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Rough |
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(left) Masami Nagasawa and (right) Hayami Mokomichi
Rough it.
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Year: |
2007 |
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Director: |
Kentaro
Otani |
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Writer: |
Arisa
Kaneko, Mitsuru Adachi (original manga) |
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Cast: |
Masami
Nagasawa, Hayami Mokomichi, Tsuyoshi Abe, Yui Ichikawa,
Mai Takahashi |
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The
Skinny: |
This live action adaptation of the popular manga starts
off strongly, but settles into standard dramatic fare
about midway through. Likeable actors, an enjoyable
first half, and a curious last act revelation don't
totally make up for film's underdeveloped characters
and roughly-drawn story arcs, but they certainly don't
hurt. |
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Review by
Calvin
McMillin: |
Rough may sound
like an odd name for a film focusing on the budding
romance between a swimmer and a high diver, but this
seemingly peculiar title choice does come to make more
sense as the story unfolds, most significantly when
a supporting character announces, "All great art begins
with a rough sketch." Although this metaphor is meant
to describe the various athletes staying together at
a coed dormitory for the summer, it comes to have greater
meaning for the film's two lead characters, swimmer
Keisuke Yamato (Hayami Mokomichi) and high diver, Ami
Ninomiya (Masami Nagasawa). The lanky, handsome, but
comically awkward Yamato has great talent, but it still
a bit rough around the edges when it comes to actual
technique or effort. Ami's "roughness" is a bit harder
to define, as it is much more internal - something that
cannot be solved by cutting to a rousing training montage.
Based on the 1980s manga by
Mitsuru Adachi and adapted to the big screen by NANA
director, Kentaro Otani, Rough showcases a would-be
romance that gets off to a shaky start. While passing
one another after a swimming competition, Ami calls
Yamato a "murderer" and walks off on her not-so merry
way. The low key Yamato, as well as the audience, is
a bit stunned by her out of left field declaration.
As it turns out, the two have a history (one that I
won't spoil here) that accounts for Ami's seeming hatred
for Yamato. Ami is enamored instead with Hiroki Nakanishi
(Tsuyoshi Abe), a slightly older swimmer who is not
only the national record holder, but Yamato's personal
idol. Considering the precise number of attractive people,
not to mention the obvious passions involved, it's clear
that a love triangle is just about to bubble to the
surface. Add in an admirer of Yamato's played by NANA
2's Yui Ichikawa, and you've got plenty of conflict
in store. But does Rough capitalize on any of
it?
Rough itself begins
strongly enough; the film is full of visual gags, captioned
freeze frames, and an inventive usage of flashbacks
that give it a vitality that it never quite recaptures
once it settles into its more straightforward, frankly
run-of-the-mill teen drama plot. The central metaphor
of "roughness" is - perhaps appropriately, I suppose
- not that well developed. For instance, Yamato's alleged
central flaw is supposed to be that his laid-back demeanor
is more or less a cover for his own cowardice. But we
really only know this because there's a scene in which
he's confronted by his roommate to "show his emotions,"
but the scene is more bewildering than it is enlightening.
Sure, Yamato might take his friend's words to heart,
but we as an audience are just left scratching our heads.
Ami's dilemma stems from her
allegiance to Hiroki, who has been a childhood friend,
a benefactor of sorts, and clearly something more. Ami
may call him "big brother" publicly and seems to merely
have a "pure love" crush on him, but the fact that she
has a key to his apartment, as well as other small clues,
implies that their relationship is much more adult than
Ami's girl-next-door demeanor might suggest. The problem
here is that so much is left to the imagination in regards
to her connection with Hiroki that her dilemma seems
to be little more than a plot point and not something
we can truly empathize with beyond the catalogue of
facts we are given about her sense of indebtedness to
Hiroki. In situations like these, the film often relies
on melodramatic music to communicate what we are supposed
to be feeling as an audience, but does the film itself
truly earn that emotional reaction? I don't think it
does.
Masami Nagasawa, who hit it
big with Crying Out Love in the Center of the World
and lent her talents to both Touch and Tears
for You, brings that same "It Girl" quality to Rough,
this time portraying a character who differs from those
seen in her previous films. Ami's cool exterior and
active dislike of Yamato gives Nagasawa a chance to
play emotions we haven't yet seen from her. Further,
the fact that Ami herself isn't quite as idealized or
innocent as Nagasawa's other roles is also a nice change
of pace. And although clearly not an unattractive fellow,
Nagasawa's co-stor Hayami Mokomichi credibly portrays
Yamato as goofy and sometimes a bit dim, avoiding any
Teen Beat-style preening in favor of servicing
the story and creating an immediately likeable protagonist.
The problem, as has already been mentioned, is the underdeveloped
storyline. Considering that the film is based on a manga,
I wouldn't be surprised if much of the original comic's
plot was truncated at the expense of a 106 minute running
time. Whatever the case may be, both actors give their
all to help finish the race, as it were, even if the
film itself doesn't exactly come in first place.
Two characters who seem to
get the short shrift are Hiroki Nakanishi (Tsuyoshi
Abe) and Kaori Koyonagi (Yui Ichikawa). Hiroki never
seems more than a Japanese version of a preppie villain
from 1980s teen movie, albeit one stripped of his nastier
traits. This is somewhat understandable considering
his status as the Yamato's main rival, but the character
of Kaori feels even more like a supporting character
that was underutilized and woefully unexplored. In my
review of NANA 2, I was a bit hard on actress
Yui Ichikawa for her portrayal of Nana Komatsu, but
in Rough, she shines brightly, even when she's
standing next to an über-girl-next-door type like Masami
Nagasawa. Although I know next to nothing about the
original manga, I can't help but feel there was a larger,
more complex role for their characters.
Ultimately, I have mixed feelings
for Rough. The film climaxes with what is effectively
a swimming contest over a girl, one in which the outcome
is already foretold to anyone even half-heartedly paying
attention. Formula is fine, as long as a) the ingredients
aren't stale and b) they're mixed correctly. But after
a strong start, the film slips into standard teen fare
that lacks any real emotional punch at story's end.
Rough even goes so far to deny the viewer any
onscreen resolution, instead resorting to voiceover,
as if romance is purely a mathematical equation. I'm
sorry, but even if a film provides a solution to the
narrative's central problem that in and of itself isn't
satisfying. There has to be more.
Yet even as I voice these complaints,
I think the performances of the actors as well as the
film's strong first half make it worth recommending.
Also, there's a nice little revelation that occurs in
the film's second half that might enhance one's enjoyment
of Rough's already amusing first half, as this
simple bit of information alters one's perspective on
a particular character's behavior. Rough may
be visually polished, but it feels a lot like a work-in-progress
and thus lives up to its seemingly peculiar title. Whether
you'll enjoy it or not may be largely dependent on what
you think about all those rough edges. (Calvin McMillin, 2007) |
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Availability: |
DVD (Hong Kong)
Region 3 NTSC
Panasia Films Limited/Kam & Ronson
16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen
Japanese Language Track
Dolby Digital EX 5.1
Removable English and Chinese Subtitles
Trailer |
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images
courtesy of www.mov3.com
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