Miike roundup 11-06

Anyone been wondering lately what our grossly peculiar Japanese cult director Miike Takashi is up to? Well, as the seasoned admirer will most certainly know, there is usually no shortage of news and tidbits of information on upcoming productions in the air. After all, it is Miike if no-one else being good for virtually everything, no do-nots or bewares! unworthy of haughty dismissal to him, and no theme or genre too bland as not to apply some refreshing touches to its catalogue.
In keeping with any such good tradition (if that’s a word even remotely adequate in this conjunction), here’s the latest in Miike fanfare-dom on projected new films:

• adaptation of Dan Oniroku's “Bishonen” currently in pre-production with no confirmed cast yet, as open audition is under way; this one will be an all-out gay love story set in the late 1940s
• “Sukiyaki Western: Django", yes, this is indeed Miike trying his hand at the Wild West; cast includes Ito Hideaki, Sato Koichi, Kimura Yoshino, Momoi Kaori, Iseya Yusuke and Ando Masanobu.

With regards to the latter (though not to give you a clue exactly (how would that be possible?), just to raise expectations) here's further detail adding to the imponderable: the entire film is being done in English, referencing to the late 12th century Genpei Wars will feature as one collateral layer to the plot, Quentin Tarantino will give an appearance and the entire thing will be complete with gun-shooting and horses and all! General wrap is set for early December.

...once again: Some may consider Miike a loose canon of sorts, and sure enough, he is. But there is no getting around the fact that for all his weird directorial inventions he is a considerable, a truly innovative and original force in present-day cinema, one not to be so easily ignored. And at times, when for once, briefly, he happens to have all his creativity’s four-legged life stock passably charging in the same direction, he does manage to bring real cinematic treasures onto the silver screen.

Like this one for instance: “46 Oku Nen no Koi”/”Big Bang Love: Juvenile A” his 2006 masterpiece and my personal Miike favourite, which just now is available on DVD as either deluxe edition here, or as a standard release here. But note: this is an item on pre-order which as of now doesn’t give any English subs, so keep checking over the next weeks and months till 23-02-2007 as this information is still subject to change.

Major source to this article – it shall not be forgotten – has been the invaluable ryuganji.net, one proudly presented friendly link to proto-ymagon.

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