DVD Collectors Online

Nobody Knows, a review by Tom

Nobody Knows (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Sunfilm Entertainment (Germany) Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Writing: Hirokazu Koreeda (Writer) Length: 141 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: German

---

Stars:Plot:
Based on true events that shocked Japan, this story of abandoned siblings is a "harrowing, tender film" (The New York Times) that "unfolds with leisurely beauty" (LA Weekly). Filmed over a year and featuring a performance by 12-year-old Yagira Yuya that won the Best Actor prize at the 2004 Cannes International Film Festival, this "haunting" (Newsday) tale is "heartbreaking brilliant" (The Boston Globe).

A childlike mother of four sneaks her children into their new apartment as if it were a game. One of the game's rules is that only Akira, the oldest, can go outside. Their mother leaves, first for a month, then possibly forever. As the money runs out and the utilities are shut off, Akira struggles to take care of his brother and sisters, determined that they stay alive...and together.

Awards:
Won:

Cannes Festival (2004)

Best Actor (Yagira Yuuya)

Nominated:

Young Artist Awards (2005)

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Photo Gallery
• Production Notes
• Scene Access
• Trailers

Despite its slow pace the movie was engaging throughout the runtime. All children did a great job. Although I would have preferred a proper resolution to the story. If only as a text describing something similar to the real-life happenings on which the story was based on.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 6th, 2011)

Day of the Outlaw, a review by Antares

Day of the Outlaw (1959)) 80/100The Great Silence, a film heralded for its unique setting of a desolate snow covered landscape. But Corbucci just uses it as a backdrop to the main story line. Here, it's part of the screenplay and because of this, this is a forgotten gem of a western and leaps and bounds better than Corbucci's effort. You feel the wind chill, you agonize alongside the men who trudge through the deep snowdrifts. A few minor changes and this would have been considered a top 10 western of all time. The first change would have been to lengthen both the beginning and the end portions of the film at the cost of the middle. Not enough time is given to building up the tensions between Blaise Starrett (Robert Ryan) and the homesteaders of the town. Leaving De Toth with only the middling middle portion of the film, when the outlaws arrive. Burl Ives is great again as the leader of the outlaws, who stops in the town to have a bullet removed from his chest. While he recovers, he forbids his men from whiskey and the wives of the homesteaders. Unfortunately, the supporting cast who play his band are pretty bad, and the subsequent scenes appear cartoonish, with the exception of David Nelson. A few years ago we had a discussion during a past March western marathon as to the depth and ability of Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo. Ricky got the musical talent, his brother had better acting talent. His role is pretty standard fare, so you can't look upon it as eye opening, but he does hold his own, and shines far brighter than his fellow character actors. Another change I would have made would have scrapped the romantic entanglement between Ryan and Tina Louise, it serves no purpose and Louise's delivery of her lines with Ryan are pretty uninspiring or believable. Lastly, and this is the best part of the film, I would have added a few twists to the final portion of the film when Ryan is leading the outlaws through what he has convinced them is, a secret way out of the mountains and away from the town and the pursuing cavalry. There's an integral moment when Ryan is leading them through the deep snow, the men and horses enveloped in clouds of heated breath and Ives says to Ryan, "I'm feeling better. I'm beginning to hope we're going to make it". To which Ryan responds "None of us are going to make it".

My ending would have been much better. With only the two greedy outlaws left, Ryan gets them through the treeline and comes upon what appears to be a snow covered expanse of land. Their horses by now are tired from trudging through extremely deep snow, carrying the bulk of the gold and Ryan tells them they need to dismount and lead the horses to save their strength. As the trio is one third of the way across the supposed field, Ryan hears the slight sound of ice cracking behind him. He realizes they're crossing a hidden mountain lake and with many hot springs being located in Wyoming, they could be crossing a warm feeder stream into the lake. He mounts his horse, unburdened by bags of heavy gold, and tries to escape. The outlaw who was behind him, grabs his rifle and just as he's raising it, both he and the other outlaw, along with the weight laden horses fall through the ice and slowly freeze to death in the brutally cold water. A much bleaker ending than the ridiculously happy one tacked on by De Toth, which has
If you like a good suspenseful story and some amazing cinematography, give this a chance. You'll see the faults I've mentioned, but it doesn't distract from the over all drama. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 11th, 2020)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

05. Never Kill a Boy on the First Date (1997-03-31)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Rob Des Hotel (Writer), Dean Batali (Writer)
Director: David Semel
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Mark Metcalf (The Master), David Boreanaz (Angel), Christopher Wiehl (Owen), Geoff Meed (Andrew), Paul-Felix Montez (Mysterious Guy), Robert Mont (Van Driver), Andrew J. Ferchland (Boy)

This is an example of an episode, where the story itself is so-so, but it is nonetheless fun to watch because of the fun dialogs and great delivery of these.



06. The Pack (1997-04-07)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), Matt Kiene (Writer), Joe Reinkemeyer (Writer)
Director: Bruce Seth Green
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Ken Lerner (Principal Flutie), Eion Bailey (Kyle), Michael McRaine (Rhonda), Brian Gross (Tor), Jennifer Sky (Heidi), Jeff Maynard (Lance), James Stephens (Dr. Wierick), David Brisbin (Mr. Anderson), Barbara K. Whinnery (Mrs. Anderson), Gregory White (Coach Herrold), Justin Jon Ross (Joey), Jeffrey Steven Smith (Adam), Patrese Borem (Young Woman)

Another episode I never really cared for. I didn't like the story and again, nothing really funny which could save the episode.



07. Angel (1997-04-14)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Greenwalt (Writer)
Director: Scott Brazil
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Mark Metcalf (The Master), David Boreanaz (Angel), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Julie Benz (Darla), Andrew J. Ferchland (Collin), Charles Wesley (Meanest Vamp)

This is the first real highlight of the series. We are told what it is about Angel. Darla dies. We got good jokes even though it is a more dramatic episode, which is the strong suit about the series. The only bad thing is, that the annoying one's role is too big. I don't like it how the Master is listening to the pep talk of this small brat.

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on November 24th, 2008)