MIND GAME
**** out of *****
Reviewed by Mandroid3000

Screening in the 2006 New Zealand International Film Festival
Back to KP's Film Fest Coverage

Genres
Animation

2004
Directed by
Masaaki Yuasa        
Written by
Robin Nishi (comic and story)
Masaaki Yuasa (screenplay)
Voice cast
Koji Imada .... Nishi
Sayaka Maeda .... Myon
Takashi Fujii .... Jiisan
Seiko Takuma .... Yan
Tomomitsu Yamaguchi .... Ryou
Toshio Sakata .... Father of Myon and Yan
Joji Shimaki .... Yakuza boss
Rintarou Nishi .... Yakuza
Kenichi Chujou .... Atsu

After years of twist-filled serial killer thrillers I assumed an anime titled Mind Game would be a puzzle-loaded riddle of a movie. Instead 'game' seem to be used in the sense that the film is fun and creative as Mind Game is a joyous film that uses it’s creativity to invite you in, not to show off how smart it is. Almost every animation style available is used, and the film is like an explosion of abstract, surreal Japanese art.

But, I need to stress this, Mind Game is a narrative film, which is key to keeping viewer interest. The film is about Nishi, a timid soul who has loved Myon since they were children, but has always been too timid to make any advances. They cross paths as adults as Myon is being pursued by thugs. Before long Nishi has been killed by a yakuza. After a discussion with a constantly shape-shifting God he manages to return to earth for one last shot at really living. Rejecting his old timidity, he determines to live to the full this time, no matter what. The what being that he still has a yakuza thug’s gun stuck up his ass.

Nishi manages to escape, along with Myon and her sister. They get involved in a wild car chase but their car careens off a bridge and…well, no need to spoil that. What happens is unexpected, but the plot remains coherent. The middle section after the bridge jump is a bit long (though not boring), but the finale is such a sustained burst of energy that all is forgotten when the credits have rolled.

Nishi is named after the writer of the original manga (Robin Nishi), and portions of this are apparently autobiographical. If he was like the timid Nishi of the film (who is trying to break into manga), then it’s interesting to see the work of someone showing what's hidden behind a timid exterior just waiting for some sort of push to get it all out. I haven’t read the manga, so I’m not aware how much director Masaaki Yuasa added to it, but the film seems like the work of someone who has (had?) a lot bottled up. This may also explain the overly large breasts Myon is drawn with.

Mind Game, in essence, is a feel good film; a film that tries to make you feel good to be alive, but also to feel good about crazy, original and unrestrained creativity. I say unrestrained because that is what computer animation means for film makers; think of an image and you can make it (not unrestrained in that they can forgo things like characters and plot). I hope the feeling of joy and freedom that Mind Game achieves is a feeling other film makers, armed with new technology, will aim for.

This film will screen in Wellington on July 27th at 4:15pm, July 28th at 10:15pm and July 29th at 4:30pm at the Paramount Theatre. Refer to the Film Fest homepage for more information.

Or go back to KP's Film Fest Coverage

Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)