DVD Review: Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter.
"Here, let me tell you how to drive to Fargo!"
This valuable piece of information is given to our title character, Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) by a tourism guy in the airport. Why yes ma'am, I can see you barely speak English so let me give you driving directions instead of taking one of the approximately 10 nonstop flights from this very airport.
Kumiko is a lonely woman living in Tokyo who is obsessed with the movie Fargo and actually believes that it's real. Fed up with her awkward existence, she takes off with her company's credit card to go dig up the treasure buried in the film.
Rinko Kikuchi is an actress that really should be getting more roles. She was the best part of the mediocre Babel. I wish she was given more to do here. She was very believable as an awkward, soft spoken woman. She's silent much of the film, partly because she's shy, and partly because of the language barrier. I thought the film had some beautiful camera work and a fitting score, but overall it was too slow and uneventful. It gets better towards the end, but it doesn't make up for the meandering first half.
Recommended: Yes for Rinko, and for the few brilliant moments the film truly has, just don't expect much.
Grade: C
Kumiko is a lonely woman living in Tokyo who is obsessed with the movie Fargo and actually believes that it's real. Fed up with her awkward existence, she takes off with her company's credit card to go dig up the treasure buried in the film.
Rinko Kikuchi is an actress that really should be getting more roles. She was the best part of the mediocre Babel. I wish she was given more to do here. She was very believable as an awkward, soft spoken woman. She's silent much of the film, partly because she's shy, and partly because of the language barrier. I thought the film had some beautiful camera work and a fitting score, but overall it was too slow and uneventful. It gets better towards the end, but it doesn't make up for the meandering first half.
Recommended: Yes for Rinko, and for the few brilliant moments the film truly has, just don't expect much.
Grade: C
Memorable Quote: "My Carpal tunnel prevents me from assessing this situation" - Bus Driver (Earl Milton)
it is definitely a quiet film, but I found it really intriguing.
ReplyDeleteIt had an intriguing premise, but I just felt like it fell flat.
DeleteUmm...it does seem to have quite an unique premise, but it does seem a little boring. How long is it?
ReplyDeleteIt's 105 minutes, so not terribly long at all. It did have an interesting premise on the face but it really didn't do anything to help it out.
DeleteI think I might watch this for Rinko Kikuchi. The premise seems interesting.
ReplyDeleteOn a non-related note, nice blog header!
Thank you! Brick is one of my favorite movies. I should've sharpened it a bit, but I gave up. I'll probably do a Christmas one soon anyways.
DeleteSorry you didn't care for it. I really liked the film, but it's admittedly faded a little since I saw it. Kikuchi certainly deserves more roles, though.
ReplyDeleteShe's really good, but yeah...this film was a bore. lol
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