Hazard (2005 film)

Hazard is a 2005 Japanese movie.

1 Synopsis
2 Cast
3 Credits
4 Festivals
5 International Release
6 Reviews
7 Technical specifications
8 References

Synopsis

Shin is a Japanese university student living a boring and meaningless life. One day, he spots a book titled Dangerous Ways to Walk the World, in which he finds a page written about hazards in New-York. Eager to get out, he jets off to New-York to find this inspiration. He quickly does find out the hazards of the city when he is mugged and left with no money or clothes. By chance, he meets Lee and Takeda, two Japanese-American punks who take him in. With Lee and Takeda, Shin’s days in New-York are now full of excitement and danger. When they need a ride, they threaten people and take their cars. When they are hungry, they rob the deli for food. But their trouble-seeking ways eventually gets them chased by the police, which kills a friend and imprisons the other. Shin ultimately goes back to Japan with a new thirst for life.

Cast

Jo Odagiri (Plastic City, Shinobi, Adrift in Tokyo, Retribution) as Shin
Jai West (Tokyo no uso, Love Exposure) as Lee
Motoki Fukami as Takeda
Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Won
Rin Kurana
Sayako Hagiwara

Credits

Director: Sion Sono (Strange Circus, Suicide Club, Into a Dream, Love Exposure)
Screenplay : Sion Sono & Kazuyoshi Kumakiri
Cinematographer: Hiroo Yanagida (Into a Dream)
Set Design: Yuji Takamura
Editor : Shuichi Kakesu (The Handsome Suit, Cyborg Girl)
Original Music : Tomohide Harada (Love Exposure)
Costumes : Yumi Maruoka
Executive Producer : Yutaka Morohashi & Naomi Suzuki
Producer : Takeshi Suzuki

Festivals

Sapporo Film Festival 2005
New York Asian Film Festival 2007
Fantasia International Film Festival 2007
Lyon Asiexpo Film Festival 2007
San Francisco Another Hole in the Head Film Festival 2007

More International Film Festival to be announced

International Release

Japan : November 11, 2006
Canada : in DVD July 14, 2009

Reviews

“The infectious performances and the dreamy version of New York captured by Sono make it worth the trip along with the resolute aim of the film to have fun.”

Kurt Halfyard, Twitchfilm

“Uncompromisingly, Sion Sono signs an intelligent auteur film on the American Dream.”

David Lamarre, Sep7

“...a real joy to watch. I’d definitely recommend this one.”

Chris MaGee, Toronto J-Film Pow-wow

“...brilliant. An extremely well made romp through the criminal NYC underworld. Even reminiscent of Takashi Miike’s “D.O.A.”.

Jeremy Knox, Film Threat

Other Reviews :

Technical specifications

Origin Country : Japan
Format: 35 mm
Duration: 103 min
Color
Sound: Dolby SRD