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Showing posts with label Suspect X. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suspect X. Show all posts

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Suspect X...intriguing murder drama from talented director Hiroshi Nishitani!



As far as murder dramas go, Suspect X is ahead of the pack.

The premise of the plot is highly original in concept and executed with a lavish ballsy style that intrigues and excites the sensibilities.

Though a little twisted - in the final analysis - Suspect X will keep you on the edge of your seat guessing!

When a dead body turns up at a local dump - after an apparent strangulation - investigators are stumped when it comes to solving the crime because the face of the victim has been pulverized beyond recognition and the fingers burned to a crisp.

Just a gruesome death by chance, or were the ghoulish touches an intentional act on the part of the murderer(s) to conceal the dead man's identity?

A top-notch detective is assigned to the case.

Early on in the investigation, the seasoned professional is led to the door of a young woman, the prime suspect.

Curiously, her next-door neighbour is an old acquaintance - a brilliant physicist - who appears to have more than a passing interest in the welfare of his neighbor.

A series of - elaborate bluffs, false testimonials, and loopholes in logic - confound the astute investigator, at first.

But, when the jarring pieces of the puzzle eventually fall into place, it is evident the crime has been truly diabolical in nature!

Suspect X is well-crafted visually-stunning Japanese film (English subtitles).

The taut script (written by Yasushi Fukuda & Keigo Higashino) moves the pace along at a fast clip - and hence - holds the rapt audience in suspense until the dramatic climatic end.

Catch it if you can!







Saturday, April 25, 2009

Newport Beach Film Festival...After-party a blow out! Hip OC rocks...



Festival Buzz on 1:03 AM (Short Film)





Go-Go Girls in chic cocktail dresses did a tasteful bump-and-grind on top of decorator tables (after all, this was OC), the beat of the infectious music prompted party-goers to erupt into impromptu dances about the showroom of the Land Rover auto dealership, and long queues for the scrumptious Hor d'ouevres seemed to snake endlessly amidst film buffs who chatted each other up to a fever pitch.

Yes, after a dazzling array of screenings @ the Newport Beach Film Festival last night, the locals were ready to party-hearty and wile away the twilight hours with gay abandon.

Was this the new power elite?

The packed house was populated with hip, well-heeled, stylish young adults ranging in ages from 25-40.

And, the good-looking crowd was effervescent and spilling over with excitement.

"That's what I like about the Newport Fest. People who attend come to have fun, " one volunteer piped up cheerfully.

"They show up in plain old jeans or maybe dress up for the occasion. But, there is no attitude here."

No one needed to be a shrinking violet, that's for sure.

Guests were outgoing and approachable - so much so - I made many new acquaintances.

And - unlike a couple of festivals I have attended in the past - the filmmakers & the audiences mixed-and-mingled, engaged in meaningful dialogues about film and the craft behind the art, you name it.

The Festival is going full steam in its tenth year and there is no looking back.

This morning I took in "An Electic Box of Shorts" which I'll be reporting on later in the week.

Film-goers have recommended a handful of films slated to hit the Silver Screen this coming week such as - "Lightbulb" starring Jeremy Renner, "Suspect X" starring Masaharu Fukuyama, "Bicycle Dreams" (documentary), "A film with me in it" starring Dylan Moran and Mark Doherty, "Seraphine" starring Yolande Moreau, and - in a Short Film program on April 26th - an original offering titled "1:03 A.M." produced by Raymond & Joseph Cinemato @ Jar Productions.

And, of course, there will be a round of dazzling parties to crash throughout the week.

So, if the posts get a little ragged by Thursday (closing night), it will be a sign that I truly burned the candle at both ends at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Oh well, you're only young once.

Besides, life is not meant to be a dress rehearsal, right?






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