2009. Dir: Lasse Hallström. Starring: Richard Gere, Sarah Roemer, Joan Allen, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Jason Alexander. ●●●●○
It's no secret that I like the simple things in life. I have lost count of the number of times I have said in reviews that a simple story well told can reach the highest level of film-making. So it was with great delight that I watched Hachi: A Dog's Story, a simple dog's story.
Based on a true story, only transplanted to a more sellable US setting, the film explores the fundamental relationship between one man and his dog as Music Professor Richard Gere adopts an Akita puppy he finds at the local train station. Through each other they learn what a true friend is. Spoilers follow after the jump.
We are treated to watching the two of them bond for an hour, Gere trying to teach Hachi (Japanese word for 8) how to fetch, Hachi's insistence on following his master to the town station; this is especially important as Hachi develops a routine whereby he follows his master every morning, then returns at 5 to pick him up. They share moments of elation, comfort and misery. As a previous dog owner myself I fully appreciate falling asleep on the couch with dogs on your lap and being told they we must all stay there because something has been chewed.
Then, suddenly, Hachi won't follow his pack leader and in a bizarre twist of behaviour takes Gere his ball. Everything that sets Hachi apart from other dogs is turned on it's head. There's even a burst of aggresive barking. We are lead to believe that Hachi is exhibiting his dissatisfaction at being treated lower on th social strata within the pack - Gere's daughter had annouced her pregnancy and he had also spent more time with his testy wife (Joan Allen giving a flawlessly underplayed performance - nicely tipping the audience off to the history of the family and their relationships).
The behavioural differences turn out to be more complex when out of the blue Gere collapses in his lecture hall, breathing his last and letting the ball Hachi had passed to him roll out of shot. The dog then mounts a vigil, returning to the train station each night to wait for his former master who will never return.
The story is mawkish, sentimental and signposts all the plot developments early on. Nevertheless it can be forgiven these flaws for the simple reason that it works. That sense of loneliness and loyalty the film evokes in it's third act is so profound that there literally wasn't a dry eye in the house (I personally wept like a baby).
I will critisize the bookending (why do they do it?) as Gere's grandson - who you will remember never met his grandfather - relates the story to his class. This is certainly a step too close to bathos and the grotesque image of pre-pubescent schoolchildren pretending to cry nearly killed off the emotions felt in the rest of the film.
The performances were serviceable throughout with the notable stand-out of the dog's playing Hachi. The pup wo played him in the early scenes particurlarly displayed a shocking range, along with serious come-to-bed eyes.
The dog vision segments were inventive using a bleached black and white footage and muffled soundtrack, but needed more of them to fully appreciate how they worked to establish the relationships, especially as the film focussed well on the co-dependence of the relationship. Well done to d.p. Ron Fortunato (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Catch a Fire).
Lasse Hallström did a fine anonymous job in the directors chair, it's may not be up there with his Swedish output but he crafted a better movie than he's made for a long time.
Overall Hachi was a fine example of what every dog-based film should be. An uplifting portrayal of that very special relationship between a man and his best friend.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Hachi: A Dog's Story
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Out This Week (12/03/10)
Only 5 films out this week. But what a selection of 5 films. Even the one I'm least likely to support would be a contender for being the film of the week in a normal period. I would even go as far to say if I had a lot more money and a lot more time I'd be camping out at the cinema this weekend in order to see all 5 of them. Nevertheless a choice has to be made and, perhaps inevitably, my film of the week is Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
It is extremely rare for a foreign language film to pick up 5 blobs on the excitometer so listen up. This is the first part of the cinematic adaptation of Steig Larsson's acclaimed thriller trilogy, which sees washed up journo working with enigmatic hacker to solve a 40 year old disappearance. The visuals look breathtaking and it's getting fantastic reviews. Worth a watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Green Zone
Matt Damon is a bomb hunter sent into Iraq following the 2003 invasion to hunt for WMD, the lack of evidence found leads him to investigate a shadowy conspiracy which bureaucrat Greg Kinnear may just want covered up. This could be the unofficial Bourne 4 due to the reteaming of Damon with Paul Greengrass, as well as a repeat of the techniques and feel to those film. Amy Ryan, Jason Isaacs and Brendan Gleeson co-star.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Hachi: A Dog's Story
If you can buy Richard gere as a maths professor then you can probably also believe the central conceit of this loyal doggie tale. Lasse Hallstrom directs a film designed purely to have you reach for the tissues when the later montages kick in.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Kreutzner Sonata
Danny Huston, who I persoanlly beleive is one of the most underrated actors of his generation, reteams with Ivansetc director Bernard Rose for another modern re-telling of a Tolstoy classic. As with all the works of the Russian great it concerns failed ambitions and covert affairs, but given the female lead is a pianist (and the title is also a major clue) there will be some stunning music. Danny's sister Anjelica gets a supporting role.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Shutter Island
Scorsese's true pulp movie (based on the very pulpy Dennis Lehane novel) has divided critics, with many saying great directors should only concentrate on making great films and not the disposable trash like this. I am still on the edge of my seat with anticipation. After all who else can ratchet up so much tension with an acute camera angle and gothic score. Leonardo DiCaprio leads an all-star cast.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Hachiko: A Dog's Story
As you know by now - I'm on tour which means that I won't get a chance to do box office news this weekend coming. But if I did one of the new releases is for Hachiko. It's a simple story about the bond between dog and master. No doubt with Lasse Hallstrom on board as director there will be an opportunity to reach for the hankies. I just don't care. Here's the trailer:
Hachiko: A Dog's Story is released on 12 March 2010.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Joan Allen
Happy Birthday to
Joan Allen
53 today
Joan's been robbed more times than anyone should be (you know what I'm talking about) which may explain why she's doing dreck like Death Race these days. You can't be disappointed if you know the critics will hate it. Hachi, the faithful dog film she wrapped last year, was one of my top 20 most anticipated releases for 2009 however after a poorly received opening at the seattle festival I doubt it'll ever see cinematic release. Not sure what my next Joan fix will be now.
Monday, 5 January 2009
20 for 2009 - Hachiko: A Dog's Story
I am a dog person.
No two ways about it. Love dogs, hate cats. And love films about dogs.
So when I hear there's a new film about a dog and his extraordinary bond with it's owner I'm there. Same as I will be for Marley and Me.
Bear with me though as Hachiko isn't your average doggie tale, it's based on a true and unforgettable story.
A Staue of the real Hachiko in Tokyo.
Hachiko was born in Japan in 1923 and was first brought to Tokyo in 1924. He and his owner were inseparable friends right from the start. Each day "Hachi" would accompany his owner, a professor at the Imperial University, to the train station when he left for work. Upon returning, the professor would find the dog patiently waiting, tail wagging. This happy routine continued until one fateful day in 1925, when the professor was taken ill on the job and unfortunately died before he could return home.
Despite the fact that Hachiko was less than two years old at the time, the bond between dog and owner was strong. Hachiko continued to wait each day at Shibuya station for a friend who was never coming back. At times, he wouldn't return home for days at a stretch.
The Akita became a familiar sight to commuters as he kept his vigil for over ten years. On March 8, 1935, Hachiko finally went to meet his master. He died on the very same spot he last saw his friend alive.
The film is being directed by Lasse Hallstrom, no stranger to the kind of four hanky epics like this and stars Joan Allen and Richard Gere. Whether this means Gere will be dead after the first half of the movie remains to be seen but I wouldn't be surprised. Either way I'm there.
