Bunraku
2/4
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Woody Harrelson, Kevin McKidd, Ron Pearlman, Demi Moore
Rated R for Bloody Violence and Language
"Sin City" meets "West Side Story."
Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? I had no idea what to expect when I put in "Bunraku," a direct-to-DVD movie with a good cast and some cool images on the back. The latter is the best part of the movie. It looks great, like a comic book/video game hybrid as a stage musical. And it would be as awesome and weird as it sounds, except for the fact that the story is completely incoherent.
And I don't mean incoherent in ways that only an astute film critic would see. I mean incoherent to the extent where only about 10 minutes of the film makes any sense. And it's a two hour movie.
This is a post-apocalyptic action movie, that much is clear. After all the wars and murders, everyone decided to bury every gun ever made. The most powerful man on the East Coast is Nicola (Perlman), who rules with an iron fist. He has 10 men under him (called Killers, and they each have a number), plus a lot of minions who wear red suits. His right-man hand is Killer No. 2 (McKidd), who does his dirty work. One day, two men come strolling into town: The Drifter (Hartnett) and Yoshi (Gackt). The Drifter's motivations are hazy, but Yoshi wants a special necklace that happens to belong to Nicola. Also involved is The Bartender (Harrelson) and Alexandra (Moore), a local whore.
That's really all I could get. I'm telling you, the script is a disaster. It wants to be a pulp-noir on stage kind of thing, but even though the dialogue is suitably hard-boiled, it makes zip sense. It's a shame, really, because there are some good performances and the film looks fantastic.
On the acting front, there isn't a weak note to be found, which considering the script, is an accomplishment. Josh Hartnett, who has long since shed his "teen idol" image, is effective as the mysterious Drifter. He's like a less psychotic version of his character in "Sin City." Gackt, a Japanese actor/musician, is also good. Woody Harrelson is his usual reliable self, as is Ron Perlman. Demi Moore has almost nothing to do however. The real scene stealer is Kevin McKidd, who plays the character as a cross between a mime and a Broadway dancer. Speaking ruins the effect, however.
Let me go on about the visuals for a minute. I said this movie looks incredible, and I mean it. From the comic-like transitions, to the computer animations in the beginning to the very CGI swooshes over the landscape, the film is never boring to the eyes. Director Guy Moshe directs this as if it's one huge Broadway stage. The lighting and the camera angles enhance this effect, and some of the fight scenes look like musical numbers.
If only the same care and attention had been paid to the script...alas, it's an utter mess. Maybe a lot of it was left on the cutting room floor. Surely a script that is this nonsensical wouldn't be given the green light as it is, but one never knows...
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Woody Harrelson, Kevin McKidd, Ron Pearlman, Demi Moore
Rated R for Bloody Violence and Language
"Sin City" meets "West Side Story."
Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? I had no idea what to expect when I put in "Bunraku," a direct-to-DVD movie with a good cast and some cool images on the back. The latter is the best part of the movie. It looks great, like a comic book/video game hybrid as a stage musical. And it would be as awesome and weird as it sounds, except for the fact that the story is completely incoherent.
And I don't mean incoherent in ways that only an astute film critic would see. I mean incoherent to the extent where only about 10 minutes of the film makes any sense. And it's a two hour movie.
This is a post-apocalyptic action movie, that much is clear. After all the wars and murders, everyone decided to bury every gun ever made. The most powerful man on the East Coast is Nicola (Perlman), who rules with an iron fist. He has 10 men under him (called Killers, and they each have a number), plus a lot of minions who wear red suits. His right-man hand is Killer No. 2 (McKidd), who does his dirty work. One day, two men come strolling into town: The Drifter (Hartnett) and Yoshi (Gackt). The Drifter's motivations are hazy, but Yoshi wants a special necklace that happens to belong to Nicola. Also involved is The Bartender (Harrelson) and Alexandra (Moore), a local whore.
That's really all I could get. I'm telling you, the script is a disaster. It wants to be a pulp-noir on stage kind of thing, but even though the dialogue is suitably hard-boiled, it makes zip sense. It's a shame, really, because there are some good performances and the film looks fantastic.
On the acting front, there isn't a weak note to be found, which considering the script, is an accomplishment. Josh Hartnett, who has long since shed his "teen idol" image, is effective as the mysterious Drifter. He's like a less psychotic version of his character in "Sin City." Gackt, a Japanese actor/musician, is also good. Woody Harrelson is his usual reliable self, as is Ron Perlman. Demi Moore has almost nothing to do however. The real scene stealer is Kevin McKidd, who plays the character as a cross between a mime and a Broadway dancer. Speaking ruins the effect, however.
Let me go on about the visuals for a minute. I said this movie looks incredible, and I mean it. From the comic-like transitions, to the computer animations in the beginning to the very CGI swooshes over the landscape, the film is never boring to the eyes. Director Guy Moshe directs this as if it's one huge Broadway stage. The lighting and the camera angles enhance this effect, and some of the fight scenes look like musical numbers.
If only the same care and attention had been paid to the script...alas, it's an utter mess. Maybe a lot of it was left on the cutting room floor. Surely a script that is this nonsensical wouldn't be given the green light as it is, but one never knows...
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