The Setting Sun
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: B-
Though Diane Lane is featured prominently on the
box, she is not always in writer/director Ro Tomono’s The Setting Sun (1992), but that is not necessarily to the film’s
detriment, as much as I like her. The
film takes place during the Opium War between the Chinese and Japanese, itself
a lame situation, but it happened. What
could have had the edge of Michael Cimino’s Year Of The Dragon (1985) lands up feeling more like Patton, Tora! Tora! Tora!, or the TV mini-series Shogun in its matter-of-factness.
This even extends to the fight scenes in an odd way.
That the
film exists at all is interesting, but this restrictiveness extends to the
relationship between Lane’s performer/assassin and lead soldier Kaya (Masaya
Kato), which limits chemistry that should work far better than it does. Such an international crossover was more
effective in the recent Pavilion Of
Women (reviewed elsewhere on this site) and that’s a shame, because this is
well cast and the locations and costumes that bring the 1930s to life are
effective enough.
The 1.85
X 1 image seems to be from a late analog transfer, as the darker scenes have
serious problems, but the lighter ones work better and are more colorful, though
all are softer than they should be.
Cinematographer Yoshihiro Yamazaki gets points for a solid consistent
look that is not afraid of establishing shots, something the MTV mentality has
idiotically shied away from. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 is simple Stereo, with practically no surrounds, and the credits
indicate that the film was a Dolby A-type analog theatrical release overseas. With that said, it is clear for a recent
recording, even if you do not understand mandarin and the like. The few extras include filmographies of four
of the stars and a stills section, but that is all.
Donald
Sutherland also shows up as a not so up and up American rep for Japan, who we know flirted with
Japanese Imperialism until World War II.
He is also a welcome plus, yet his appearance makes it feel like The Winds Of War or War & Remembrance TV
mini-series. Maybe this would have
worked better as such a program, but The
Setting Sun still works in its own odd way and is worth a look for the
curious.
- Nicholas Sheffo
