Now Showing Mar 31

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor star in this quirky and much talked about film. Though the two men portray a gay couple, the film is receiving most of its attention for being based on the true story of Steven Russell, a genius conman with an IQ of 169, currently serving a 167 year sentence in a Texan prison. This story is about his drama-filled life during which he repeatedly commits fraud, ends up behind bars, then busts out – all in the name of love.

After surviving a car accident Steven quits his job as a cop and instead takes up the life of a conman. He lands himself in prison where his life takes yet another turn. There he meets with destiny in the form of a young gentle-hearted man named Phillip, and the two fall in love. Steven, determined to do everything to make Phillip happy, later returns to his fraudulent ways and gets sent back to prison leaving the two men apart. Steven’s existence until this point has revolved around telling lies, and so risks losing his life in order to show Phillip how he truly feels about him.

From the very first scene to the last, this film takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. It is an almost hard to believe true love story that is witty and the emotional rawness heart warming. Big name Hollywood actor Jim Carrey plays the crafty Steven. While Carrey has been in a variety of genres of film including ‘Man on the Moon’, ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ’, in recent years he seems to have an insatiable desire to keep broadening his range of performances. For a scene in this film he even went so far as to go on an extreme diet that brought him to the verge of collapse.

Ewan McGregor, who has a host of big films under his belt including ‘Angels and Demons’ and the ‘Star Wars’ series also became engrossed in his character. Although McGregor, who through such things as motor-biking his way across continents gives an impression of being a little on the wild side, pulls off a surprising performance. He creates a character that you feel like you want to protect in scenes such as when he is sulking around waiting for a letter from Steven.

I Love You Philip Morris

France, 2009
Opens: Mar 13
Executive producer: Luc Besson
Cast: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann
Distributor: Asmik Ace
Website: iloveyou.asmik-ace.co.jp/ (Japanese only)

Sherlock Holmes

A mystery movie jam packed with action filled scenes stars Robert Downey Jr (of ‘Iron Man’ fame) as detective Sherlock Homes and Jude Law, known for his roles including ‘Holiday’, as his sidekick Watson.

England, 2009
Opens: Mar 12
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Distributor: Warner Bros. Films
Website: wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/sherlock/ (Japanese only)

Sweet Little Lies

This is a dramatization of Kaori Ekuni’s best-selling novel of the same name. It brings to life an immensely beautiful love story depicting the complicated emotions of a woman who falls in love with another man all the while thinking of her husband.

Japan, 2009
Opens: Mar 13
Director: Hitoshi Yazaki
Cast: Miki Nakatani, Nao Oomori, Chizuru Ikewaki, Juichi Kobayashi
Distributor: Broadmedia Studios
Website:
www.cinemacafe.net/official/sweet-little-lies/pc.html (Japanese only)

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

With a quirky fan base throughout the world, this dark fantasy has sold over 6,400,000 copies as a novel and comic series in Japan. In order to help his friend, a young boy becomes half-vampire after striking a deal with one of its kind. His life changes in ways he would never have imagined.

Japanese title: Darren Shan
USA, 2009

Opens: Mar 19
Director: Paul Weitz
Cast: Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson, John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe
Distributor: Toho Towa
Website: darren-shan.com/ (Japanese only)

Nine

This dramatization of the Tony Award winning musical of the same name is brought to the screen by ‘Chicago’ director Rob Marshall, with a screenplay by Anthony Minghella, director of ‘The English Patient’.

USA, 2009
Opens: Mar 19
Director, Producer, Choreographer: Rob Marshall
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Stacy Ferguson
Distributor: Kadokawa Pictures, Shochiku
Website: nine-9.jp/

Up in the Air

Director Jason Reitman, who received an academy award for ‘Juno’, wrote the script for this movie with George Clooney in mind for the lead role. The drama looks at problems in relationships in the Internet age.

Japanese Title: Mileage, My Life
USA, 2009
Opens: Mar 20
Director: Jason Reitman
Cast: George Clooney, Jason Bateman, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Distributor: Paramount Pictures Japan
Website: www.mile-life.jp/ (Japanese only)

Related articles:
・Don't-miss gigs 3/26-4/8
　Night out at Tokyo's music venues
・Tokyo’s unique movie theatres
　Find your favourite theatre to immerse yourself in film
・Film: overview
　A city of silver screens