Subway Cinema News

Starting this week, in conjunction with the New York Film Festival, Lincoln Center will be presenting a sidebar on rebel-rebel Japanese director Nagisa Oshima called “In the Realm of Oshima” (September 27 - October 13). I haven’t seen enough Oshima, and this is a perfect chance to correct my shortcomings as they present 26 of his films, half of them in brand new 35mm prints.

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We’ll be talking about highlights from the series all week, but here’s three that jump out of the program:

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BAND OF NINJA (Thursday, October 2 @ 8:40pm) - cinematic bomb-thrower Oshima making a ninja movie? An animated ninja movie? We’re there. Experimental to a fault, this rarely-seen flick is about a ninja-led revolution against a feudal lord. (Watch the trailer)

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IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (Saturday, Sept 27 @ midnight; Friday, October 3 @ 10pm) - a new 35mm print of Oshima’s most notorious movie, a recreation of the infamous Sada Abe sex murder case. This is the only porno movie ever made that’s simultaneously a work of art. Hardcore screwing mixes it up with hardcore political ideology, culminating in a revolutionary act of castration. Expect the raincoat crowd and the New York Times Book Review crowd to be out in full effect.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE (Sunday, September 28 @ 6:45pm; Saturday, October 11 @ 9pm) - a new 35mm print of one of Oshima’s most unfairly dismissed. Starring David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto (who also did the shimmering score), Tom Conti and Takeshi Kitano in his first motion picture role, this movie was released in 1983 and folks pegged it as pop stars at play. No such thing. A simmering, volatile study of repressed sexual desire, masochism, sadism and mercy in a WW II Japanese prison camp, everyone should see this movie once. At times annoying and pretentious, at other times beautiful, gritty and poetic, it’s the kind of film that starts conversations and destroys expectations. (Also, if you think you’ve seen this movie, think again. Most video releases feature a hacked up international version of the film).

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Full info is here.

COMING SOON

From September 26 to October 12 the New York Film Festival hits NYC up at Lincoln Center. This one is huge and fat with Asian movies so get on up. There’s Wong Kar-wai’s new version of ASHES OF TIME and Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s masterpiece, TOKYO SONATA, as well as new works from Jia Zhangke. And there’s a Nagisa Oshima retrospective (more on that tomorrow). Japan’s most rebellious director will blow your mind with his gritty insane flicks starring everyone from David Bowie to Takeshi Kitano.

(Full info)

NOW PLAYING

At Anthology Film Archives, Lee Myung-Se’s BITTER & SWEET screens on Thursday, September 25 at 6:30 pm.  Rarely seen on the big screen, this posh, stylish black comedy is a workplace freakshow featuring Korean screen legend Ahn Sung-Ki singing in the rain. If you liked NOWHERE TO HIDE or DUELIST then this flick will push your buttons. Very rare screening of a 35mm print with English subtitles. (More info)
New York International Children’s Film Festival is happening right now to mesmerize kids of all ages with animation hotshots from all over the world.  Check out the kid’s hits from Japan at select theatres. (More info)

At ImaginAsian, Manish Acharya’s LOINS OF PUNJAB PRESENTS is a political Bollywood film that spoofs the “American Idol” craze as it follows the various contestants for the “Desi Idol” contest.   An oddly charming cast keeps you laughing and betting on the next big star. (More info)

At the Asia Society, now through October 18th, a series of five documentaries in the film exhibit, “Under Mao’s Red Sun: China’s Cultural Revolution on Film” that delve into the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76).  Focusing on individual lives, the films probe the dramatic effects of Mao’s Revolution on everyday citizens. Complete listings and schedule.  (More info)

If you live in upstate New York, you probably figured you’d never see the world’s most jaw-dropping, head exploding, gut-crunching, sleazy, wild, crazy and totally bonkers horror movie: TOKYO GORE POLICE. Ha! You were wrong! Subway Cinema member, Paul Kazee, works at Proctor’s in Schenectady and he’s one of the people responsible for IT CAME FROM SCHENECTADY a 24 hour marathon of sci-fi flicks screening up there on September 13 - 14, from noon to noon.

Some of the movies being screened will be:

- the latest cut of BLADE RUNNER

- BARBARELLA

- DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH, a new documentary about Harlan Ellison

- ENEMY MINE

- A BOY AND HIS DOG

- CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON in 3-D

- TOKYO GORE POLICE

And many, many more. Go! Support! Without you guys buying tickets Schenectady will never see the likes of TOKYO GORE POLICE again!

(Five minutes of insane, eye-shredding footage from TOKYO GORE POLICE)

(Complete info on the line-up and you can buy tickets here)

(Some of the press this event is getting)

Tomorrow, Tuesday September 9, First Look will be throwing a free screening and party for SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO in Los Angeles. Free sushi, a DJ playing spaghetti western mash-ups and it’ll take place at The Montalban, Nike’s event space in LA (1615 Vine Street). The reception starts at 7pm and the screening takes place at 8. The Montalban is a 1927 cinema, by the way, so it looks like the screening will be in 35mm.

If you want to attend, just RSVP here.

It’s about time someone validated the sheer awesomeness of Subway Cinema by hacking our site. If you head on over to the main page (helpful link!) you’ll see what I’m talking about. Let us all bow down to the incredible hacking abilities of Oaddah who has managed to take a site with absolutely zero security hostage. I know that people often criticize those of us who love Asian movies as nerds and anti-social dorks of the lowest order, but thanks to kindly Oaddah we now know that there is a level even beneath this one. A level of unwashed, poorly-socialized mouth-breathers  with bad skin, their bodies nothing more than thin-skinned meat balloons holding in enormous quantities of partially digested junk food. Oaddah, thank you for letting us into your own private world of warcraft. It is a beautiful place.

Also, as a quick note, Subway Cinema does not believe that Israelis are “Super Terrorists.” Because here at Subway, we know that THIS is the real Super Terrorist:

Welcome to this week’s Subway Cinema News. It’s the Asian movies playing in NYC that you want to see.

What’s up with the ImaginAsian theater? Their website hasn’t been updated with new movies since August 21, and according to the site, there’s nothing playing today. So don’t go there, I guess? Who knows….but it’d be sad if the best Bollywood theater in Manhattan was closed, even temporarily.

(UPDATE: Al informs us that the ImaginAsian theater site is no longer being updated, but ticket sales are now being handled on Movieweb.com. The current movie playing at the newly renamed Phoenix Adlabs - The ImaginAsian Theater is Bollywood flick HIJACK! More info)

Indian-shot film about a pool cleaner in Goa, THE POOL, from the director of AMERICAN MOVIE, is still playing at Film Forum until September 16. (More info)

Takashi Miike’s gobsmacking SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO is still playing at the Landmark Sunshine. Yay! It was the number one indie film for its opening weekend so let’s all wish it a long, lucrative run. (Read a review)

At the Angelika, YEAR OF THE FISH is a Chinatown Cinderella story that slips between fantasy and reality, using animation to apply some magic to everyday grit as it tells the story of Ye Xian, a young girl working in a seedy massage parlor in NYC. (More info)

Big things happening at MOMA as well. The film exhibit “Looking at Music” is screening several flicks to pique the interest of Asian film fans.

THE STRANGE MUSIC OF NAM JUN PAIK, follows the titular video artist through their origins as a composer and classical pianist. You’ll see the influence of John Cage on Paik’s sprawling installations and Paik’s own musical passions are revealed. It’s screening September 6 @ 4:15pm and September 14 @ 2pm. (More info)

In NAM JUN PAIK - A TRIBUTE TO JOHN CAGE, Paik directs a documentary that cuts together interviews, performances and stories that reflect Cage’s influence on Paik’s work. (More info)

As part of the “Jazz Score” exhibit, Shohei Imamura’s DR AKAGI (KANZO SENSEI) will screen on September 6 @ 8:30pm and September 8 @ 6:15pm. This flick is set in a Japanese fishing village at the end of WW II. Japanese nationalism and Western admiration merge and clash while swing and jazz offsets the scenic Japanese coastline. (More info)

On November 25, TWO TIGERS will be released on DVD from Lionsgate.

And I have a passion for linguine! Beyond the obvious question of “Why?” Lionsgate has given us a new game to play!

Here’s their plot description of TWO TIGERS:

“In Shanghai, China, Gilda works as a professional killer.  A stunning blonde “femme Nikita,” she is a harmonious balance of bombshell beauty and martial arts expertise making her as skillful in the art of seduction as she is with a weapon.  When she is commissioned to take out an important Lebanese official, she goes undercover as the new manager of an information technology company, taking up residence in a beautiful condo.   In a fortuitous series of events, she becomes friends with a questionable neighbor, Lin, a beautiful Chinese girl who turns out to be a high-class call girl.  The dubious pair share many commonalities including a fierce independence, a guarded heart and dangerous careers which are perceived to be cold-blooded and materialistic.  The women’s lives are woven together in a fatal collision of love in the face of betrayal, and the ‘two tigers’ must struggle to overcome their individual obstacles in order to find their true happiness.”

This is like Mad Libs! Why don’t you try it?

“In (name of Chinese city), China, Gilda works as a (level of expertise) killer.  A stunning (hair color) “femme Nikita,” she is a (ancient Chinese adjective) balance of bombshell beauty and martial arts expertise making her as skillful in the art of (favorite hobby) as she is with a weapon.  When she is commissioned to take out an important (name of country found in recent issue of Newsweek) official, she goes undercover as the new manager of an (something the kids are doing on the internet you can’t understand) company, taking up residence in a beautiful condo.   In a (big word you don’t quite understand) series of events, she becomes friends with a questionable neighbor, Lin, a (”beautiful,” “free-spirited,” “slutty” - pick one) Chinese girl who turns out to be a high-class call girl.  The (another big word you don’t understand completely, preferably an adjective) pair share many commonalities including a (two words from the cover of this month’s Cosmo), a (something emo) and dangerous careers which are perceived to be cold-blooded and materialistic.  The women’s lives are woven together in a (your favorite kind of deadly vehicular accident) of love in the face of betrayal, and the two (favorite animal) must struggle to overcome their individual obstacles in order to find their true happiness.”

Johnnie To is an admirer of French crime film director Jean-Pierre Melville, and one of his long-awaited projects is a remake of Melville’s THE RED CIRCLE, an ultra-spare, ultra-stylized heist film from 1970. Although the project is now said to be delayed, you can get an idea of what he’s going to be doing with the current FRENCH CRIME WAVE series running at Film Forum, and soon to come to an end.

The most Johnnie To-esque movies still to come are the August 28 double feature of UN FLIC & SICILIAN CLAN. UN FLIC is Melville’s last completed movie, a heist film that feels like Johnnie To at his best, only everyone’s speaking French. And THE SICILIAN CLAN is an ultra-violent thriller that’s barely available on home video.

Also, don’t miss Henri-Georges Clouzot’s QUAI DES ORFEVRES. Clouzot is better know for directing DIABOLIQUE but QUAI is a better movie by far. A double-crossing, back-stabbing, love you/hate you, quasi-lesbionic, cuckold crazy, murder mystery it’s also, of all things, a Christmas movie. Sort of like a poisonous little antidote to IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

(Read more)

(Showtimes and schedule)

Welcome to Subway Cinema News, your weekly guide to Asian movie events in New York City.

NOW PLAYING

At the ImaginAsian, Siddarth Haseeno’s BACHNA AE HASEENO is the latest Bollywood flick from those fine purveyors of family entertainment, Yash Raj. It’s the story of Raj, a heart throb who’s chasing the skirts from the age of 18 to 30, falling for three different women. The reviews are mixed. You can read a good one here and a bad one here.

Also playing at the ImaginAsian is MUMBAI MERI JAN a sort of Indian version of CRASH about five characters’ intersecting lives in the run-up to, and aftermath of, the Mumbai Train Bombings of 2006. The characters differ in every way possible but all experience a dramatic shift in their lives after the tragedy. Kamath’s debut Hindi film is getting great review for the most part.

(read a review)

(Showtimes and more info)

Although it’s being reported in some places as playing at the Angelica, Takashi Miike’s SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO starts an exclusive engagement at the Landmark Sunshine on August 29. All we have to say is: Quentin Tarantino + Takashi Miike + Spaghetti Western = Eyeball Explosion.

(Read more)

(Official Website with links to tickets on sale)

This Friday at the Angelica Film Center, David Kaplan’s YEAR OF THE FISH is a Chinatown Cinderella story that eases in and out of fantasy and reality. Using animation effects to blend magic into the everyday grit of New York City, the film witnesses the innocent life of Ye Xian, a naive girl who comes to the city to earn extra money for her sick father in China. Instead she ends up as a cleaning lady at a Chinatown massage parlor after refusing the sexual exploits of her job as a masseuse. Things seem to turn around when she is given a fish by a hunchback who promises her luck and magic in its presence.

(More info and showtimes)

The New York Korean Film Festival continues until August 31. Complete info is here.

At Film Forum playing September 3 – September 16, Chris Smith’s THE POOL about Venkatesh, a poor kid who works at a high-class hotel in Panjim, Goa and is ever-so-curious about the privileged life of the wealthy. As he interacts with the wealthy owner of a mansion, he gains knowledge about the untouchable world while learning about his own future.

(More info and showtimes)

Finally, John Carpenter’s homage to Hong Kong films of the early 80’s, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, is screening at BAM on Monday, September 1 @ 2pm, 4:30pm, 6:50pm & 9:15pm.

(Buy tickets)

Kwon Chil-in’s HELLCATS stalks the life of three women, bound by familial bonds and their inability to fit into traditional female roles. The screenplay is based on the graphic novel 10, 20, and 30 by Kang Mo-Ri. There are three things that a woman needs to avoid: cheating on her lover, developing wrinkles, and showing her true feelings. A-mi(Kim Min-hee), the film’s narrator delineates her observations into clear lists and analogies. She wonders if life and love could be played like sports. We would receive warnings and yellow cards for screwing up and be given clear-cut rules to work with. Ami’s sharp musings keep flowing despite her lack of writing income. Even though Ami’s dramatic outbursts and addictive personality screw up her judgment, her allegiance to honesty has you rooting for her.

Life is not a game of soccer, but societal rules do exist — the binding, unsaid roles that women are forced to play. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that each of the three women cannot squeeze herself into the role that her age and gender dictates. The writer in her late twenties can’t stomach the man who wants to promise her marriage and stability. Young-mi (Lee Mi-sook), a middle-aged single mother, is in command of her career but as her body flirts with symptoms of menopause, she uses her lover as lifeline to youth. The teenage daughter Kang-ae (Ahn So-hee of the Wondergirls) should be playing the field with cute boys her age but is constantly drawn back to the practice kiss that she shared with her best friend.

Director Kwon invites you into the inner lives of these three women while keeping you waiting for their next coping mechanism. He does this from a distanced viewpoint, letting the audience watch the strands of their lives fray and at times erupt. Once in awhile he brings you closer, zooming in on symbolic details: odd and remarkable shots of a slowly shattering bottle of red wine or roses that wilt and fade with a woman’s hope for her youthful libido.

The characters have the same concerns that plague many modern women. As powerful and independent women how do we express our love and fragility to others without losing our sense of independence? The only definite answer offered by the film is the challenge of learning to live without regrets by choosing what feels right even if everyone else says it’s wrong. When forced to lie about her occupation and income in order to travel to America, Ami faces her unwillingness to pretend to be anyone but herself. This epiphany lands her right in front of her computer again with a new resolve to improve her “baby” – the screenplay. The parallel is clear — her lack of focus on her creative work spills over into her personal life just as her dedication to her writing will someday, hopefully, reward her with a winning lover.

There are aspects of each character that I think most people can relate to whether they want to not. We’ve all been in desperate scenarios that serve as a rude wake-up call to our own sorry narratives. Director Kwon Chil-In’s HELLCATS is a funny and unsettling film that leaves you with a sense of buoyant anticipation for the next chapter of each woman’s life. - SYL

(Playing on Thursday, August 28 at Cinema Village)

(Watch the trailer)