Notícias

The 48th Japan Academy Film Awards ceremony took place on March 14, 2025 at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on March 14, 2025, with free announcer Shinichi Hatori and actress Sakura Ando hosting the show.

“A Samurai in Time” continued gathering awards after the three it netted from Nikkan Sports, Michihito Fujii cemented his place on the top of the current directors, while Yuumi Kawai highlighted that she is the next super star of the local industry. “Kingdom 4″ Return of the General” expectedly won the majority of the technical awards. Here is the full list

Best Picture

A Samurai in Time Fantasia Film Review: A Samurai in Time (2024) by Junichi Yasuda

Best Animation Film

Look Back Anime Review: Look Back (2024) by Kiyotaka Oshiyama

Best Director

Michihito Fujii – Faceless

Best Screenplay

Akiko Nogi – Last Mile Film Review: Last Mile (2024) by Ayuko Tsukahara

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Ryusei Yokohama – Faceless

Best...

The easiest way to describe the tone of Satoshi Miki’s realization of an objectively ingenious concept (What happens to the rotting carcass of a defeated kaiju?), is to mention the question to which every journalist demands an answer after a blister filled with the gaseous byproduct of the monster’s decomposition bursts: Does it smell like poo or puke? If that sounds like your idea of a good time for two hours, Daikaijū no Atoshimatsu [What to do with the Dead Kaiju?] is for you. If it doesn’t, however, the film will feel more like a different scene occurring much later, one where a character electronically leaks a classified photo and text file. Rather than an instantaneous transfer, we must literally watch the progress bar slowly fill to completion.

That’s how most films in this vein feel to me, though: the whole lowest common denominator comedic send-up of a usually earnestly dramatic genre piece a la Scary Movie.

Based on Keigo Higashino’s 2012 novel of the same name, “The Miracles of the Namiya General Store” is the first of two adaptations of Higashino’s book, the second being Han Jie’s “Namiya” starring Jackie Chan. Hiroki’s cinematic take on this intricately woven tale is presented wonderfully thanks to some strong performances and a carefully structured narrative.

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store is screening at Japan Society

For many years, Yuuji Namiya (Toshiyuki Nishida) answered letters from strangers asking for advice and left his responses in the milk box outside his general store. Now, in 2012, Atsuya (Ryosuke Yamada), Shota (Nijiro Murakami), and Kohei (Kanichiro Sato), take refuge in the abandoned shop while on the run from the law. The arrival of a letter in the dead of night prompts the trio into leaving, yet they’re unable to get away from the run-down shop. By deciding to respond to the letter,...

Sion Sono takes another trip towards the preposterous, this time managing to mix tokusatsu, kaiju, and family film elements while mocking a vast plethora of notions, including the Olympic Games, history, the music industry, bullying, pop culture, and even Santa Claus.

Love and Peace is screening as part of Five Flavours Asian New Year’s Eve Online

Ryoichi is the definition of the loser. When he was young, he dreamt of becoming a punk rock star but instead ended up being a timid white-collar employee of a musical parts company. Furthermore, everybody seems to constantly mock him and that includes not just his co-workers and boss, but actually everybody. From the passengers of the train he takes to work every day, who seem to stare at him perpetually, to talk-show producers on TV, in a distinct surrealistic notion, typical of Sono’s style. Ryoichi has feelings for a co-worker, Yuko Terajima,...

The 3/11 catastrophe is a reoccurring topic in recent Japanese cinema. After a slow start, the industry seems to be confident enough to tackle the trauma. It almost took nine years for a big production company to release the premier Fukushima-themed blockbuster, “Fukushima 50” by Setsuro Wakamatsu. In the same year Nobuhiru Suwa, film director and President of the Tokyo Zokei University, presents “Voices in the Wind”. For the first time in 18 years, Suwa returns to his home country to tell a devastating and haunting roadtrip drama about 17-year-old Haru, who lost her parents in the tsunami and travels to the place that once was her home.

Voices in the Wind is screening at Camera Japan

In the northern coast town of Otsuchi, there is a white telephone booth to which over 30.000 people from all over Japan have come to speak to the “loved ones” that were lost in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Once considered as a Japanese industry outsider, Hirokazu Kore-eda has thoroughly conquered that insider bastion, the Japan Academy Prizes, scooping eight trophies for his dark family drama “Shoplifters” at the 42nd annual award ceremony on March 1. Among them were best picture and best director honors – with the latter Kore-eda’s second in a row.

Administered by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association, the Japan Academy Prizes have been called Japan’s Oscars, but they have struggled to attain a similar clout and prestige. One reason is the perception that they are mostly parceled out by the local majors for the local majors. Celebrated auteur Takeshi Kitano told an audience at the 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival that “Toho, Toei, Shochiku and sometimes Nikkatsu…pass (the awards) around.”

“Shoplifters” was released in Japan by Gaga, not considered a major distributor of Japanese films but still a potent industry force with a long...

Thrilling, talky, and densely plotted to a point of convolution, Outrage Coda closes Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage trilogy, which follows various warring yakuza crime organizations in Japan and now, South Korea, centering around an enforcer named Otomo, played by Kitano under his acting name Beat Takeshi. It’s interesting that Kitano’s work first hit North America under the banner of Quentin Tarantino’s Rolling Thunder Pictures. Luckily for audiences, Kitano is a filmmaker utterly unspoiled by the post-Tarantino wave in which hitmen became preoccupied by discussions about the discography of Hall & Oates as they sliced their target’s throat with a garrote wire. (Although the two filmmakers do share a love of Godard.) Outrage Coda is a gangster revenge film which slyly favors plot over character; where the violent antiheroes talk about the film’s plot, and absolutely nothing else.

After Otomo becomes aligned with a Korean crime organization,...

“I still have something to do.”

“Don’t be too reckless.” Shortly after the release of “Beyond Outrage”, the first sequel he filmed to this day, Kitano stated how he wanted to conclude his modern day-narrative on the yakuza. Besides the financial success of the last two films, a conclusion seems to be the logical next step after focusing on the hierarchy within the underworld (“Outrage”) and its evolution to a business (“Beyond Outrage”). The last entry into the series would be centered around the individual and highlight the lasting consequences of Otomo’s actions and those of the other characters.

Outrage Coda is screening at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival

Despite their roots within the cinema of directors like Ken Takakura or Kinji Fukasaku, Kitano emphasizes how he regards his films as different from these traditions. Even though his approach remains stylized, the image of the yakuza as an...

Contrary to popular belief, the Japanese are not totally averse to watching war movies, with Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima and Peter Webber’s Emperor being fairly well-received in recent years. However, those films undoubtedly owed their success to the presence of revered Japanese actors Ken Watanabe and Toshiyuki Nishida, boy-band idol Kazunari Ninomiya and the calmly authoritative Tommy Lee Jones (who is so big over here that he fronts a major coffee brand). Given that Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk offers none of the above, one wondered how the Tokyo media conference, held at the plush Roppongi Hills complex on Thursday […]...

Exclusive: Watch first teaser for final film in Kitano’s Outrage Trilogy.

Screen can reveal the first full-length English language trailer for Outrage Coda, written, directed, and starring Takeshi Kitano.

Watch the trailer for the Yakuza thriller below or on YouTube Here.

Outrage Coda is the third and final instalment in Kitano’s Outrage trilogy. Starring alongside Beat Takeshi are Toshiyuki Nishida, Nao Ohmori, and Pierre Taki.

The plot sees veteran gangster Otomo attempting to rebuild his old gang having returned from exile in Korea, and settling old scores once and for all.

Warner Bros Japan and Office Kitano are releasing the film in Japan on October 7, with the film set to premiere internationally in an Autumn festival.

It is a Bandai Visual, TV Tokyo, Warner Bros Pictures Japan, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation and Office Kitano Production. Co-producers are Masayuki Mori and Takio Yoshida.

Celluloid Dreams handles world sales.

The film crew includes composer Keiichi Suzuki, cinematographer [link=nm...

The third installment of the action-packed Outrage saga has just been given its first teaser. Although the footage is very brief, it does provide clues for what adventure lies ahead for star Takeshi Kitano, in a project which should hopefully give him more to do than Ghost in the Shell.

For those unfamiliar with the Outrage films, they follow underground organized crime in Japan, and center on Kitano’s character Otomo. From what’s been revealed by the teaser, Otomo is back with a vengeance as we see an assortment of yakuza-related activity.

The film is written, directed, and stars Kitano, who joins Toshiyuki Nishida, Nao Omori, Pierre Taki, and Ren Osugi. See the teaser below thanks to Screen Anarchy.

While Hanada (Pierre Taki) is in South Korea on a business trip, he kills CEO Jang’s subordinate. CEO Jang holds tremendous power in South Korea. A highly volatile situation...

Sion Sono's Love and PeaceSTORY72%DIRECTION75%ACTING70%VISUALS80%POSITIVESGreat story in the distinct Sono styleActing matching the general aesthetics to the fullestGreat, retro visualsNegativesA small time frame that the film seems a bit lagging2016-06-1474%Overall ScoreReader Rating: (0 Votes)0%

Sion Sono takes another trip towards the preposterous, this time managing to mix tokusatsu, kaiju, and family film elements while mocking a vast plethora of notions, including the Olympic Games, history, the music industry, bullying, pop culture, and even Santa Claus.

Ryoichi is the definition of loser. When he was young, he dreamt of becoming a punk rock star but instead ended up being a timid white-collar employee of a musical parts company. Furthermore, everybody seems to constantly mock him and that includes not just his co-workers and boss, but actually everybody. From the passengers of the train he takes to work every day, who seem to stare at him perpetually,...

Love & Peace

Written & Directed by Sion Sono

Japan, 2015

Love & Peace should not work. This fantasy-dramedy concoction from Japan’s mad genius, Sion Sono, combines absurdist comedy, serious drama, musical numbers, satire, and untold other genres in ways that simply shouldn’t be done. And yet, it works completely. What other film this year can make you laugh, cry, and feel inspired, all at the same time? Simply put, Love & Peace is one 2015’s best films and it demands to be seen.

Ryoichi Suzuki (Hiroki Hasegawa) is a loser. He failed as a rock singer, is mercilessly ridiculed at his thankless office job, and can’t even muster the courage to speak to his secret love, Yuko (Kumiko Aso). None of that stops him from having huge dreams, of course. With the Tokyo Olympiad approaching in 2020, Ryoichi dreams of performing in the newly-minted Nippon Stadium. He’ll ascend to rock-god status...

Title: Beyond Outrage (Aka Outrage Beyond) Directed by: Takeshi Kitano Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Toshiyuki Nishida, Tomokazu Miura, Fumiyo Kohinata Running time: 112 minutes, Rated R, Available now on VOD/iTunes – In theaters 01/03/14 The anticipated sequel to Outrage. The police have organized a crackdown of the two major Yakuza crime sydicates – the Sanno and Hanabishi. Detective Kataoka (Fumiyo Kohinata) proposes an early prison realase of Otomo (Takeshi Kitano), a former Yakuza. Kataoka hopes that Otomo will seek out revenge from being forced to serve time and take out the bosses of both syndicates. His plan works and both syndicates are forced to unite. How far will Otomo take his [ Read More ]

The post Beyond Outrage Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Internationally-renowned actor-director Takeshi Kitano returns with Beyond Outrage, his follow up to 2011's Outrage. We have an exclusive TV spot for fans to check out, before this action-packed sequel arrives on iTunes and other VOD formats November 28, ahead of its theatrical debut on January 3, 2014. This explosive thriller co-stars Ryo Kase, Toshiyuki Nishida and Shun Sugata.

With Beyond Outrage, action cinema master Takeshi Kitano returns to the hard boiled characters, black comedy and unflinching violence of his crime masterpiece Outrage. This time, a manipulative police crackdown on organized crime has ignited a tricky power struggle in the yakuza underworld.

The Sanno crime family has grown into a massive organization dominated by young executives whose new approach to running the family is causing frustration and pent-up resentment with the old-guard members. This vulnerability in the Sanno hierarchy is exactly what anti-gang detective Kataoka has been looking for, as the police force prepares a full-scale crackdown.

Takeshi Kitano is back!! Watch the Red Band Trailer of Outrage Beyond the long waited sequel of Outrage (2010).

The great Japanese director Takeshi Kitano returns to the big screen with the genre that gave him international recognition and made him one of the best Asian filmmakers.

Outrage Beyond

Director: Takeshi Kitano

Screenwriter: Takeshi Kitano

Cast: Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano), Toshiyuki Nishida, Tomokazu Miura, Ryo Kase, Hideo Nakano, Yutaka Matsushige, Fumiyo Kohinata

Music: Keiichi Suzuki

Photography: Katsumi Yanagijma

Production: Japan | 2012

Original Title: Autoreiji Biyondo

Duration: 110 minutes

Rated: R

Ôtomo (Beat Takeshi) now a free man seek to live his life away from the yakuza world but during his imprisonment, things have changed. The Sanno family – who destroyed Ôtomo´s family – has become too powerful and the old-guard members felt that the young leaders are risking the whole business because of their extreme greed. Knowing this situation, Kataoka -an anti-gang detective decides...

The filmmakers behind the World War II drama Emperor take us behind-the-scenes in our exclusive featurette for the Blu-ray and DVD. Tommy Lee Jones stars as General Douglas MacArthur, who arrived in Japan in 1945 shortly after Emperor Hirohito surrendered at the end of World War II. Crew members describe how they turned modern-day New Zealand into 1940s Japan to recreate historic moments such as MacArthur's arrival in the country.

General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) is sent to Japan immediately after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender in 1945 and suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation. He challenges his expert of Japanese culture - General Fellers (Matthew Fox) - to provide evidence in 10 short days to decide if the Japanese Emperor, worshipped as a God by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved? The fate of a nation awaits...

Special Features:...

The filmmakers behind the World War II drama Emperor take us behind-the-scenes in our exclusive featurette for the Blu-ray and DVD. Tommy Lee Jones stars as General Douglas MacArthur, who arrived in Japan in 1945 shortly after Emperor Hirohito surrendered at the end of World War II. Crew members describe how they turned modern-day New Zealand into 1940s Japan to recreate historic moments such as MacArthur's arrival in the country.

General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) is sent to Japan immediately after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender in 1945 and suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation. He challenges his expert of Japanese culture - General Fellers (Matthew Fox) - to provide evidence in 10 short days to decide if the Japanese Emperor, worshipped as a God by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved? The fate of a nation awaits...

Special Features:...

Brittany Murphy - in one of her final performances - played Abby, an American woman stranded in Tokyo after breaking up with her boyfriend. Searching for a new direction in life, she trains to be a râmen chef under a tyrannical Japanese master Maezumi (Toshiyuki Nishida). Attractively respectful of Japanese culture, this kicks off in the same vein as Lost In Translation and pleasingly closes like Tampopo.

Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross, “Lost”) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, No Country For Old Men, The Fugitive, Hope Springs), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito’s World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the country: should the Japanese Emperor, worshiped by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved? Caught between the high-wire political intrigue of his urgent mission and his own impassioned search for the mysterious school teacher (Hatsune) who first drew him to Japan, Fellers can be certain only that the...

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, The Fugitive), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the...

Watch a fresh clip from Roadside Attractions' Emperor war drama starring Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones. Peter Webber directs the film which was seen at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, and opens in theaters from March 8th, 2013. Emperor is based on the book by Shiro Okamoto, adapted for the screen by Vera Blasi and David Klass. The strong cast also includes Eriko Hatsune, Toshiyuki Nishida and Masayoshi Haneda. A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones, newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender.

Watch a fresh clip from Roadside Attractions' Emperor war drama starring Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones. Peter Webber directs the film which was seen at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, and opens in theaters from March 8th, 2013. Emperor is based on the book by Shiro Okamoto, adapted for the screen by Vera Blasi and David Klass. The strong cast also includes Eriko Hatsune, Toshiyuki Nishida and Masayoshi Haneda. A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones, newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender.

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, The Fugitive), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the...

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, The Fugitive), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the...

We have new clips in from Emperor distributed by Roadside Attractions. The war drama stars Matthew Fox, Tommy Lee Jones, Eriko Hatsune, Toshiyuki Nishida and Masayoshi Haneda. Peter Webber directs from the screenplay by Vera Blasi and David Klass, based on the book by Shiro Okamoto. Catch the film which was seen at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, in theaters on March 8th, 2013. The story is based on the resonant, real events of 1945, when General MacArthur took control of a shell-shocked Japan on behalf of the U.S and Bonner Fellers worked covertly to investigate the Emperor's fate while the future of the nation hung in the balance. Entwined with an against-the-odds romance, the story traverses the conflicting loyalties between heart and homeland, between revenge and justice, as the world rebuilds from the ruins of war.

We have new clips in from Emperor distributed by Roadside Attractions. The war drama stars Matthew Fox, Tommy Lee Jones, Eriko Hatsune, Toshiyuki Nishida and Masayoshi Haneda. Peter Webber directs from the screenplay by Vera Blasi and David Klass, based on the book by Shiro Okamoto. Catch the film which was seen at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, in theaters on March 8th, 2013. The story is based on the resonant, real events of 1945, when General MacArthur took control of a shell-shocked Japan on behalf of the U.S and Bonner Fellers worked covertly to investigate the Emperor's fate while the future of the nation hung in the balance. Entwined with an against-the-odds romance, the story traverses the conflicting loyalties between heart and homeland, between revenge and justice, as the world rebuilds from the ruins of war.

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, The Fugitive), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the...

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, The Fugitive), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the...

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Matthew Fox (World War Z, Alex Cross) joins with Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, The Fugitive), newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – and psychological warfare – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the...

Check out the first poster for Peter Webber's Emperor war drama featuring Matthew Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones in the Vera Blasi and David Klass-scripted film based on the book by Shiro Okamoto. Distributed by Roadside Attractions, and finding theaters on March 8th this year, Emperor is a gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Also in the cast are newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida. Yôko Narahashi, Gary Foster, Eugene Nomura and Russ Krasnoff produce.

Check out the first poster for Peter Webber's Emperor war drama featuring Matthew Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones in the Vera Blasi and David Klass-scripted film based on the book by Shiro Okamoto. Distributed by Roadside Attractions, and finding theaters on March 8th this year, Emperor is a gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of postwar Japan. Also in the cast are newcomer Eriko Hatsune and award-winning Japanese star Toshiyuki Nishida. Yôko Narahashi, Gary Foster, Eugene Nomura and Russ Krasnoff produce.

Here’s the first trailer for “Hannibal Rising” director Peter Webber’s latest, the post-World War II set “Emperor”, which finds Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones playing Generals in the aftermath of the war. This is apparently a true story. Or, well, true-ish whenever Hollywood is involved, let’s be honest here. Looks interesting. I’m always a sucker for historical tales about topics that I didn’t know anything about previously, and I certainly had no idea the U.S. Army was considering hanging Japan’s emperor for his role in WWII. As the Japanese surrender at the end of WWII, Gen. Fellers is tasked with deciding if Emperor Hirohito will be hanged as a war criminal. Influencing his ruling is his quest to find Aya, an exchange student he met years earlier in the U.S. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Isao Natsuyagi, Matthew Fox, Kaori Momoi, Toshiyuki Nishida,...

Who would you rather sit next to on a plane: General MacArthur or Tommy Lee Jones?

In the first official trailer for Emperor, Matthew Fox doesn’t really get a choice in the matter. The unlikely pair are on their way to Japan in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and must determine whether or not Emperor Hirohito is a war criminal. They only have ten days to do so.

Click past the jump to watch the trailer, and remind yourself that Tommy Lee Jones can look as unhappy as he wants at awards shows, as long as he...

An indie historic drama Emperor which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year to a standing ovation, finally gets a full-length trailer. We only had a chance to see the short clip from a grand historical romance-drama of the kind too rarely seen these days.

Peter Webber’s film takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II and stars Matthew Fox as General Bonner Fellers, an expert in Japanese culture assigned to assist General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) in investigating whether or not the beloved Japanese Emperor should be punished for war crimes.

And, despite Jones bankable presence in the trailer, this is a tale focused on Fox’s character and his investigation. The romance with the mysterious school teacher Aya (Eriko Hatsune) weaved into it. Emperor, scripted by Vera Blasi and David Klass (Kiss the Girls), also stars Kaori Momoi, Toshiyuki Nishida and Aaron Jackson.

Roadside Attractions has debuted the first trailer for Emperor, director Peter Webber's true-story drama that offers history buffs a new look at the American occupation of Japan following World War II. Tommy Lee Jones stars as General Douglas MacArthur, who becomes the interim ruler of Japan after Emperor Hirohito surrenders. Matthew Fox plays General Bonner Fellers, an expert in Japanese culture who MacArthur brings in to determine whether or not the Emperor must be punished for his war crimes. Take a look at the latest footage from this drama based on an incredible true story, also starring Eriko Hatsune.

Emperor - Trailer

Emperor comes to theaters March 8th, 2013 and stars Matthew Fox, Tommy Lee Jones, Eriko Hatsune, Kaori Momoi, Toshiyuki Nishida, Masatô Ibu, Nic Sampson, William Wallace. The film is directed by Peter Webber.

Here’s the first trailer released for Emperor which sees Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox appear as World War II officers following the surrender of the Japanese and are tasked with finding out what role the Emperor of Japan played in WWII. The trailer looks brilliant and has made it onto my mud see list for 2013. The synopsis gives us more of an insight into what we can expect. It’s directed by Peter Webber ( Hannibal Rising, Girl with a Pearl Earring) and was shot in both New Zealand and Japan.

Starring Matthew Fox (World War Z, I, Alex Cross, Lost) and Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, Men in Black 3), Emperor, inspired by true events, is an epic story of love and understanding set amidst the tensions and uncertainties of the days immediately following the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. On the staff of General Douglas MacArthur...

Well this news solves the problem of where we might finally get our grubby paws on an English subtitled copy of Koki Mitani’s critically acclaimed Japanese horror (with a very small “h”) comedy; A Ghost of a Chance. The movies heading for a theatrical bow in Hong Kong on December 6, which means by our reckoning, an English subbed DVD release mid to late January. Happy days. Trailer to see (also with subs!) at the link. Synopsis: Emi is a third-rate defence lawyer with zero prospects. One day, her boss, (Hiroshi Abe) assigns her a particularly unusual case. A man is suspected of murdering his wealthy wife (Yuko Takeuchi) but he has an alibi. At the time of the crime he claims to have been staying at a country inn where he suffered an attack of supernatural sleep paralysis or kanashibari. The only individual able to prove his innocence...

Starring:

Takeshi Kitano

Tomokazu Miura

Ryo Kase

Fumiyo Kohinata

Toshiyuki Nishida

Director:Takeshi Kitano

Distributed by: Warner Bros

Outrage Beyond is a 2012 Japanese yakuza film directed by Takeshi Kitano and sequel of Kitano’s 2010 Outrage. It was in competition for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival

Plot

The Sanno crime family has grown into a huge organization, expanding its power into politics and legitimate big business. The Sanno’s upper ranks are now dominated by young executives, and the old-guard members are penting up resentment while being pushed to the sidelines. This vulnerable spot in the Sanno hierachy is exactly what anti-gang detective Kataoka has been looking for, as the police force prepares a full-scale crackdown. With secret plots and dirty tricks, the ambitious Kataoka instigates conflict between the Sanno and their long-time ally, the Hanabishi, in the hopes that they ultimately destroy each other. But...

News on two, two, two acquisitions for you, you, you: Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions picked up Emperor, their fourth joint acquisition out of Tiff this year. (The first three were Thanks for Sharing, Imogene, and Much Ado About Nothing.) Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox star as the generals who led the investigation into whether to charge Emperor Hirohito for war crimes following World War II. Eriko Hatsune and Toshiyuki Nishida co-star. Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the North American rights to Saudi writer/director Haifaa Al-Mansour's Wadjda. The story centers on a 10-year-old girl enters her school's Koran recitation competition to win enough money to buy a bike. Spc will release Wadjda in 2013. Hit the jump for more on both projects. THR reported the Emperor deal. Here's the official synopsis: A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events,...

Check out this new Emperor clip from director Peter Webber's war drama which is currently playing at the Toronto International Film Festival on offer from the historical war drama. Webber helms from the script by Vera Blasi and David Klass, with a cast including Eriko Hatsune, Toshiyuki Nishida and Masayoshi Haneda. A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of post-war Japan. Fox joins Academy Award® winner Jones and newcomer Eriko Hatsune to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito’s World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – General Bonner Fellers (Fox...

Check out this new Emperor clip from director Peter Webber's war drama which is currently playing at the Toronto International Film Festival on offer from the historical war drama. Webber helms from the script by Vera Blasi and David Klass, with a cast including Eriko Hatsune, Toshiyuki Nishida and Masayoshi Haneda. A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, Emperor unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of post-war Japan. Fox joins Academy Award® winner Jones and newcomer Eriko Hatsune to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito’s World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – General Bonner Fellers (Fox...

General Douglas MacArthur, polarizing World War II general who accepted Japan’s surrender, knew how to make an impression. When he fulfilled his promise to American troops and allies that he would eventually return to liberate the Philippines in 1944, he made sure that news cameras captured his moment of triumph — he dramatically made his way through the waves and on to the beach several times, just to make sure.

In Emperor, a new film that premieres tomorrow at the Toronto Film Festival, Tommy Lee Jones plays the conquering general as Americans troops arrive in Japan for post-war occupation and have...

When it comes to Venice Film Festival, Japanese director Takeshi Kitano is definitely not a stranger. I’m sure you all remember his Hana Bi from 1997 (for which he recevied the Golden Lion), or 2003 Zatoichi project (Silver Lion statue).

Well, guess what, Kitano is now back In Competition with his completely new project, titled Outrage Beyond. And, in case this sounds like it has something to do with Kitano’s Outrage movie from last year’s Cannes film festival – relax, you’re not tripping – it’s just a sequel to the original story…

So, this time we have the Sanno crime family all grown into a huge organization, expanding its power into politics and legitimate big business. The Sanno’s upper ranks are now dominated by young executives, and the old-guard members are penting up resentment while being pushed to the sidelines.

This vulnerable spot in the Sanno hierarchy is...

Renowned Japanese writer-director-actor Takeshi Kitano (Dolls, Zatoichi) returned to the big screen back in 2010 with his yakuza film, Outrage.

Debuting to great reviews at Cannes two years ago, Kitano is heading to Venice and Toronto next month with the sequel, Outrage Beyond, and now the first full-length trailer has been released – it’s in the original Japanese, with no subtitles, but it still looks awesome regardless of whether or not you understand exactly what is going on.

“As the police launch a full-scale crackdown on organized crime, it ignites a national yakuza struggle between the Sanno of the East and Hanabishi of the West. What started as an internal strife in Outrage has now become a nationwide war in Outrage Beyond.”

Kitano is directing from his own script, and stars (as Beat Takeshi) alongside Ryo Kase, Tomokazu Miura, Toshiyuki Nishida, Hideo Nakano, Yutaka Matsushige, and Fumiyo Kohinata.

Outrage Beyond will...

Following the Toronto International Film Festival line-up earlier this week, the 69th Venice Film Festival has weighed in with their choices this morning. Outside of films also premiering at Tiff — including most notably Ramin Bahrani‘s At Any Price and Terrence Malick‘s To the Wonder – they have a strong batch of films not at that fest. We have the highly anticipated next feature from Olivier Assayas (Summer Hours, Carlos), titled Something In The Air, as well as Brian De Palma‘s sensual thriller Passion with Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace.

Then things get a little silly with Harmony Korine‘s James Franco and Selena Gomez gangster/party film Spring Breakers. Rounding out the other major titles are Susanne Bier following up her Oscar win with Love Is All You Need and Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson documentary Bad 25. The lack of Paul Thomas Anderson‘s heavily rumored The Master...

A second behind-the-scenes clip has been released for Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage Beyond, following up the first released back in early May.

In the new footage, former Sanno-kai boss Otomo (Kitano) clashes with Hanabishi-kai lieutenants Nishino (Toshiyuki Nishida) and Nakata (Sansei Shiomi).

“Outrage Beyond” will be released by Warner Bros. in Japan on October 6, 2012. Obviously, there are a lot of people eagerly anticipating the completion of this project, from fans to film festival programmers. According to producer Masayuki Mori, they’ve already received several inquiries on the status of production from overseas film industry insiders.

Source: Cinema Today...

Today a new making-of video was released for Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage Beyond, the upcoming sequel to 2010’s Outrage.

In the new film, Sanno-kai—the major yakuza organization within the Kanto region and the main focus of the first film—butts heads with Hanabishi-kai from the Kansai region as police try to take them all down. Kitano (credited as Beat Takeshi as an actor), returns as crew boss and all-around dirty-job-doer Otomo, who was assumed dead at the end of the first movie.

The clip is split into 2 parts. The first part is titled “Otomo’s release” and shows Otomo exiting jail alongside crooked police detective Kataoka (Fumiyo Kohinata). New cast member Yutaka Matsushige is also in the scene as a detective named Shigeta.

The second part is titled “Kansai - Hanabishi-kai” and features two leaders of Hanabishi-kai, Nishino (Toshiyuki Nishida) and Nakata (Sansei Shiomi), alongside Chairman Fuse (Shigeru Koyama...

The official website for Kazuyuki Izutsu’s Ōgon wo Daite Tobe has been relaunched with a new teaser trailer. Note: I have no idea if “Fly With the Gold” is the actual English title or just a literal translation they’re slapping on things because they think it looks cool. The latter happens a lot.

The film stars Satoshi Tsumabuki as Koda, a supplier for radical extremists and criminals who’s approached by an old university friend named Kitagawa (Tadanobu Asano) with a plan to steal 1.5 billion yen in gold bars from a vault under the main branch of Sumida Bank.

Kitagawa puts together a team consisting of a banking system engineer named Noda (Kenta Kiritani), a foreign spy posing as an engineering exchange student named Momo (Changmin of Tvxq), Kitagawa’s younger brother Haruki (Junpei Mizobata), and a former elevator technician called Jiichan - literally “Grandpa” (Toshiyuki Nishida). After some further planning,...

On Sunday, the awards for the 3rd Nippon Theater Staff Film Festival were presented to the winners at a ceremony in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The awards are voted on by cinema staff members from all over Japan.

Mao Inoue took home the award for Best Actress for her performance in Izuru Narushima’s Rebirth (Youkame no Semi), playing a woman who’s forced to deal with her unusual upbringing, having been kidnapped as an infant.

Masami Nagasawa took home the Best Supporting Actress award for Love Strikes! (Moteki), but she was unable to attend due to her filming schedule. In a written statement, she referred to her immersion in the world of film as a “blissful time”.

The big winner was Koki Mitani’s comedy A Ghost of a Chance, which was responsible for three separate awards - Best Movie, Best Director, and Best Supporting actor.

Here’s the full list...