on Twitch in the days ahead but of the films I hadn’t seen playing at the 40th Sitges Film Festival this year I have to say that Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django was my favorite. Easily in my opinion Miike’s most goofy and fun film he has ever done. I would be shocked if this film doesn’t develop into a cult midnight movie film that is a staple of the circuit for the next several decades in the least. Thank you Miike for making a film that gave me one of the funnest times I’ve ever had at a cinema. I can’t wait to see it again to try and memorize some of those lines the one character who had multiple personalities said.

Share on Facebook

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

Over at Jason Gray’s site’s he has a quick take on Miike’s latest, “Sukiyaki Western Django” (as well as a TIFF contest).

“Overall: A good time at the movies. There are perhaps too many ingredients in the stew, but fans of Miike, (Spaghetti) Westerns, Tarantino and genre films in general will have a taste for it, and possibly become addicted.” ~ Jason Gray (read more)

Twitch Coverage:
::: Review by Todd

::: View MM Listing
::: Visit the MM Blog (full of goodies!!!)

The white clad Genji, led by Yoshitsune and the red clad Heike led by Kiyomori, face off once again in a poor mountain town. Both sides searching for a legendary treasure that may be buried there. A lone gunman, burdened with emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Expectations reach boiling point as everyone wonders which gang the gunman will finally decide to join. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown.

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

Double pistol action in the macaroni western “Sukiyaki Western Django.”

Twitch Coverage:
::: Review by Todd

::: View MM Listing
::: Visit the MM Blog (full of goodies!!!)

The white clad Genji, led by Yoshitsune and the red clad Heike led by Kiyomori, face off once again in a poor mountain town. Both sides searching for a legendary treasure that may be buried there. A lone gunman, burdened with emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Expectations reach boiling point as everyone wonders which gang the gunman will finally decide to join. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown.

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

[ View Image (1024×683) ]

If you were really hoping to get a feel for what you might could expect in Takashi Miike’s macaroni western “Sukiyaki Western Django,” then I think this still alone gives you a pretty damn good taste - pistol vs samurai sword.

Tuesday, September 11
11:59 PM
RYERSON

Thursday, September 13
12:30 PM
VARSITY 8

Saturday September 15
09:30 PM
VARSITY 4

::: View MM Listing
::: Visit the MM Blog (full of goodies!!!)

The white clad Genji, led by Yoshitsune and the red clad Heike led by Kiyomori, face off once again in a poor mountain town. Both sides searching for a legendary treasure that may be buried there. A lone gunman, burdened with emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Expectations reach boiling point as everyone wonders which gang the gunman will finally decide to join. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown.

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

[ View Image (1024×680) ]

Quentin Tarantino as Piringo in Takashi Miike’s macaroni western, “Sukiyaki Western Django.”

Tuesday, September 11
11:59 PM
RYERSON

Thursday, September 13
12:30 PM
VARSITY 8

Saturday September 15
09:30 PM
VARSITY 4

::: View MM Listing
::: Visit the MM Blog (full of goodies!!!)

You’re more of a “dragon generation” rather than a “macaroni western
generation, aren’t you?

MIIKE: Yes. There weren’t many macaroni westerns in the theaters when I was growing up but they used to broadcast two to three of them every week on television.. I can’t tell you how many times they aired One Silver Dollar. My mother used to tell me to go to bed, but I usually stayed up and watched them with my parents. My father loved macaroni westerns and he used to buy me toy guns and pistols. My grandfather was a hunter and used to shoot birds with rifles. So the macaroni western was certainly very familiar to me. But having worked in the movie industry for a long time, I never thought that I would be making something like this as a Japanese film.

Neither did we (laughs). How did it come about?

MIIKE: “Toshiaki Nakazawa, a producer at Sedic International, whom I had worked with on The Happiness of Katakuris, asked me if there was any project that I wanted to do. That’s when the words ‘How about a sukiyaki western?’ fell out of my mouth. It’s what they call talking through one’s hat, I guess. But it wasn’t totally groundless. When I was a kid, I used to imagine myself growing up to be a wandering gunman. I don’t remember the specific stories but I was impressed with such things as the cool posture of the gunman, the intensity right before the shoot-out, and the dramatic effect of the music that starts after someone falls to the ground. Those kinds of things were imprinted on my mind. And I thought that anything a child can create in his imagination, surely a movie can bring to life. I think that any other producer would have just dismissed the idea with a laugh but Mr. Nakazawa didn’t. He said it was interesting and went along with the idea. Although he may have said “No” if I had suggested a Sushi Western (laughs).

(Read more…)

Share on Facebook

Over at Ryuganji (one of my favorite sites!!!), Don has broken the news of the “Sukiyaki Western: Django” (www.django-movie.com) release date - September 15th! An English language spaghetti western from the mind of cult director Takashi Miike… I can’t wait. I’ve been following this film for quite some time now. One of the actors I’ve talked to that worked on the film seemed to suggest film lovers might be in for a real treat with it. I surely hope they are right!

::: Release date for “Sukiyaki Western: Django”

Since undoubtedly everyone will ask if Tarantino is indeed in the film, I think the above profile from the official site leaves no doubt… that he in fact will be in it.

Share on Facebook