Pleasures of the Flesh

A really intriguing (though mildly implausible) premise, kind of like Leaving Las Vegas but with sex instead of booze, with a noirish edge and some O. Henry-esque twists. Just on surface value alone, it's a great story that develops nicely, but then there's the added value of some compelling social commentary on capitalism, violence, obsession and sexuality. Some excellent camera compositions as well. Oshima in general doesn't rock my world, but this is one of my favorites by him.

Visually stunning and interesting (at least in 35MM / have heard the DVD transfers are inferior). Complex symbolism not always easy to follow but very compelling characters and scenarios. If you like adventurous approaches to form and style this movie and Oshimas other 1960's movies are fresher and more innovative than most anything being made today.

A few interesting moments in an otherwise dull and uninteresting film. Gorgeous visuals and great camerawork alone can't win me over and don't make a great movie.

Em honra do centenário de Fûtarô Yamada. Confesso que esse tive que fazer um malabarismo maior para poder enxergá-lo como cinema político da condição japonesa à época, pois em Oshima um charuto nunca é apenas um charuto, em todo caso o diretor entrega um excelente filme mesmo se apenas o visualizarmos sob a ótica do pinku eiga e a pulsão pura. DVDRip no PirateBay.

Another day, another Oshima examination of the intersection of class and sexual desire, this time from the perspective of a sudden move into the upper class. With wealth that's explicitly unearned, no passion can be sparked and the newfound position of domination is one that is clearly unfitting. The underlying crime drama makes for a nice plot on its own, and with some further analysis could probably reveal some ideas about class as well.

Doesn't seem to go anywhere.

This one looked great and had some grand moments but it had a lot of annoying aspects which held it back for me.

At first this seems to be a thriller in the vein of Hitchcock, but quickly turns into a dark and suicidal tale of sexual obsession. It shares themes with Oshima's better known In the Realm of Senses, but at least after 1st watch I actually preferred this one. As a 60's film it's very daring, but still without any nudity. The editing and photography resembles French New Wave, yet with a very Japanese feel. I felt that the episodic nature kept it from becoming even a better film.

A preamble to In the Realm of the Senses, wherein the downward spiral toward death is paved with sex. Inventively shot but lacking character. A bit of a slog.