Farkin' Links Vol. 188

I finally got around to watching this Kurosawa film I've been holding onto forever called Ikiru. Much like any Kurosawa film, this is about an hour's worth of story stretched into 2 and a half. I think Kurowsawa is Michael Mann's directing idol or something. The difference is that Kurosawa's movies are incredibly engrossing and meaningful while Michael Mann remakes 80's tv shows that used to star Don Johnson. I'm gonna have to go with Akira on this one.

This film is a fairly big departure for Kurosawa since it's a small, personal story that takes place in his modern day. No samurai to be seen, no Shakespearean play to rip off...er...create homages to. Just a simple story about a boring, bureaucratic drone, who's done nothing with his life other than stamp papers, who finds out that he has 6 months to live. It's basically a take off of Last Holiday, starring the great Alec "Obi Wan" Guinness, which was recently remade starring Queen Latifa. I can't believe I just put Alec Guinness and Queen Latifa in the same sentence. It's not as though this idea is new; people changing their outlook on life due to a brush with death or terminal illness is something that's been around since we climbed out of the caves. Hell, American Beauty basically took the same idea by cheapening it into a case of a midlife crisis. Oh, right...back to the actual movie I watched last night.

Our protagonist, Watanabe, has been the perfect section chief of Personal Affairs in the Tokyo city hall for almost thirty years. He's always shown up, never complained, shown any ambition, and did what he was told. Basically, the perfect governmental zombie. Because he retreated inwardly after his wife died early leaving him to raise their son, he's basically become isolated by everyone. In fact, it's hard to figure out if Watanabe even has a personality at all. He doesn't say much, and when he does, it's in a stuttering monosyllable fashion. Played by Takashi Shimura, who is a constant in Kurosawa's movies(He played the wise Samurai leader from the Seven Samurai), I'm not sure whether to say "Wow, what a great performance playing a bland, boring, loser," or "Wow...this guy sucks!" I'm leaning towards the first, since he obviously can be charming and entertaining as demonstrated in the Seven Samurai. From the first moment his sloped shouldered, defeated, frail figure makes it's appearance, you can't help but feel a little sorry...and maybe a little creeped out by the guy.

I think you can all figure out where the story goes; he obviously doesn't want to die, but if he does, he doesn't want to go out like the total loser he is. He wants to do something, to feel what it's like to actually be alive again. The interesting part is that his transformation is much more believable than other movies of this type; he doesn't become some cool, sarcastic, butt-kicker. He basically remains the quiet, uninteresting man, but with an intensity that wasn't there before. It's an almost nuanced performance, which I'm not used to in a Kurosawa movie since he apparently directs his actors to overact and make faces like they're on stage.

The story is told in a rather confused narrative, and uses a completely unnecessary narrator for seemingly random scenes in the movie. Other than that, it's a surpisingly moving film about personal redemption and putting a twist on that old saying,"nobody on their deathbed wishes they spent more time at the office." When you think about it, any one of us could die today. What would our legacy be? These are the things that you lose perspective of during the day to day drugery of just plain living. Even if you knew when you were going to die, like that comedian Steven Wright who has an expiration on his birth certificate, what would you do? Would you spend your time in hedonistic idol and selfish behavior like the protagonist of American Beauty? Would you try to leave your mark by doing something that would benefit humanity, like our sad sack hero of Ikiru? I have no idea what I would do, but I do know that I don't want to die full of regrets of the things I should have done. Stupid movie...making me think morose thoughts. Still, any movie that gets you thinking deserves a solid 8/10. That's a B+ in Tristanspeak.

Wowzers...try this game out. Is it TV chef...or porn star? I've had some great meals, but never THAT great.

In the least surprising story since Lance Bass came out of the closet, McRibs are...well, not really ribs. Honestly, I don't care! They're still great! (Hat tip: Azure)

Cool...the Kiss Army has invaded Cleveland to demand the induction of Kiss into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...waitaminute...they're not in the Hall yet? How much is a ticket to Cleveland?

Here are 8 important lessons learned from 80's cartoons. I'm sure you'll want to know, because, knowing is half the battle.

Hehe...Pimp my ride, Army style. Hooah!

This is a cute jumping game...starring a Teletubbie, methinks.

I love this wacky ebay item, even if Ronaldhino and Brazil choked harder than a Flip Saunders coached team.

There's a lot of women that are gonna need this come 20 years down the line when they realize how stupid tattoos look.

Gotta love this headline: Chinese country clubs to death 50,000 dogs. That's gonna be one hell of a buffet.

This is the type of sign homeless people need to use if they expect to receive money. Hell, I'd give this guy 5 bucks if I saw him on the street.