Now Showing May 26

It’s impossible to think of the thrilling, spy action ‘Bourne’ series of movies without also thinking of Matt Damon’s pitch-perfect performance as Jason Bourne. Now Paul Greengrass, director of ‘The Bourne Supremacy’ and ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ has once again teamed up with Damon. The two, who built a solid relationship of trust through the success of their previous work together, have once more set a high standard for themselves with their third collaboration, ‘Green Zone’, which opened May 14.

The film is set in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, circa 2003 just after the allied British and American forces have taken the city. Matt Damon plays Roy Miller, whose mission – along with his squad – is to find the weapons of mass destruction believed to be hidden in the Iraqi desert. However, after three consecutive search operations fail to turn up the goods, Miller begins to doubt the accuracy and quality of the intelligence coming from the Ministry of Defence. He obtains the cooperation of CIA officer Martin Brown, who also has deep misgivings about the Ministry’s activities. Separating himself from his squad, Miller begins an independent investigation that ultimately leads him to a high-ranking Iraqi government official, known under the alias of ‘Magellan’, who is said to be the source of all the intelligence concerning the weapons of mass destruction. When Miller gets hold of a notebook which holds written proof of the truth, he finds himself increasingly hindered by the Ministry’s interference. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Who and what is ‘Magellan’? What could the Ministry of Defence possibly be trying to cover up? The answer to these questions was the shocking truth that would send shockwaves around the world.

At a time when cinema is revelling in dazzling visual effects, this film’s direction is a bold celebration of flesh-and-blood action and intense realism. The film’s cinematographer is Barry Ackroyd, who was nominated at this year’s Academy Awards for his work on ‘The Hurt Locker’, and Greengrass’s particular documentary-style camera work is as strong as ever. Handycam-like, powerfully realistic imagery and fast-paced editing push the viewer’s sense of tension and excitement to the limits.

The Green Zone of the title refers to the International Zone in central Iraq where the US occupation forces are stationed. Outside of this ‘safety zone’ the dangerous state of affairs continues, with large numbers of the population turning to insurgency, back-to-back with enemy soldiers. There is, it would seem, a message from the director transmitted through the depiction of the disorder in Baghdad, which has fallen into anarchy.

Green Zone

USA, 2010
Opened: May 14
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan
Distributor: Toho Towa
Website: green-zone.jp/

From Paris with Love

This stylish action movie details the story of an intelligence agent who discovers a plot to assassinate a prominent American government figure, and finds himself fighting a ring of terrorist bombers.

France, 2010
Japanese title: Paris yori ai wo komete
Opened: May 15
Director: Pierre Morel
Writer (story): Luc Besson
Cast: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak, Richard Durden
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Website: wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/frompariswithlove/

Thick as Thieves

In New York, where the Russian mafia is operating under the radar, a pair of thieves plot to steal secret Romanov treasures. It’s a crime-suspense tale of deception and intrigue.

USA, 2008
Japanese title: The Egg: Romanov no hihou wo nerae
Opened: May 15
Director: Mimi Leder
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas, Radha Mitchell, Robert Forster
Distributor: Nikkatsu
Website: www.heat-matsuri.com/

Cinema Kabuki – Migawari Zazen

This humorous kabuki dance-drama was performed at the Tokyo Kabuki-za theatre in December 2009. Starring Kanzaburo Nakamura and Mitsugoro Bando, it’s a comic tale of a wife and her cheating husband.

Japan, 2010
Opened: May 15
Writer: Shikou Okamura
Cast: Kanzaburo Nakamura, Somegoro Ichikawa, Minosuke Bando, Shingo Bando, Mitsugoro Bando
Distributor: Shochiku
Website: www.shochiku.co.jp/cinemakabuki/

Shodo Girls!!: Watashitachi no Koshien

This coming-of-age film based on a true story, chronicles a high school ‘calligraphy performance’ tournament, where calligraphy is done as a performance to music, and which garnered a great deal of interest across the country.

Japan, 2010
Opened: May 15
Director: Ryuichi Inomata
Cast: Riko Narumi, Rio Yamashita, Mitsuki Takahata, Fujiko Kojima, Nanami Sakuraba, Tomohiro Ichikawa, Win Morisaki, Ryu Morioka, Ryotaro Sakaguchi, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Mayumi Asaka, Hajime Okayama, Meikyo Yamada, Reo Moritomo, Junkichi Oritomo, Nobuaki Kaneko
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Website: wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/shodo-girls/