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Bright Future

EMAILPRINTPalm Pictures

Bright Future reviews
64
6.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 3 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama  |  Foreign

Written by: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Directed by: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Release Date:
Theatrical: November 12, 2004
DVD: March 8, 2005

Running Time: 92 minutes, Color

Origin: Japan

Language(s): Japanese (with English subtitles)

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Jô Odagiri, Tadanobu Asano, Tatsuya Fuji, Takashi Sasano, and Marumi Shiraishi

A story of intergenerational conflict, urban malaise and poisonous jellyfish.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

Premiere Aaron Hillis

An enchantingly cryptic, ethereally photographed slice of somber surrealism that should definitely appeal to fans of David Lynch and Luis Buñuel.

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83

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The most spellbinding aspect of Bright Future is that the surrealism sustains its own squiddish logic, concluding with one of the most breathtaking film finales of the year.

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80

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

Casts its spell by drawing out the horror of everyday existence bit by bit, and then tossing in some otherworldly weirdness that makes the hair on the back of your neck try to run for cover.

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75

Boston Globe Ty Burr

The movie has a curious and cumulative power.

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70

TV Guide Ken Fox

More high - but strangely touching - weirdness from acclaimed Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

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70

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Kurosawa strolls through his narrative with relaxed confidence, suggesting apocalyptic significances without assuring us that he has anything particular on his mind.

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67

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White

A slow, sometimes difficult film, Bright Future offers little immediate payoff to the patient viewer.

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63

New York Daily News Robert Dominguez

Bright is pretty to look at, but it's a slow-moving, meandering work that isn't as complex or mysterious as it appears.

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50

Chicago Reader Richard M. Porton

An alternately comic and macabre portrait of a deranged friendship.

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50

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

But save for the mesmerizing final tracking shot, Bright Future just mopes around aimlessly, hoping that its vague themes will eventually congeal into something profound.

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40

Variety David Rooney

Occupies wavelengths too remote to be tuned in by audiences other than diehard Asian esoterica enthusiasts.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.0 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bob N gave it an8:
I am not a "diehard Asian esoteric enthusiast." I simply enjoy challenging art. Not the nihilistic "let's destroy morality because we can" challenge, but the asking and portraying of hard questions that demand an answer-or at least should be honestly asked. I enjoy Kiyoshi's films because, though they are elliptical and dreamlike, they always seem rooted in reality. Or, more accurately, the questions asked by his films are very true to life, and he has the utmost respect for those caught in such existential dilemmas. The scenes some critics find sentimental or too dishonest in their presentation, such as the one in which the older man forgives the younger generation, and when he angrily demands the youngster have respect for his reality, are effective and moving. These philosophical outburst are honest, and are expressed in loving understanding. I can't think of another director alive today who does that. Bright Future is not his best, but it seems to creep up on you. The more you think about it, and the more the imagery is recalled, the better the film becomes. Good stuff dealing with realistic hard issues.

robert h gave it a3:
Reviewer tobias of the onion hit the nail on the head.

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