Memoirs of a Geisha
What a work of art. Geisha is by far one of the prettiest movies I've ever seen. The plot was enough to keep me interested, with all of the jealousy and revenge that Sayuri had to go through. I have not read the book, and therefore, cannot comment as to how true to the storyline it stayed, but the script seemed to flow well and the acting was very good. I cannot comment about how they had Chinese actresses play Japanese Geisha, only that the casting was done well because the acting was so beautiful.
The scenery and costumes were more than Oscar-Worthy. Reconstructing a WWII-era Japan in California is no small feat. The dance that Chiyo performs in the snow was a spectacular visual and the viewer could feel the ambition behind her to finally put down her arch-nemesis, Hatsumomo.
Perhaps the best part about the acting in this film was young Chiyo. This 13 year old girl conveys more with her (beautiful!) eyes than most child stars do with their entire bodies. If she plans to do anything else in the future that will be released in the states, Hollywood is going to have to ask Dakota Fanning to stand aside. It was a pleasure to see such wonderful unforced talent come from such an inexperienced actor. Raw talent- this girl is going places.
Ken Watanabe is also wonderful, and it certainly is nice to see him in a film where he's not wielding a sword. We can clearly see what Sayuri sees in the Chairman, even as young Chiyo. It is interesting to see the psychology of a child's mind when she realizes that the only way that she can be with the only man who has ever shown her an ounce of kindness is to make sacrifice after sacrifice.
Overall, the movie was done very well and even the somewhat racy scenes were tasteful (It IS a PG-13 film, after all...) and every detail (even down to the small part played by Ted Levine!) was extraodinary. It wasn't one of those rip-your-heart-out leave the theater bawling kind of movies- it was just a really well done film.
The scenery and costumes were more than Oscar-Worthy. Reconstructing a WWII-era Japan in California is no small feat. The dance that Chiyo performs in the snow was a spectacular visual and the viewer could feel the ambition behind her to finally put down her arch-nemesis, Hatsumomo.
Perhaps the best part about the acting in this film was young Chiyo. This 13 year old girl conveys more with her (beautiful!) eyes than most child stars do with their entire bodies. If she plans to do anything else in the future that will be released in the states, Hollywood is going to have to ask Dakota Fanning to stand aside. It was a pleasure to see such wonderful unforced talent come from such an inexperienced actor. Raw talent- this girl is going places.
Ken Watanabe is also wonderful, and it certainly is nice to see him in a film where he's not wielding a sword. We can clearly see what Sayuri sees in the Chairman, even as young Chiyo. It is interesting to see the psychology of a child's mind when she realizes that the only way that she can be with the only man who has ever shown her an ounce of kindness is to make sacrifice after sacrifice.
Overall, the movie was done very well and even the somewhat racy scenes were tasteful (It IS a PG-13 film, after all...) and every detail (even down to the small part played by Ted Levine!) was extraodinary. It wasn't one of those rip-your-heart-out leave the theater bawling kind of movies- it was just a really well done film.
posted by Susan at
6/26/2006
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