FilmCriticLalitRao
Auto derision is an art which has not been able to find favors with many nationalities.There are people who know that Italian people are famous for mocking themselves.It is rather strange that not much is known of Japanese people and the manner in which they like to ridicule themselves.Takeshis is a brilliant film in which we can see sensei Kitano Takeshi settling scores with himself.This is his manner of making fun of himself.He plays with perfection two of his most memorable roles.On the one hand there is a superstar who is always surrounded by cinema people.On the other hand there is a clown whose company consists of some losers who are trying to make it big in their lives.Japanese director Kitano Takeshi must be congratulated for making a nice Japanese film which mocks cinema business.It is for this film that Takeshi Kitano has given yet another outstanding performance. He shows us well as to what extent Hollywood has influenced ordinary people all over the world.We are shown how ordinary Japanase people talk with ease about icons of American film culture like Humphery Bogart,Vivien Leigh,Gone with the wind and Roman Holiday.Takeshis is a film full of comic violence which would create more ripples of laughter then long hours of silence after a film is over.Why should one watch Takeshis ? It is simple to state that it is an excellent film within film.The best thing about this film is that it shows us that currently cinema business is run by people who do not value cinema.This is one of the worst injuries heaped on the inimitable art of cinema.
josephbleazard
Beat Takeshi's latest film is a long slow and self indulgent attempt to move out of the yakuza genre. The film begins like "Curb your enthusiasm with Beat Takeshi" as we follow the iconic star through his daily life. The film shifts gear as he meets his doppelganger, a jobbing actor and convenience store clerk. Then it begins to get "surreal". But unfortunately Beat Takeshi is not a very interesting surrealist. This is surrealism for people who think that the matrix is surreal. He uses lazy wackiness and unoriginal symbols in laboured dream sequences. We've seen it all before and its very boring.But Takeshis becomes an interesting satire on media violence and develops some interesting visual moments in its later stages. It appears to be a discussion of how takeshi's previous films and persona could be interpreted. A self reflexive work. Not a bad idea. Just poorly executed even though Takeshi's skill in editing, black comedy and orchestrating vioence is still present. The ending is also an annoyingly neat cop out. A final indignity at the end of a film that is far too long.Very disappointing.
Argemaluco
Since I saw Fireworks,I am following director Takeshi Kitano's movies.I have liked a lot all his movies but,by my point of view,he gets better results when he tells clear stories,like in Brother,Zatoichi or Fireworks than when he tells surreal stories,like in Dolls or,now,Takeshis.I liked Takeshis but,by my point of view,is his less obtained film.First of all,let's go to the fails.The surrealism does not bother me on movies but,there is a moment in Takeshis that the story was so surrealistic that I felt the film was going nowhere.Also,it gets a little bit boring on some parts.Still with that,Takeshis has good elements.Kitano backs to do a very precise direction.The story is ingenious and,except for some parts,the film kept me fun.In summary,I liked Takeshis but I think Kitano exceeded a little bit on the surrealism and I think it's his less obtained film.But,I appreciated that this film goes beyond the common and that's enough reason to recommend it with the warning that this is not for everyone.
dvdguy2005
First up is Takeshi Kitano's "Takeshis'" First off, thank you sweet Jesus, they have replaced the seats at the Ryerson theatre. There is still a sore on my right ass cheek from last years screening of "I Heart Huckabees". You remember those seats don't you Stef! Liked that film
and I thought Mark would love it. Was wrong, he couldn't sit through it.Now, back to "Takeshis'". This is the forth 'Beat' Takeshi film I caught at the Toronto Film festival, and never seen him introduce a film yet. Does he do other festivals? Who knows? Basic Plot : 'Kitano acts opposite himself, playing both the ordinary guy - also named Kitano - and the director's real-life alter-ego, TV and cinema star "Beat" Takeshi.' This is a film for fans of Kitano
if this was your first 'Beat' film I think you would be totally lost. I've seen several... and that didn't really help me much at all. Beat is playing two different characters... (with different hair color... or do they?). There is a ton of foreshadowing going on as well
quick flashes of plot. Me thinks it is a parody of his previous work, just not sure if he is a fan of his image or not. Certainly would have asked him
if he had shown up. Beat must be a song and dance man at heart because just like "Zatôichi" , dance numbers pop up at odd moments. The crowd was quiet during the screening for the most part. The limited action scenes were so over the top they must have parody... or fantasy maybe? Who the hell knows? Overall, Disappointing.
AD
