Shinsedai 2010: THE DARK HARBOR

Takatsugu Naito's The Dark Harbor (Futoko) is a dramatic comedy that indicates the emergence of a genuine talent. The Dark Harbor is not perfect -- what film is? -- but the level of skill and style involved is obvious. This film is really a joy to watch. Manzo Ishiguro... More »

By Rodney Perkins

Shinsedai 2010: DIFFERENT CITIES Review

Many Japanese people live in huge sprawling cities, environments which are prone to rapid change. Bar the odd museum or castle it seems like there is no sense of architectural history: complete areas are demolished and rebuilt wholesale at a fast... More »

By Ard Vijn

Shinsedai 2010: ISLAND OF DREAMS

Tetsuichiro Tsuta's Island of Dreams (Yume no Shima) is an ultra-low budget black and white homage to Japanese cinema from the 1950s and 1960s. Sounds interesting, right? It is, but one has to get past surface appearances to really appreciate... More »

By Rodney Perkins

Shinsedai 2010: LIVE TAPE Review

[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now.]When I think of concert films I tend to think of... More »

By Todd Brown

Shinsedai 2010: CONFESSIONS OF A DOG Review

[Our thanks to Christopher Bourne for the following review which initially appeared when the film screened at the New York Asian Festival. With the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now..] A... More »

By Todd Brown

Shinsedai 2010: OUR BRIEF ETERNITY Review

[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now..]"Our Brief Eternity" is one of those rare delights: a film... More »

By Todd Brown

Shinsedai 2010: KAKERA, A PIECE OF YOUR LIFE Review

[This review initially appeared when the film screened at Germany's Nippon Connection and with the film appearing this weekend at the Shinsedai Festival in Toronto we present it again now..]If there is one "buzz" film at this year's Nippon Connection... More »

By Todd Brown

Complete Shinsedai Festival Lineup And Schedule Announced!

A moment here to say a very public well done to Shinsedai Festival organizers Chris MaGee and Jasper Sharp. The complete festival lineup and schedule have been announced today and it's a stellar, diverse lineup of titles. Here's the announcement... More »

By Todd Brown

First Block Of Shinsedai 2010 Titles Announced

The Toronto-based Shinsedai Festival got off to a roaring start in 2009 and though it hardly seems like a year has passed the first block of titles has already been announced for the 2010 edition.Once again curated by Chris MaGee... More »

By Todd Brown

Leading Voices in Global Cinema

Todd Brown, Founder & Editor Toronto
Peter Martin, Managing Editor Dallas
Ryland Aldrich, Festivals Editor Los Angeles
James Marsh, Asian Editor Hong Kong
Brian Clark, European Editor Paris

China Beat: What did China See in IRON MAN 3?

Much has already been written, both on these pages and many others, about the landmark Hollywood-China co-production that is Marvel and DMG Entertainment's Iron Man 3. The film, directed by Shane Black, is the third solo outing for Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark, and has proved a phenomenal success around... More »

FEAR & LOATHING AT CANNES, PART 2: I'M IN LOVE WITH EVERYBODY'S GIRL

CHAPTER 4: THE PHILOSOPHY OF ANNA KARINA AND BUTT PLUGSI'm sitting outside at a small Café that my editor told me to meet him at. I'm a 10 minute walk from the Marche Du Film convention hall and I'm still waiting for my editor to arrive so he take guide... More »

CINEMA HOLOCAUST ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA, PART 1: THOSE GOD DAMN FILM BLOGGERS

MIKE'S JOURNAL. MAY 13. MORNINGI wake up sometime around five AM. My flight to France doesn't leave until five PM. I should be there for security check in sometime around 3PM. There is no reason for me to be up this early but I'm feeling anxious. I have an itch... More »

FEAR & LOATHING AT CANNES, PART 1: A MAN'S HANDSHAKE SAYS EVERYTHING

CHAPTER ONE: THE BIGGER THE SIDEBURNS, THE BIGGER THE ASSHOLE. I've hit the big time now. I've finally made it. I'm in like Flint from here on out. I'm boarding a plane to France where I'll be attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time.No more unpaid blogging from... More »

Destroy All Monsters: Leo DiCaprio and the Myth of the Chick Flick

I have a running argument about whether or not movie box office is a zero-sum game. I tend to attack film earning potential from the "mother of two" perspective - which is that while yes, it's nice to believe that if a film is good it has a theoretically unlimited... More »