Atsuo Nakamura Movies
- 2006
Precisely thirty-years after first bringing star detective Kosuke Kindaichi to the screen in The Inugami Family, acclaimed Japanese director Kon Ichikawa returns to follow author Seishi Yokomizo's super sleuth on his most challenging case. World War II has recently drawn to a close, and as powerful pharmaceutical executive and notoriously ruthless family patriarch Sahei Inugami (Tatsuya Nakadai) lays dying in his Nasu deathbed, his heirs all gather around to hear the reading of the will. Unfortunately for his eager offspring Sahei expires before summoning the strength to name his heirs, and family lawyer Furadate (Atsuo Nakamura) states that the will cannot be read aloud until all family members are present and accounted for. As eldest daughter Matsuko (Sumiko Fuji) sends for her war-ravaged son in Fukuoka, the lawyer's assistant contacts detective Kindiachi (Koji Ishizaka) with concerns about foul play. No sooner does the assistant voice his suspicions than he drops dead due to poisoning, and the eagle-eyed gumshoe begins working around the clock to crack the case. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Koji Ishizaka, Nanako Matsushima, (more)
- 2000
This satirical spin on the ninja genre from veteran director Masahiro Shinoda opens in 1581 with the invasion of Iga, a "hidden land," by Oda, a rampaging warlord. 50,000 troops sweep through Iga -- a province already developing as a center for ninja arts -- slaughtering everyone and everything in their path. Among the few to survive is a ninja by the name of Juzo (Kiichi Nakai). Ten years later, when a new warlord, Toyotomi (Mako Iwamatsu), has taken power, Juzo is sought out by his former master to kill the tyrant, who is busy making plans to invade Korea and Ming-dynasty China. As Juzo embarks on his mission, he enters into a game of mutual complicity with the enigmatic Kohagi (Mayu Tsuruta), a spy for Toyotomi who nearly kills and then seduces the ninja. When Juzo finally does arrive at Toyotomi's castle, he meets Kazama (Takaya Kamikawa), another Iga ninja, who wants to stop Juzo so that he can get enough credibility to become a legitimate samurai. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shohei Hino
- 2000
Japanese director Satoshi Isaka spins this taunt thriller about an ultra-ambitious reporter who soon finds herself on the receiving end of tabloid dirt. Popular television actress Hitomi Kuroki stars as Yuko, an ice-queen TV news editor who is approached by a mysterious man from the PTT Ministry. The man offers her proof, on videotape, that a major university is bribing a particular government official to overlook a massive media merger. The secret transaction has already resulted in the death of one investigator. Yuko promptly broadcasts the damning footage, and high-ranking bureaucrat Aso (Takanori Jinnai) is forced out of office. With his career ruined, Aso sets about proving to Yuko that she was set up by her mysterious visitor, while a steady regime of finely-calibrated harassment is initiated against her. Yuko soon finds herself forced to figure out whether she was framed from the beginning in an attempt to discredit her or if Aso is merely playing the innocent victim in order to deflect blame. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hitomi Kuroki
- 1984
- R
The Australian Highest Honor is comparatively little-known outside its country of origin, which is a shame. Set during World War II, the film details the unusual relationship between an Australian army captain and his captor, a Japanese security officer. The war has made these kindred spirits "enemies," and we, like the protagonists, are never allowed to forget the seriousness of the world conflict. Still, we are shown how even the exigencies of war cannot completely snuff out such qualities as honor and decency. John Howard plays Captain Robert Page, while Astuo Nakamura co-stars as Winoyu Tamira. Highest Honor is based on a true story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
- R
The Challenge is a classy effort directed by John Frankenheimer. Scott Glenn stars as an American boxer who finds himself in the middle of a Japanese blood feud. Toshiro Mifune and Atsuo Nakamura plays the last surviving brothers of an ancient samurai family, embroiled in a battle of the possession of the family swords. Once involved in this contretemps, Glenn must also contend with the minions of the Yakuza, a Japanese Mafia-style organization. Sword of the Ninja was co-written by John Sayles, better known as the writer/director of such films as Brother From Another Planet and Eight Men Out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Glenn, Toshiro Mifune, (more)
- 1982
Some of the complexities involved in the murder of 5,000 Chinese in Singapore during World War II are considered in this joint Japanese-Australian film. After the British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese, the Imperial Japanese Army unit known as the kempei-tai or a kind of military police, were responsible for most of the brutality against captured Allied forces and the "ethnic cleansing" of Chinese based on the claim that their guerrilla forces were a threat. The hero of the film is Minoru Tamiya (Atsuo Nakamura) who worked as an information officer at the Japanese mission in Singapore before the outbreak of World War II. In this story, Tamiya was educated at Cambridge and argued for the humane treatment of prisoners of war against the harsh, often fatal, and degrading methods used by the kempei-tai. The difficulties of his position come to a climax in a melodramatic ending, in which the fate of a group of Allies and the fate of the Japanese themselves are symbolically bound together. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Atsuo Nakamura, Kinya Kitaoji, (more)
- 1978
For a brief period during the 16th century, the Portuguese and Dutch were permitted influence in Japan, with the result that a considerable number of Japanese converted to Christianity. By the late 16th century, a reaction against these outside influences was in full sway. In this story, Lady Ogin is unable to marry her lover because he has become a Christian, and Christians are being persecuted by the Shogun Hideyoshi. This tragic romance is based on a story by Toko Kon. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Takashi Shimura, Ryoko Nakano, (more)
- 1971
This well-known film by auteur director Nagisa Oshima offers a humorous and trenchant commentary on trends in Japanese society. Looking through the eyes of a younger son in a lesser branch of an important Japanese family, we see simultaneously the boy's history, the family's history and the history of Japan. This is done by showing important family ceremonies over the years: anniversaries, weddings, funerals, etc. Various factions in the family, which reflect the factions in Japanese society, struggle for superiority. Viewers of this film will find their enjoyment enriched if they have some knowledge of recent Japanese history . ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenzo Kawarazaki, Atsuo Nakamura, (more)
