| Bilgi :Takeshi Kitano has proven himself to be one of the most interesting filmmaker's still working in the Japanese movie industry. His films have a tendency to be rather dark but also very emotional and, at times, quite personal. While Zatoichi, his most successful film to date in terms of box office, fell completely flat for this reviewer, his follow up – 2005's Takeshis' proves to be a completely odd return to form that will probably end up dividing his fan base right down the middle. While he is relatively unknown outside of cult movie circles in North America, he's nothing short of a superstar in his native Japan, which is (sort of) where the inspiration for this film comes from, as it deals with his fame and notoriety in a rather unusual way, and it allows him to play a strange duel role as well..
As the movie begins, we're introduced to a famous actor named Takeshi (played by, oddly enough, Takeshi Kitano). He's huge, he's a mega-star, and he's constantly being shuttled around in his Rolls Royce from one film shoot to the next where, when production wraps, the cast always congratulates him and gives him flowers to honor his performance. Like most stars, he's got a crew of publicists and assistants who take care of whatever day to day tasks should arise, and he's also got his fair share of strange fans that follow him around and are seemingly obsessed with him. Underneath all the glitz and glamour, however, it is painfully obvious that Takeshi doesn't feel fulfilled by all of his fame and fortune and that sometimes he'd much rather have a simpler life, though it's equally obvious that he enjoys the money he makes.
At the end of his latest film shoot, Takeshi is approached by Kitano (played by, oddly enough, Takeshi Kitano), a huge fan of Takeshi who asks him for an autograph. Takeshi realizes how much Kitano looks like him, the only difference in their personality being that Kitano has bleach blonde hair, but their personalities are very different. While Takeshi is confident and even forceful sometimes, Kitano is quiet, reserved, and almost shy – his aspirations to become a famous actor are constantly crushed, as no one will cast him for the simple reason that he looks too much like the famous Takeshi!
The next day, while working at the convenience store where he's employed, Kitano finds a bag full of pistols in the washroom, left there by a Yakuza gangster who died there. He takes the weapons and instantly his life changes – he now commands respect and it's as if he no longer looks like Takeshi, but he is Takeshi. One of the young fans that had previously been following Takeshi around now follows Kitano. Waiters at restaurants start to treat him with respect, people will offer him their seats while he's out and about in public, and when things get out of hand or don't go his way, all he has to do is wave his gun around and play up the Takeshi act to get people to change their minds – and failing that, he simply shoots them – over, and over and over again. From here on out, the movie becomes a surrealist take on the importance of fame, being a pop culture icon, and the real life Takashi Kitano's own take on his career, his fans, and his films. |
