From Deseret News archives:
Mifune
Already we've seen animated movies and big-budget blockbusters using digital effects. And digital cameras have become the rage in such experimental pieces as the showbiz parody "Timecode." But as the use of such trickery increases, filmmakers still need to tell compelling stories.
Once again we have to look to the world of independent and foreign cinema to show us how to do things right. In addition to the low-budget horror hit "The Blair Witch Project," there's also been a cinematic revolution of sorts called Dogme '95, a no-frills filmmaking style that has yielded such little-seen gems as "The Celebration" and, now, "Mifune."
The material for this oddball Danish comedy-drama might seem familiar, even a little frayed around the edges (among its touch-points are "Pretty Woman" and "Rain Man"). Yet it's a nice little film that succeeds because it looks and feels surprisingly natural and realistic.
First, he finds his father's farm has fallen into disrepair. And his imbecilic brother, Rud (Jesper Asholt), has become even more convinced that UFOs are landing in their fields at night.
So Kresten decides to hire a housekeeper, hoping that she can take care of Rud until he can be institutionalized. However, the only taker is Liva (Iben Hjejle), a prostitute who's also trying to run away from her problems.
And although Kresten keeps telling himself that he's planning to reconcile with Claire, he finds himself attracted to Liva, who's got her hands full with her own troublesome sibling, expelled schoolboy Bjalke (Emil Tardin).
That may sound like a pretty simplistic plot, but the story (by co-directors Anders Thomas Jensen and Soren Kragh-Jacobsen) takes some pretty surprising twists and turns. Admittedly, things do start to run out of steam about halfway through, but the film gets by on the charms of its stars.
As Kresten, Berthelsen is very good, as is Asholt, who doesn't overplay his role. But the real star here is Hjejle ("High Fidelity"), a nontraditional beauty whom the camera clearly loves.
By the way, the movie's title comes from the game Kresten and Rud play, in which they pretend that the late actor Toshiro Mifune is in their basement. It's particularly fitting, considering how much the low-key and straightforward storytelling recalls the spirit of early Japanese filmmaking.
"Mifune" is rated R for considerable use of strong profanity and crude sexual slang terms, some crude humor, violence (a vicious beating and some slapstick) and male nudity. Running time: 98 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Anders W. Berthelsen, Iben Hjejle, Jesper Asholt; in Danish, with English subtitles
Find a Movie Theater
- Tough road ahead in Senate for bill 11:05 a.m.
- Afghan vows to keep out corruption 10:35 a.m.
- Anti-Taliban mayor killed in Pakistan 10:27 a.m.
- Dalai Lama visits town near Tibet 10:26 a.m.
- Some saw trouble ahead for Hasan 10:21 a.m.
- China pledges funds, aid to Africa 10:20 a.m.
- 40 dead in El Salvador flooding 10:19 a.m.
- Dixie campus briefs 1:10 a.m.
- Westminster campus briefs 1:09 a.m.
- UVU campus briefs 1:07 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
207 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Lobo suspended
173 - House passes health care bill
141 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
138 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Thousands protest health bill
100 - Provo company innovating engines
98 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
87
The players are ALL soft, the coaches are soft (age does that), The owners...
You are obviously not a Republican. You are suggesting an alternative.
Goodbye to a good man. Amen.
Remember when the Jazz had guys like Mark Eaton, Karl Malone and Antione Carr...
Congratulations on the great win. You played amazing football. Go Cougars!!!...
sounds like sour grapes grand person! I was impressed with your teams...
With Boozer and Krover's contract up, Jazz can package them with AK this...
Reprsentative Matheson doesn't support the health care bill.
I liked the Jazz before O'conner took over as GM. It took him afew years but...
Utah will win, 21-18 Utah will then break into the top-10 after the win....




You can be the first to comment on this story.