The End of Summer
Ozu drama about the head of a family who refuses to conform, and lives his life the way he wants despite family consternation. All the familiar issues of the closely interconnected Japanese family. Very enjoyable. ***
Late Autumn
Ozu film about three male friends who take it upon themselves to marry off the daughter of the widow of a friend. Subtly comic and tragic as their machinations repeatedly fail. Well acted and understated. Very enjoyable, with a slightly sad ending. ***
Early Spring
Excellent Ozu film about a salaryman who falls into an affair with a woman he works with. Primarily about the horrors of the Japanese office worker. All the things that make Ozu one of my very favorite directors, still camera, exploring familial and social relationships, and Japanese society in general. ***
Tokyo Twilight
A late Ozu film about a young woman struggling with an unwanted pregnancy and abandonment issues until she commits suicide. Intriguing narrative about discovering the mother who abandoned her and her sister. Social values a little dated, but all the great Ozu elements. ***
John Carter
Enjoyable but slim Disney version of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. Everything about it is done well enough, but there isn’t really any depth of character, narrative, or technique. Seems like it was made for kids, which it probably was. Burroughs may even have written it for them. So there wasn’t anything wrong with it, but it wasn’t at all compelling. **
Melancholia
Lars von Trier film about a woman’s struggle with depression as the planet Melancholia circles toward a collision with Earth. Very well acted, beautifully shot, and an interesting hint of pre-cognition. Well worth seeing. **
