Party 7

There are many very strange films coming out of Japan over the past few years and they are slowly making their way to the United States. Party 7 has two actors who later appear in the better known "Survive Style 5".

The plot is very simple; a stupid criminal tries to hide in an out of the way motel with the mob money he stole. Several people, an ex-girlfriend, her new fiancé and the criminal's partner in crime, manage to find him and confront him in his motel room. These confrontations are observed through a one-way mirror/painting by the owner of the motel, in his Captain Banana suit, and the son of his recently deceased best friend. There are also two strange motel employees involved and a yakuza boss in flashbacks. And a twitchy travel agent.

There are about 5 sets in the film total, it's almost like watching a play. The whole film is based on the characters' interactions as opposed to visual action. While there is lots of action in the crazy animated title sequence which was done by Peter Chung of Aeon Flux fame, it calms down a lot for most of the movie. Great art direction and photography, droll script and very good acting.

Recommended.

This gets compared to "Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl" which is Director Katsuhito Ishii's previous film but it shouldn't.

This had an interesting story and a few good laughs which makes this watchable. The problem is some scenes go on way too long. Most of the scenes in this film are really just conversations. Each a piece of the plotline usually with a gag attached. But they can go on to where I start to lose interest.

The cast is good. No one stands out. It's the direction and how everything & everyone fits together along the way. That's what makes this movie good and interesting.

The poster for this film is misleading to those unfamiliar. The girl never is dressed so skimpy. This is not a Pinku Eiga.

There is animation during the opening credits and while the rest of this movie is good, the animation that played is excellent.

The reason I pulled this DVD out today was I needed something with creative filmmaking. It is not really original but still creative.

The Japanese company that owns the film has apparently declded to put it on the shelf, so the inevitable DVD (probably without subs, and definitely with Region coding) may be your only chance unless you act quickly. If Cult Cinema is your groove, Party 7 is likely o be your party. In the bowels of a tacky Japanese hotel, Mr Banana -- dressed in a yellow and black hero suit -- is trying to anoint a multiple-convicted peeper into his special world, which has direct view into promising rooms. As the hotel room drama plays out, there's a hood in a pink leather suit who has a suitcase filled with money, a former girlfriend who wants the same money, her trendy camera expert boyfriend out to keep his girlfriend, and a tough but gullible yakuza. Vinyl-suited Mr Banana and his assistant Mr Yellow peep as its all happening. There are flashbacks, extreme humor, and enough bizarre twists to keep anyone guessing. The cast is first-rate, composed mostly of great genre actors. The filmmakers probably weren't making it up as they went along, but Party 7 has that feeling, and it makes for a refreshing change of pace.

Scattershot and hyperactive in a way only Japanese cinema can get away with, Party 7 is an enjoyable frantic mess. After a speedy animated introduction to 7 different characters, we are suddenly thrust into a narrative about some stolen money. As the man hides in a hotel room, he has no idea he is being watched by some professional peepers (one dressed in super-hero garb and calling himself Captain Banana). As people come looking for the money, the hotel room gets crowded, and twists are revealed. It's very claustrophobic, being set in just two rooms, which is painfully awkward given the over-the-top style. The humour is broad and weird. Funny and fun, even though I was disappointed that the image on the DVD case is nowhere to be found in the film :(

Party up @ Hotel Mexico for a mixer of mayhem, tangential dialogue, and bizarre circumstances starting right from the courtesy desk!

Socially maladjusted Okita, played to an eccentric point by the wonderfully gifted Tadanobu Asano, shows us fits of joy, sadness, and paranoia. Asano playing Okita, no matter how odd he is, successfully brings out his human factor. Also, there are unwanted guests, lies uncovered, shady bellhops, windows peered, stylized camera shots, a wacky hotel staff, and a very costumed eccentrics I've ever seen. Party 7 makes you laugh and in an unconventional way. If you like a variety in your film buffet, come down to Hotel New Mexico. Kana (AkEMI-KuN!) makes it all worthwhile!