Starring
Eihi Shiina, Ryo Ishibashi, Renji Ishibashi, Jun Kunimura, Tetsu
Sawaki, Miyuki Matsuda, Toshie Negishi, Ken Mitsuishi. Directed by
Takashi Miike. (1999/115 min).
AVAILABLE
ON BLU-RAY FROM
Review
by Fluffy the Fearless🙀
Though
I'm pretty well versed in the horror genre, this was actually the
first time I ever sat down and watched Audition. Its
reputation preceded it, of course, being one of the more infamous
examples of extreme horror to come out of Japan and the
first Takashi Miike film that recieved significant international notoriety.
Having
seen Ichi the Killer and being aware of Miike's penchant for
over-the-top violence, I figured I knew what to expect. But I was
dead wrong. True-to-form, Audition has moments that are
extraordinarily violent and disturbing, its imagery growing
increasingly horrific. What I did not expect is the overall air of
sorrow that hangs over the entire film. There are moments when the
sadness is downright claustrophobic.
Shigeharu
Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) is a widower whose loneliness threatens to
overwhelm him. At the behest of his teenage son, he finally decides
he'd like to start dating again, with the hopes of someday finding a new wife.
Uncertain over what to do next, he accepts the help of producer-friend Yasuhisa, who suggests setting up fake auditions for a
non-existent film. Though he has ethical misgivings, Shigeharu goes
along with it. He becomes fixated with Asami (Eihi Shiina), a young
ex-dancer whose resume reflects a disenchanted life...and perhaps a kindred
spirit.
The
two begin seeing each other, Asami's affection for him growing with
each encounter. It's seems too good to be true, as Yasuhisha soon
warns him of when her references turn out to be dead and little is
known about who she really is. After Shigeharu promises to love nobody else
during a weekend getaway, Asami disappears. And here's where things get
weird...and increasingly surreal.
 |
| Extreme flossing. |
Anyone
reading this is probably already aware of Audition's premise,
sort-of a deranged variation of Misery and Fatal
Attraction. Of course, Asami turns out to be batshit crazy and
her retribution on Shigeharu is twisted, vicious and graphic.
However, the gung-ho violence Miike unleashes during the final act
isn't what makes Audition difficult to endure. Movie
gore is simply movie gore, no matter how wince-inducing it may be (and I
found myself wincing a lot during the climax). What renders the
entire scene truly harrowing is the first half of the film, when
Miike takes great care in establishing Shigeharu as a supremely
sympathetic family man we care deeply about. Despite the initial ruse
of the audition, he's a genuinely nice guy whose quiet desperation is
easy to empathize with.
Similar
effort is made to present Asami as something of a victim herself. She
commits atrocious acts, but is also a product of a phenomenally
abusive upbringing. We get the sense that her actions are almost
beyond her control. All of which renders the climax more mournful
than terrifying. Unlike the cartoon brutality - and buffoonery - of
Ichi the Killer, the violence in Audition merely
amplifies the overall tone of despair.
Audition
is a very good film...dark, surreal and consistently unsettling,
aided by solid performances by Shiina and Ryo Ishibashi. But it's
also an emotionally-draining experience and admiring a film's
ability to manipulate an audience isn't always the same as enjoying
it. I'm glad I was finally able to see it, though I think one time is sufficient. Miike fans probably think differently, of course, and they'll love
this Blu-ray from Arrow, which offers an impressive 2K restoration
and an abundance of bonus features, both old and new.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
NEW:
"DAMAGED ROMANCE" - An appreciation by film historian Tony
Rayns (the guy's quite knowledgeable and interesting to listen to).
NEW:
AUDIO COMMENTARY - By biographer Tom Mes
NEW:
INTERVIEW WITH TAKASHI MIIKE
INTERVIEWS
- Lengthy, individual interviews with actors Eihi Shiina, Ryo
Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi and Ren Osugi (the "man in the bag")
AUDIO
COMMENTARY - By Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan.
INTRODUCTION
BY TAKASHI MIIKE
TRAILERS
SUPPLEMENTAL
BOOKLET - featuring photos, credits and an essay, "Guilty of
Romance," by Anton Bitel
REVERSIBLE
COVER ART
KITTY CONSENSUS:
ADMIRABLY DISTURBING...BUT ONCE IS ENOUGH
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