The Eel

It is fine, not a bad way to spend a couple of hours. But slow, not really that deep, kinda interesting while you are watching it.

Starts strong, the first act is really good and it continues to be pretty good, though very different to how it started, for the second and most of the third, but the denouement ends up being kinda silly and melodramatic, and the ending is decidedly sentimental. Actually I think it was probably a melodrama all along but it only played its hand about halfway through. The setup kinda reminded me of The Station Agent, though it goes in a different, less satisfying direction.

Imamura is not at his best, but his narration is powerful for sure.

It seems to fit within Imamura's oeuvre but lacks the sort of punch that is expected. I do appreciate its quirkiness, and the relationship between the leads.

Blah. Reminded me of a lot of American indie films... metaphors that don't mean much, brooding male lead character, free-spirited female lead, a couple of quirky oddballs, mobsters, etc.

Winner of the Palme d'Or, though I don't quite see it. It's not bad: a man (Koji Yakusho) murders his cheating wife and, while on parole, opens a barbershop and slowly develops a relationship with a troubled young woman (Misa Shimizu). Tensions based upon both of their pasts ultimately come to a head. Shohei Imamura's direction has a few nice touches, and the acting is good, especially Shimizu's. It's just never more than okay, and the script has a few ideas that it never sufficiently develops.

The story's alright, I guess, but the scoring's sooo ugly. It detracts from the movie's already semi-dull narrative.

Winner of Palme d'Or in Cannes - I don't see why...