Master filmmaker Sion Sono (Suicide Club) (Love Exposure) (Guilty of Romance) delivers in a big way with Love & Peace, one of his several 2015 productions.
Sion Sono has been of the busiest filmmakers in the world this year with already three features (Shinjuku Swan) (Love & Peace) (Tag) released into theaters and only halfway into 2015. That is not even including his made for TV movie, Minna! Esper Dayo!.One might worry of a dip in the quality of his work due to handling so many projects at once. On the contrary, Love & Peace shows Sono is at the top of his game.
Ryoichi, the would-be rocker turned cowardly office worker, is played perfectly by Hiroki Hasegawa. Director Sono gets his audience to completely love this guy despite his undesirable traits. His passion for music and living his dream, coupled with his unconditional love for his pet turtle is simply mesmerizing. The Ryoichi character is so well written that the audience begins to cherish every moment of his screen time. His story fills you with smiles, laughter, and heartbreak.
The other side of the film takes place mostly underground in a sewer where magic is real. Toshiyuki Nishida is the second anchor of the film as the mysterious old man who can give the power of speech and life to toys and animals. An old man living in a sewer is also one of these seemingly undesirable characters who the audience will grow to completely adore. The old man’s secrets and motives behind his tinkering is so pure you can’t help but love him.
As Ryoichi’s sad story above ground begins to merge with the magical world of the underground, the film begins to take it’s true form. With the help of some magic, the two worlds are united through the love that Pikadon and Ryoichi share; a love so powerful that it takes them to unimaginable heights. Get buckled up for a wild ride!
The film is tied together with music and sound effects that keep the picture marching along at a perfect pace. A lot of Ryoichi’s office scenes reminded me of the way Paul Thomas Anderson edited and used music to show Adam Sandler at his workplace in Punch Drunk Love (2002). The overall soundtrack to the film is truly awesome that include some rocks songs that will have you singing in the shower for days.
There are some really outrageous moments in Love & Peace. Just when you think the story can’t possibly get any weirder, it does. And oddly enough, each layer of weirdness never subtracts and only adds to the overall enjoyment level of the movie. I want to stress enjoyment. Love & Peace is a real crowd-pleaser full of laughs and is thoroughly engaging all the way through. Yet, it’s not entirely a goofy movie. There are clearly strong messages and an overall theme about the human condition that is packed in. This brings the emotional weight needed to keep us emotionally charged throughout the more outrageous elements; which makes it all so damn fun!
Love & Peace may be one of the most original movies you will have seen in years. I read that director Sono put everything he had into this film, and it shows. This is actually a Sono film that the whole family can enjoy together! It is a true modern masterpiece, not just in the fantastic film world. As my new favorite Sion Sono film, Love & Peace has my highest recommendation.
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