LA critics pick Japanese film ‘Drive My Car’ as year’s best

USA giving out their film awards to other countries films. Don't they have a foreign film category for that?. Would a US film would win a Japanese movie award, or HK, or Bollywood, etc, etc.

Been looking for a new movie to study Japanese. Guess I'll give this one a shot.

This is either a pratical joke or the Los Angeles Film Critics Association hasn't had the chance to see either "Belfast" or "Old Henry".

It was a good movie, kind of in that shomin-geki genre. 3 hours passed by like it was 3 minutes.

I know that car! That's an old Saab! My first car was an '86 900S, next was the same in a '90.

Great news!

The LA group isn’t the first to single out “Drive My Car,” about a widowed actor and director and the relationship he develops with his chauffeur, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The New York Film Critics Circle and the Boston Society of Film Critics awarded “Drive My Car” best picture honors as well. It also took best international feature at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

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Pc correct movie, not very good.

It has been awhile since I saw a superb Japanese film. I am looking forward to seeing this one.

(1999) Adrenaline Drive was the last good Japanese movie i watched last year, it's now time for another Japanese road movie.

That is one clean windshield.

Giving out an award is like giving out a sticker. Hollywood has been around forever and has the most power and money.

HillClimber: "Ok, now compare the absolutely non-existent 'viral' nature of this movie on social media compared to literally anything from South Korea."

Wow... now, what you can ACTUALLY spot is the extreme insecurity of some posters. Dude, shows like Squid Game and bands like BTS are being shown and talked about on the world stage EVERY DAY. You said "literally anything", right? Insecurity aside, there are other obvious reasons why this movie isn't making any of the waves outside Japan (and besides this award) that the aforementioned two, among tens of other Korean products -- it is not a mainstream film; more of a repertoire movie.

So, don't be upset and jealous Japan has NEVER, EVER produced anything more mainstream than is as popular as the current wave of Korean products (and I'm not a fan of almost any), be happy this movie is a success. I mean, you didn't make it or anything, but since national pride seems to be the focus, be "proud", if you must.

Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing it sometime. Won't be worrying at all about if it stands up to the products of its Korean neighbors.

So, don't be upset and jealous Japan has NEVER, EVER produced anything more mainstream than is as popular as the current wave of Korean products

Someone has never heard of Pokemon.

@Mark

obviously, He isn't living on the same planet.

I think Japanese movies the past decade have only appealed to a small percentage of international film audiences. Very slow paced and unexciting plot lines and acting (too artsy for its own good). That isn't going to excite people.

By comparison, South Korean cinema has been dynamic. Lots of emphasis on tension, horror, action, intense character interactions, biting social commentary, the list goes on, all of it easily relatable to all audiences regardless of nationality or language. International audiences want to be entertained, not put to sleep by a 3-hour movie about a chauffer. I miss the days of visionary Japanese directors like Takashi Miike and Kinji Fukasaku who did not shy away from making controversial movies that proved influential in other countries.

By the way, the director of Squid Game denies that he copied As the God's Will (which is probably a lie).

@oldman_13

drive my car is a long movie but it isn't slow at all.

 I miss the days of visionary Japanese directors like Takashi Miike and Kinji Fukasaku who did not shy away from making controversial movies that proved influential in other countries.

Most of takaashi mike's most controversial movies are made in the last decade only. He made movies as recently as last year.

Lots of emphasis on tension, horror, action, intense character interactions, biting social commentary, the list goes on, all of it easily relatable to all audiences regardless of nationality or language. International audiences want to be entertained

well, Anime does a better job at this.