Title: Last Life in the Universe
Release Date: 2004-08-06
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
High essence:
"in Universe Last Life in the Universe Laura Clifford Robin Clifford Kenji (Asano Tadanobu, Zatoichi, Ichi the killer) is a Japanese librarian living in Bangkok with two behavioral abnormalities - he's a compulsive neat freak who is obsessed with the idea of suicide - and one dark secret.""Pen-ek and his co-writer Prabda Yoon are unknowns here, although Prabda is a popular Thai writer and Pen-ek's previous film, Mon-Rak Transistor (2001), had a successful festival-circuit run, picking up the Asian Trade Wind Award in Seattle in 2002."
"Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang , a featured Emerging Master at the 2004 Seattle International Film Festival, made his name with energized, splashy entertainments executed with a sense of stylish flair."
Medium essence:
Robin Clifford:- in Universe Last Life in the Universe Laura Clifford Robin Clifford Kenji (Asano Tadanobu, Zatoichi, Ichi the killer) is a Japanese librarian living in Bangkok with two behavioral abnormalities - he's a compulsive neat freak who is obsessed with the idea of suicide - and one dark secret.
- In his search for the girl hemeets her older sister, Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak), who is the slovenly, potsmoking opposite to his fanatically atnick personality.
- During lazy days at Noi's home, Thai and Japanese cooking and Japanese and English conversation take place while Kenji works his magic on the home Noi will soon be leaving, ironically for Kenji's birthplace of Osaka.
Maria Garcia:
- Pen-ek and his co-writer Prabda Yoon are unknowns here, although Prabda is a popular Thai writer and Pen-ek's previous film, Mon-Rak Transistor (2001), had a successful festival-circuit run, picking up the Asian Trade Wind Award in Seattle in 2002.
- Acclaimed director of photography Christopher Doyle works mainly in Asia, most notably for Zhang Yimou (Hero), Wong Kar-wai (Inen Kaige (Temptress Moon).
- Kenji and Noi then begin an unusual relationship that forms the narrative of Thai filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang's stunning fourth feture.
Sean Axmaker:
- Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang , a featured Emerging Master at the 2004 Seattle International Film Festival, made his name with energized, splashy entertainments executed with a sense of stylish flair.
- It becomes a dreamy study in stillness broken by suicide fantasies, flashbacks, and the hired killers, but even the violence has a meditative even melancholy quality to it, as if it's all been processed through the eyes of its Zen hero.
- Before he can even think, he kills a Yakuza hit man (a cameo by Riki Takeuchi ), sent to assassinate his brother, in an act of pure reflex.
Low essence:
Robin Clifford:- in Universe Last Life in the Universe Laura Clifford Robin Clifford Kenji (Asano Tadanobu, Zatoichi, Ichi the killer) is a Japanese librarian living in Bangkok with two behavioral abnormalities - he's a compulsive neat freak who is obsessed with the idea of suicide - and one dark secret.
- Kenji and Noi's unconsummated love affair affects each deeply, as Pen-ek Ratanaruang deftly conveys each's continuing influence of the other after they part ways.
- In his search for the girl hemeets her older sister, Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak), who is the slovenly, potsmoking opposite to his fanatically atnick personality.
- Christopher Doyle, an Australian lenser who has made a significant impactin Pacific Basin films like In the Mood For Love, The Quiet Americanand Rabbit Proof Fences, turns his experienced eye to the odd life of Kenjiand helps attain a unique perspective.
- That same girl, Nid (Laila Boonyasak), is sacrificed, maybe trying to save Kenji, and becomes the connection between him and her older sister Noi (at film's midpoint, they even briefly become become interchangeable).
- During lazy days at Noi's home, Thai and Japanese cooking and Japanese and English conversation take place while Kenji works his magic on the home Noi will soon be leaving, ironically for Kenji's birthplace of Osaka.
- An abusive ex-boyfriend of Noi's wants Kenji dead, but is dealt with by the Yakuza gang (led by Audition and Ichi the Killer director Takashi Miike) somehow connected to Kenji, who sports the telltale tattooed back of the Japanese gangsters.
Maria Garcia:
- Last Life an international collaboration, bringing togetrpanese actor, an Australian cinematographer, and a Thai cast and crew.
- Pen-ek and his co-writer Prabda Yoon are unknowns here, although Prabda is a popular Thai writer and Pen-ek's previous film, Mon-Rak Transistor (2001), had a successful festival-circuit run, picking up the Asian Trade Wind Award in Seattle in 2002.
- Acclaimed director of photography Christopher Doyle works mainly in Asia, most notably for Zhang Yimou (Hero), Wong Kar-wai (Inen Kaige (Temptress Moon).
- WhiL Life boasttwo excellent performances--Asano and Sinitta--the real stars are the set and Doyle's cinematography.
- Kenji's first vision: his neck in a noose, a pile of library books strewn about below him, and a note with the words This is bliss.
- Bliss is compendiously interrupted by Kenji's brother, a gangster on the run who flicks cigarette ash around Kenji's immaculate apartment.
- Kenji and Noi then begin an unusual relationship that forms the narrative of Thai filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang's stunning fourth feture.
Sean Axmaker:
- Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang , a featured Emerging Master at the 2004 Seattle International Film Festival, made his name with energized, splashy entertainments executed with a sense of stylish flair.
- It becomes a dreamy study in stillness broken by suicide fantasies, flashbacks, and the hired killers, but even the violence has a meditative even melancholy quality to it, as if it's all been processed through the eyes of its Zen hero.
- Before he can even think, he kills a Yakuza hit man (a cameo by Riki Takeuchi ), sent to assassinate his brother, in an act of pure reflex.
Source:
http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000695193
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/193191_universe01q.html
http://www.reelingreviews.com/lastlifeintheuniverse.htm