黄色い涙 ▫️2007 ▫️Info
Arashi movies are probably some of my favorite media of theirs. When they all get into character together something really magical happens. It’s Arashi, but it’s not Arashi. Their idiosyncrasies that come up when they interact on variety shows or at concerts are still tangible but they are transformed through each member’s acting style. I truly feel they are each so talented at acting, in their own ways. And I enjoy seeing new energies between members that you wouldn’t get to experience when they are just being themselves. This movie has a great setting and I love the characters as well.
I don’t know much about 1960s Japan but it has the vibe of being a special time. From some of the news coverage of this film it seems this time period was kind of trending in the early 2000s and many movies came out that took place in it. I love the atmosphere, the clothing, all the different details that go into films with historic settings. We start off with the characters coming together to swindle someone and from that point forth you are swept up into this circle of friends that are all struggling yet feeling joy in the small things each day. They get into trouble, sometimes even causing it, but they easily bounce back because they are used to being at the bottom. I think these characters are very relatable and everyone did a great job representing their part.
I think MatsuJun must have been busy (maybe with Hanadan 2?) at this time because he is barely in the film. I don’t think that takes away from the movie (unless you are a steadfast Jun fan), and it gave an interesting dynamic just to have the other 4 in most of the scenes. Each member also gets a romance, Aiba’s and Nino’s being the most prominent. I don’t think I really liked the romantic aspect of this film, especially Nino’s because they made him kind of a bad guy. But I guess showing these characters making bad decisions in love is pretty realistic considering their circumstances.
I don’t think this film did anything incredible with the story (it’s based on a story), but I also don’t think I would necessarily change anything. The appeal to me isn’t an exciting or impressive narrative, it’s simply being in this time and place with Arashi that kept me entertained. Seeing them in another era, in another timeline, one that feels so magical, made this film interesting. The small, intimate moments they share in their day to day happenings don’t need to be interesting for me to enjoy watching them. My favorite aspect was probably the “look” of each character–the clothing, hair, accessories. Sakurai especially left an impression on me because it’s rare to see him so wild.
This is a slow movie. It’s not uneventful, many interesting things happen, but there isn’t really an overarching message or story to be found. There is certainly a theme of “freedom” and what it means to live your life free, pursuing your dream even if you have to make sacrifices, which is a great topic. But I felt it was more about conveying a feeling, perhaps the feeling that the original author has in regard to his memories of this time period. It’s about getting insight into the lifestyles of this era and of artists that are trying to find their way in life. I think both of these themes are interesting for me personally and having Arashi be the ones to convey them only sweetened the deal. I really liked this film, pleasant cinematography, soothing soundtrack, and a few interesting plot lines. I think on a rainy day, or maybe in the dog days of summer, to put this on and relax would be great.
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| SCREENPLAY | ★★★☆☆ |
| PRODUCTION | ★★★★★ |
| CAST | ★★★★★ |
| TOPIC | ★★★★☆ |
| THEME SONG | ★★★★★ |
| SOUNDTRACK | ★★★★★ |
| FRESHNESS | ★★★☆☆ |
| OVERALL | ★★★★☆ |
