Lost Girls and Love Hotels

Thought for a while about this one, about how to review it I mean, and it all came down to, "yeah, but not quite......."

Setting is good, a good level of moody without being too dark. Daddario is very good but you don't get to fully understand her character.

If we could give half points would've gone 6.5, it's not a 7. Quite intriguing though.

I didn't really have any expectations other than shots of beautiful Japaneese aestethics which I got to some extent, even though I think that it felt a bit "touristy" and repeating at times.

As for the plot and acting I did not expect much. And except for the very first scene which I didn't like at all because it felt a bit cheesy and unnecessary seeing as you would understand what kind of girl Margaret was rather quickly by just watching the movie anyways... I hoped for more focus on the lost girl and less (but some) love hotels. One thing I liked about the many "love scenes" were that they were short and rather silent unlike some movies where there's awkward moaning for 10 minutes straight.

If you are looking for something as good as "Lost In Translation" or some block buster with explotions every other second you shouldn't watch this one. But if you want to look at some pretty cinematography with an okay story you should go for it! Especially if you like movies set in Japan. I can confidently say that I wouldn't have watched it if the movie had taken place anywhere else, but I'm glad that I did.

This is a movie with oddly dark and difficult subject matter. It was very well acted and is certainly a quality work of writing, production and direction. This is not a happy movie but certainly worth a watch. I haven't experienced a emotional effect like this in a movie since "9 and a half weeks" with Basinger and O'Rourke and there are several parallels. Having said that, in many other ways they are certainly not the same. I would recommend a watch just because it is well done and unique. Heed the R rating!

Right down to the main character being a teacher.

Writers with new ideas are obviously rare

If you are here just for the nudity, you may very well be dissapointed. Not because it doesn't exist (it does and quite plentyful), but because this is not what the movie emphasises. It is about an emotionally detached and broken character. To feel something - if you have to go extreme, that might not be a good sign.

Daddarios performance in this is quite mesmerizing for so many reasons. The movie has its flaws and issues, but she really gives it her all. The vulnerability on display, the emotional rollercoaster ... it may not be fun to watch (I'd actually say it is anything but), but it quite the performance she gifts us with. Add to that the other characters and while the plot may be predictable, the way it is shot and the performances help the movie immensly.

Not an easy drama and it may bug you and annoy you a few times, but this is meant to be - life is an adventure - some make it even harder on themselves, especially when their cries for help are not recognized ...