Last Life in the Universe

Starring:Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Laila Boonyasak, Yutaka Matsushige, Riki Takeuchi, Takashi Miike, Yoji Tanaka, Sakichi SatÃ´, Thiti Rhumorn, Junko Nakazawa, Akiko Anraku, Nortioshi Urano, Phimchanok Nala Dube, Ampon Rattanawong, Jakrarin Sanitti, Songsith Visunee, Prayoon Tiancharoenwong, Jakrapan Ruttajak
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Studio: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
DVD Features:
5.1 surround sound
Commentary track with Cinematographer Christopher Doyle
Interviews with cast and crew
Behind-the-Scenes footage
Storyboards and original drawings by Christopher Doyle
Theatrical trailer
Previews
Weblinks

Description

DVD Features:
5.1 surround sound
Commentary track with Cinematographer Christopher Doyle
Interviews with cast and crew
Behind-the-Scenes footage
Storyboards and original drawings by Christopher Doyle
Theatrical trailer
Previews
Weblinks

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Customer Reviews:

Simply a marvelous masterpiece.......2007-06-27

The combination of Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Asano Tadanobu, and Christopher Doyle is absolutely electrifying in as subtle a way as possible. Ratanaruang delivers a masterfully told boy-meets-girl story without all the chick flick mooshy-ness. It's the silence in this movie that speaks louder than the dialogue. Doyle's magnificent eye for shot composition helps that aspect, as well. Asano is, in my opinion, among the top 10 actors alive and he proves it with the portrayal of the main character. Watch 'Ichi the Killer' to see the opposite end of the spectrum of his abilities. Also, keep an eye out for Takashi Miike and his posse of typical actors in 'Last Life...'. Birds of a feather truly do flock together.

Sublime think-piece.......2007-06-08

This is one of my favorite movies. Right after i watched it, i searched Amazon to buy it. Its one those movies that makes you sit and think about life and how alone everyone is, and how in the end we all need each other. You have to pay attention to detail to get the mixed messages and there are alot of truths exposed in this movie. But over all very interesting, and like Kenji said, japanese cars are better!

thai tragedy.......2007-01-25

Kenji is a quiet, reclusive librarian working in Bangkok who is an obsessive-compulsive, fastidious neat-freak. He is also suicidal. By my count he tries to commit suicide at least eight times in this film, although he is never successful because fate intervenes--the door bell rings, his alarm clock goes off, a coconut falls from a tree, and, most importantly and improbably, he meets the sister of a girl he fancies. Fate is a key theme in this film, as we learn from several intersecting subplots. Kenji is also unsuccessful in his suicide attempts because of friendship with the Thai extrovert call-girl Noi, who is in every sense his opposite. She lives in a rural Thai village in a house that is a pig sty of dirty dishes, trash, and stray dogs. Director Pen-ek Ratanaruang thus fashions their akward, endearing love into a study of the powerful influences of friendship and fortune. This film won awards at festivals in Sundance, Toronto, and Venice, although reviewers have been sharply divided. I liked it and recommend it. In Thai and Japanese, with English subtitles.

subtle, gorgeous character-driven mood piece.......2007-01-13

This is a very unique film. It is definitely not for everyone because of the slow pace, and the somewhat hard to follow - or believe - storyline. But for people who enjoy slow, dreamy foriegn films, this is certainly a film worth seeing.

This film struck me as more of a character study than a cohesive narrative film. The story is somewhat elliptical, and the narrative turns on some odd coincidences. There are a few parts that are truly jarring, and it kind of messes with the tone of the film, in a good way. I didn't even 'get it' all the first time I watched it, so the film does reward further viewings. The characters are very well-drawn, and their quirks and personalities come accross as much in the quiet moments of the film as they do through story and dialogue. There are a few CGI scenes and hallucinatory sequences that give a somewhat haunting tone to the film, and help the viewer get inside the heads of the characters. I am hesitant to give away anything about the premise or characters, as I was happy to be surprised, and I'm unsure if a description of the story does the film justice or might give a wrong idea about the film. If you want a story synopsis, I will direct you to other reviewers. The story is good, but not really the strongest thing about the film, and that is why I give four out of five stars.

The main actor is very good, quite subdued in this role. I was surprised to learn that he was the same actor from the explosive Takashi Miike film, Ichi the Killer. Based on these two very different performances, I am very impressed with the versatility and risk-taking of this actor, and I now want to see more of his work. The two sisters (played by real-life sisters) are also very good, I'm unsure if they are talented newcomers, or if they are well-known in their native land, but they both seem very natural and believable in their roles. The director seems to have a good rapport with his actors, and lets them inhabit the characters fully and gets very subtle performances from them.

What stands out most in this film is the art dirtection, and the incredible cinematography by Christopher Doyle. Doyle is an Australian ex-pat who has photographed many of the most memorable and gorgeous Asian films in the last 10-15 years. He is best know for collaborating with Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-Wai. He has also filmed 'Hero' and 'Rabbit-Proof Fence', amongst many other notable films. If this film had been shot by anyone else, I don't know if it would have been so appealing. To be sure, the images are seductive and mesmerizing, and Doyle did much to add to the atmosphere of the film. The commentary on the dvd is by Doyle, and there is an extensive gallery of photographic collages done during the film that are really great, but are reproduced far too small to see the detail on-screen. I'm happy to see that the director views this film as a collaboration with Doyle, rather than treating him as a hired hand, and the film is richer for this. I actually bought this dvd before seeing it based entirely on the fact that he was the cinematographer, something I've never done. I recommend this film just to see the photography. Really, it's a lovely looking film.

Overall, I recommend checking this film out.

It's strange. It's sweet. It's kind of sad.

And it is beautiful.

A Film for the Patient.......2006-10-23

Tadanobu Asano won a Countercurrent Best Actor Award for this film at the Venice International Film Festival. Often referred to as the Japanese Johnny Depp, he excels at taking odd roles. He is the best part of this Thai cinema production by director Pen-ek Ratanaruang. Asano plays Kenji who lives in Bangkok. He's an obsessive-compulsive, having a well-ordered house filled with books where everything from food to shoes is labeled. Unfortunately, he wants to commit suicide. Just as he's about to hang himself, his brother shows up. Pushy and demanding, his brother brings a friend back to the apartment. Two gunshots later, Kenji is left to wipe the blood off his precious book and pictures. He decides to throw himself off a bridge just as two Thai sisters are driving by. The younger sister Nid, played by Laila Boonyasak, gets out of the car & stares at Kenji perched on the bridge railing long enough to get creamed by another car. So Kenji with his dead brother and Noi with her dead sister become friends. They are a real odd couple with Kenji quiet and neat and Noi loud and sloppy. One high point in the film comes with some magical housework that whips things into shape. However, since the film isn't about magic, the sequence seems out-of-place. The main problem with the film is its snail pace. Shots take very long without huge payoffs of understanding the inner working of the characters. Sinitta Boonyasak as Noi is not very deep as an actress, having to hide her head in her hands for her one major crying scene. This film does have some nice moments, but one must wade through a lot of the movie to get to them. This is a film for the patient. Taxi!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Movie!
Beautiful rainny days

Be With You (Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu) - DTS

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Widower Takumi (Shidou Nakamura) lives a quiet life with his six-year-old son Yuji after the death of his wife Mio (Yuko Takeuchi). He always remembers Mio's promise to him that she will be with him again when the rainy season comes. On the first anniversary of her passing, Takumi and Yuji come across a woman in the woods who is sheltering from a monsoon downpour. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Mio, but has no recollection of who she is. Family life resumes from where they left off. But will Mio leave again when the rainy days are over?

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Movie!.......2006-11-11

I'm not normally a fan of such heart-rending movies. However, this movie came highly recommended to me, so I gave it a shot. WOW, am I glad I did! This was one of the best movies I have ever seen, and I don't say that lightly. Be ready to cry, even hardened cynics like myself, will be gushing like a little girl before this hear felt film is finished.

Beautiful rainny days.......2006-04-17

People who are not interested in contemporary Japanese love stories probably would not log onto this review in the first place. But for those of you out there who are fans of Miss Yuko Takeuchihave and have not seen this film,or that you have accidentally clicked into this page,you could easily fall in love with 'BE WITH YOU'; it's cinematography and production are strategically understated and artistic. Yuko Takeuchi is perfect as Mio, beautiful and poetic.Widower Takumi played by Shidou Nakamura lives a quiet life with his six-year-old son Yuji after the death of his wife Mio played by Yuko Takeuchi. Takumi always remembers Mio's promise to him that she will be with him again when the rainy season comes. On the first anniversary of her passing, Takumi and Yuji come across a woman who is lost in the woods and sheltering from rain. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Mio, but has no recollection of who she is. Family life resumes from where they left off. But will Mio leave again when the rainy days are over? Whilst this film is set in today's Japan, it's story line is perhaps a touch oversentimental and too poetic for 'modern'lovers. This story would be more fitted into the previous century ( don't misunderstand, it is NOT dated in any sense) . I just wonder if people could love so simply, so beautifully and so patiently nowadays.
The next time when I see a beautiful rainny day, I'll be thinking of this film,no doubt. But in your case, don't wait for a rainny day before you share this film with your loved ones.

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