Ugetsu Monogatori,The Life of Oharu,Sansho the Bailiff and Story of the Late Chrysanthemus.Ok,I’m pretty sure that Mizo has other great films too,but I think that these are his most established and well-known films.
And something else for Italy.A personal complain.Why hasn’t the manager used at least one Leone?He is maybe my favorite Italian director and I believe he has made some masterpieces.At least Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time in America could have gone very well,imo.
‘’He has already used Antonioni’s top guns’’
c’mon Kenji,Il Grido and La Notte are bloody brilliant films too.
that means no "famous"Mizoguchi films in the next Cup,yes?
Leone is a hidden favorite of mine but i really don’t think westerns would have gone better amidst the majority of voters ;)
Heh. Rüdiger, I could almost feel your glare as I cast my tentative vote for Blow Up, I feared your wrath even more than Kenji’s since he seemed to have the matter well in hand. In recompense, I’ll endeavor to finish watching all of the available Ozu films sometime soon and see what I’ve been missing.
>but i really don’t think westerns would have gone better amidst the majority of voters ;)
You bet – so sad, indeed. By the way, those Mizoguchis are nothing compared to his glorious filmography; many masterpieces to come!
Hi Greg, there were much other comments on Late Spring which raised my blood pressure. Just the word “conservative” about Ozu seems to me quite an old hat. But thanks you didn´t ca,, late Spring overrated.
i did use the 4 “big” Mizoguchi films, but i love so many more- Taira Clan is harder for accessing, and Straits of Love and Hate even more so. I’m stunned by the success of Ugetsu- and delighted with Mizoguchi’s success overall. Drew was playing to win the tournament, not just make the semis, a bold move, with those guns in reserve he would have been beautifully placed if he’d beaten Japan. Anyway, he outlasted USA and France, and should be pleased with overall performance. By forcing me to play so hard and use up at least one major film more than i’d planned he’s opened up the tournament.
I’d buy Drew a beer, but I’d get arrested.
Kenji, your sake is on its way. Warm.
For anyone here who hasn’t seen The Conformist, do yourself a favour and see that great masterpiece. Its only fault in this event was its unfortunate pairing against Ugetsu. The Conformist is a film that works on many levels and has one of the most complex characterizations of a real shit in all of cinema in the character of Marcello, so brilliantly played by Jean-Louis Trintignant. Every scene is as modern and breathtaking to look at as any current film, thanks to the genius of Storaro. I just rewatched the film for this event and am still in awe of it.
Checkout Marcello’s conversation re Plato’s cave allegory with the professor and see how Storaro uses the camera at the end to have the shadow of the characters disappear at just the right moment. One of hundreds of examples of close attention to detail. Checkout the scene in the dance hall where Marcello is encircled by the dancers. Checkout the entire devastating scene in the forest, as Marcello sits motionless in the car. Cinema doesn’t get much more intense than this, folks. The Conformist is a textbook example in how to properly shoot and stage a film to maximize the story. The votes here don’t reflect this film’s many strengths. This is Bertolucci’s and Storaro’s unquestionable masterpiece.
Don’t worry about the results Drew, as all your picks were as good as it gets for Italy, just up against some of the best films Japan has to offer. No shame in the loss. Full congratulations to Kenji for mustering up his Japanese forces against some of the best Italy has to offer. Obviously, this event was a crowd pleaser and got us comparing two great countries best filmographies.
well i thought Ugetsu would probably win, but in a close struggle, cos The Conformist i think pretty well lives up to its critical reputation and status in polls, and the margin of victory amazed me. I thought Late Spring would fare best of the 3.
ARG!!! Completely missed this, thinking 1/4-final voting wasn’t happening until next week … at least my vote wouldn’t have changed the outcome (was going to vote for Ugetsu over Conformist).
apursansar
Sansho the Bailiff – The Life of O-Haru – The Story of Late Chrysanthemums – Ugetsu monogatari
All of those are among the greatest Japanese films ever made.