Orangevine

Started watching for cast, ost, the original novel... But I had to quit after 4 episode. The drama is just too dark. The jokes about looking into the abyss until it stares back apply.

The drama also features very unusual characters that you wouldn't typically find in other dramas. It is because at heart these characters are late 19th century Russians and they differ quite a lot from modern Japanese people (in their conflicts and values).

So if you could stomach the feeling of overpowering despair, you may really enjoy watching great cast act out conflicts and emotions they don't usually get to.

This drama is a great thriller if you've never watched something like this before (after all, the genre is old and includes several classics; some of them are a lot more serious thematically and tonally). But it is indeed closer to satire and I'd argue that this aspect is the most entertaining one.

While classic predecessors tackled heavier issues, they didn't allow for the perverse pleasure of watching the main character torture the unsympathetic family. Some viewers may not be surprised by plot turns and anyone is unlikely to learn any useful lessons, but everyone can appreciate the confrontation between violent and unpredictable character of Sakurai Sho and hypocritical, petty, but vulnerable character of Kamiki Ryonosuke.

You could also argue that there are better actors than Sakurai but he is, again, very entertaining in this role. Kamiki, on the other hand, proved many times that this kind of roles are his specialty. While Suda Masaki brilliantly acted "violent and unpredicatable" sensei in the recent 3-Nen-A-Gumi, he didn't have the luxury of supporting actors of Kamiki caliber.

Who else is going to cry when the casting of the new Rurouni Kenshin movies is announced, and Suda is not in it?

I'm gonna go and say something sacrilegious... Suda Masaki is a genius actor but there is a thing he hasn't yet achieved in my opinion. And this thing is building romantic chemistry.

I don't mean it as a critique, I view it as a continuation of his talents. For me, he is real-life shounen hero. You know, like Luffy or Naruto. He got enormous spirit and dedication which shows in his work (Oh, Wilderness is a great example). But it also makes him detached from "earthly" stuff like romance. He portrays pure friendships like nobody's business (see Dele or Kamen Rider) and he brings this "pureness" to the most ridiculous and over-the-top characters making them likeable and relatable (see Teiichi's Country or Tamiou; especially in the former case, it is Suda's acting that makes scenes like the one where he looks someones boots funny and not crude).

At the same time, if I were to claim that Suda had all of the Agape and no Eros, people would be quick to point out how many R-18 scene he was in. But romantic chemistry is not all about sex. I'd say Suda's romances seem more like friends-with-benefits than grand passionate affairs. It doesn't help that he played every jerk that preys on women under the sun in his art house films. But even his classic romances like Monster Next Door fail to deliver. I swear, every time uber-sexy Tsuchia Tao's heroine was about to kiss Suda's character, it seemed like the Heaven's blessing was pouring down on him from above (that lighting!) and the moment would turn from "horny teenagers in love" to "love is not looking at each other; love is looking at the same direction", if you catch my drift.

If you disagree, you may be right! If Suda's romances work for you, it's great! Moreover, Suda has two upcoming romantic movies this year so obviously big wigs don't think he makes a bad male lead. But I personally can't help but compare him to actors like Saito Takumi, Ikematsu Sosuke, Yamaga Takayuki. These actors don't need romantic subplots to have enormous chemistry with other cast members; they just do. And Suda can have full-blown script-supported romance and still make it as pure as snow. Just exchange you favourite romance male lead in you favourite romantic drama with Suda (an outstanding chameleon actor who should be able to play any role) and see the story crumble.

Yeah, it was a heart-breaking scene (and a great performance from two stellar actors). I think a lot of kids of helicopter parents can relate to Teiichi's trauma.

Haha Calling Suda bad actor is like saying that Yanazaki Kento is ugly. And in the latter case you could at least argue that different cultures have different beauty standards.

I would really doubt anyone concerned that Suda shouts too much especially in relation to Teiichi where his acting is 70 percent of the movie's charm.

All the Rurouni Kenshin jokes were hilarious.

Natural acting from two brilliant actors. While Suda Masaki is arguably a romantic chemistry killer, here he only needs to portray friendship. Ikematsu Sosuke, on the other hand, is impossible not to have chemistry with. So of course they manage to portray a warm friendship that sustains an entire movie worth of dialogues.

When I was young and reading Death Note as it was getting published I thought that the character designs were very stylish and realistic. L was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, it seemed very sensible and normal. But in the recent years, for some reason, every adaptation of Death Note aims to have really corny designs for its characters.

Yamazaki Kento may be the cutest tootie-patootie in this drama but can you look me in the eye and tell me that he looks like a character from the serious crime drama? With that hair? And that clothes?

Kubota Masataka, though, bravely ignores all the corniness around him and acts as if it's all real, as if he indeed possess the power to take a life with just a few strokes of pen. His phenomenal acting and strong plot keep this cheaply made drama together.

The golden standard of Japanese dramas. You can't go wrong with this one.

I recommend to watch it if you ever wondered how CLAMP characters would look like in real life (spoiler: like Higashide Masahiro) or if you've been wondering about toxic masculinity and the way we often perceive men like Watanuki to be lacking. It is especially interesting how high-strung, often unable to protect himself Watanuki with his unrequited crush morphs from the CLAMP protagonist (a plucky but vulnerable bishounen) to the typical looser character (or harem anime protagonist).

The story is all over the place but the plot is actually quite engaging. How something so corny can be watchable? Right?? But it is. The charismatic characters (Narimiya Hiroki and Kichise Michiko especially) chew the scenery with aplomb, so once you stop shouting "not another Japanese story from the days when internet forums were thought to be sinister places with every other post containing word 'kami' and predictions of apocalypses" you can enjoy it quite a lot.

Kubota is a kind of an actor that can play characters like Gollum without an ounce of shame or restraint. Whatever shade of pathetic, revolting, or debased you want, Kubota would give it to you. Perhaps, Kaneki from the manga is a more fragile, vulnerable character than Kubota's Kaneki. But who else would convincingly retch for half of the movie and flawlessly act out all of the "my precioussssss" moments?

Kubota Mastaka, my friends, is an anime protagonist to rule them all.

What a let down.

This was so bad, such a waste of the great cast. I watched it at the film festival with the friends I roped to accompany me, they still resent me. The First Love (2019) by Miike was much more enjoyable.

It is a great movie but rather depressing (if harshness of reality depresses you).

Suda Masaki gives 300% in here. This is a very high quality production, don't let the genre scare you away. It is also "a jerk with a heart of gold" kind of movie and some scenes are really touching and poignant. If nothing else, you should definitely watch it for the fanservice (a true ikkemen paradise).

I watched it for Kamiki and bitterly regretted it. Even his acting couldn't save the movie for me.

I was completely blown away by Yamada Takayuki's charisma and the chemistry he had with other characters (especially, Kiritani Kenta). An acting genius at work is always a pleasure to watch.

The legendary combo of Ayano Go and Yamada Takayuki. Enough said.