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May 17, 2024
 

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Giovanni Fazio

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Giovanni Fazio
Giovanni Fazio has been The Japan Times' resident film crank since 1993. When not at the movies, he is busy recording and playing live with his band Makyo and running the independent electronica label Dakini Records.
For Giovanni Fazio's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
CULTURE / Film
Dec 26, 2001
What stressed directors want
Mortel Transfert Rating: * * * * Japanese title: Aoi Yume no Onna Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix Running time: 122 minutes Language: French Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Dec 19, 2001
Breaking an uneasy silence
Kippur Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Amos Gitai Running time: 118 minutes Language: Hebrew Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Dec 19, 2001
A familiar face in the mirror
Vanilla SkyRating: * * * Director: Cameron Crowe Running time: 135 minutes Language: English Now showing
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Dec 12, 2001
The Warm Inventions: 'Bavarian Fruit Bread'
The late, lamented Mazzy Star was -- like all quiet rock bands -- a classic case of "love 'em or hate 'em." They never seemed to be having a good time on stage or on record (a song called "happy" being particularly ironic), they loathed stardom and media attention, and it seemed all they could do was...
CULTURE / Film
Dec 12, 2001
Walking a fine line between silly and smart
Monkeybone Rating: * * * Director: Henry Selick Running time: 93 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Dec 5, 2001
In the footsteps of a master of deception
Following Rating: * * * * Director: Christopher Nolan Running time: 69 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Nov 28, 2001
Yo, what's with this Dostoevski?
Crime + Punishment in Suburbia Rating: * * * Director: Rob Schmidt Running time: 128 minutes Language: English Now showing
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Nov 28, 2001
Gocoo
Trying to describe the sound of Gocoo, the 13-member taiko ensemble led by Kaoly Asano, I am driven to geological comparisons: the rumble of tectonic plates shifting; the rhythmic pulse of surf on rock; and pure, primal eruptions of magma. This is music you feel more than listen to.
CULTURE / Film
Nov 21, 2001
Whatever Luhrmann wants, I don't get
Moulin Rouge Rating: * * Director: Baz Luhrmann Running time: 128 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Nov 14, 2001
FILMeX kicks off Sunday
Tokyo's alternative film festival, Tokyo FILMeX, returns for its sophomore year with a lineup of Asian cinema as solid as that shown at its debut. With six special screenings, 10 films in competition and two hefty retrospectives, FILMeX has a lot to offer Asian film buffs, and -- as many readers will...
CULTURE / Film
Nov 14, 2001
What's wrong with a little joie de vivre ?
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain Rating: * * * * Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Running time: 122 minutes Language: French Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Nov 7, 2001
Just how low can they go?
Swordfish Rating: * Director: Dominic Sena Running time: 99 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Nov 7, 2001
Hosoya serves up some excellent cheese
OK, let's play Guess The Filmmaker. Here's the flick: it's called "Home Sweet Hoboken," it's set in a New Jersey neighborhood, and it features two jobless young slackers who live with their grandmother while subsisting on pizza and beer. Their foul-mouthed dialogue is along the lines of "S***, I gotta...
CULTURE / Film
Oct 31, 2001
No remembrance of things past
Memento Rating: * * * * * Director: Christopher Nolan Running time: 113 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Oct 31, 2001
Backward and forward
Director Christopher Nolan's "Memento" has turned out to be the runaway indie hit of 2001, so the local press were out in force for his press conference. It's not every day that a talent blindsides viewers with such an accomplished and innovative work. In person, Nolan seemed a bit dry for someone who...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Oct 28, 2001
Provocative as she wants to be
SHANGHAI BABY, by Wei Hui, translated by Bruce Humes. Simon and Schuster, 2001, 259 pp., $10 (paper) Sometimes context is everything. A sexually frank novel that reeks of thinly disguised autobiography told in a confessional style would hardly cause a ripple in the West these days. In China, however,...
CULTURE / Film
Oct 24, 2001
TIFF take 14
Japan has one of the largest film markets in the world. Accordingly, every year the Tokyo International Film Festival serves up world cinema on a grand scale, screening more than 140 films over the course of a week.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 24, 2001
Tales from the dark side of Soderbergh
Schizopolis / Gray's Anatomy Rating: * * * / * * * * Director: Steven Soderbergh Running time: 93 minutes / 79 minutes Language: English Now showing
CULTURE / Film
Oct 17, 2001
O, brothers how art thou?
Joel and Ethan Coen
CULTURE / Film
Oct 17, 2001
And, now, a return to the classics
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Rating: * * * * 1/2 Director: Joel Coen Running time: 107 minutes Language: English Now showing
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Kishida defends planned rule to revoke foreigners' residency
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Human bone-like objects found at Nippon Steel plant’s molten iron pot, with one worker missing
Police believe it’s highly possible that human bones found in a molten iron pot at Nippon Steel's Oita factory belong to a missing male employee.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Man suspected of using smart glasses to cheat on Waseda University exams
The Waseda University campus in Tokyo. An 18-year-old male test-taker is suspected of using smart glasses to cheat during the university's entrance exam.
Japanese billionaire sues Meta over investment scams using his image
Entrepreneurs Yusaku Maezawa (second from right) and Takafumi Horie (third from right) attend a study session on fake social media ads and investment scams at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on April 10.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Who’s toughest on China? Biden’s tariff tactic ups ante as election looms.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about new actions to protect American workers and businesses from China's "unfair" trade practices, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Ishin struggles to set itself apart from other parties
Nippon Ishin no Kai Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita (right) speaks beside Yui Kanazawa, the party's candidate in the Tokyo 15th district by-election on April 28. Nippon Ishin lost in this by-election as well as another in Nagasaki held on the same day.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there
Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

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