Diner (2019)
Genre: Crime
Duration: 117 minuten
Alternative titles: Diner Dainâ / Diner ダイナー
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Mika Ninagawa
Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Tina Tamashiro and Masataka Kubota
IMDb score:
5,9 (535)
Releasedate: 5 July 2019
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Diner plot
"A shockingly suspenseful, constantly gripping, and wildly entertaining feast for the senses!"
After a series of traumatic events, lonely Kanako Oba thinks her life can't get any worse until she applies for a part-time job that will turn her life upside down. Suddenly she has no choice but to work as a waitress in an exclusive restaurant where only the most dangerous assassins are allowed.
Actors and actresses
Bombero
Kanaka Oba
Skin
Kid
Buro
Cowboy
DD
Butatoko
Mateba
Maria
Reviews & comments
Onderhond
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- 87623 messages
- 12892 votes
The new Ninagawa is great.
Ninagawa can gradually stand next to people like Nakashima, because every film she makes hits the spot. Unfortunately, her output is fairly limited, although 2019 was a good year and there are actually two of her films to admire. This one might look even more like Ishii's Smuggler, but I don't think most people will know it.
Although the film has something to say in the margins, this is mainly pure entertainment, with beautiful sets, weird characters and an extremely colorful design. Actors do well, with some brilliant supporting roles and the soundtrack is an absolute added value. Nice to see that that aspect of her films finally comes into its own.
10 years ago this would have been an instant cult, now nobody cares. Bit of a shame, but I won't let it get to my heart. As long as Ninagawa can continue to make these kinds of films, I have nothing to complain about. In the meantime I am also curious about that other film she made in 2019, this is in any case a very strong calling card.
4.5* and a extensive review
Translated from Dutch · View original
Black Math
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- 5430 messages
- 1753 votes
As expected with this director, this is very beautifully stylized, and yet it didn't quite grab me. The characters may be strange, but they don't really interest me; the main character is actually the least striking character, and yet she fascinates the most (which may also be due to the charm of the actress) and that is not a very good sign. The bombastic introductions of the characters don't make them epic unfortunately.
Musically, Dvořák's Ninth Symphony, especially the slow movement, is central. A bit of a cliché piece if I may be honest, but it is beautiful. The song version of it was not necessary for me, no matter how beautiful the accompanying images are. Furthermore, Fauré's requiem is also featured, which was appropriate given the scene. More than the scherzo from Dvořák's symphony, the use of which felt somewhat arbitrary. In that respect, the electronic music at other times was actually a bit more effective.
Visually very nicely stylized, but I still had the idea that the predecessor Helter Skelter was just a bit better, with more detail. In short, it is just not all that, so that the film ultimately gets stuck at 3.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Threeohthree
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- 5557 messages
- 2935 votes
Blessed!
It took a while due to availability, but thanks to some help I was able to see it yesterday. They say patience pays off and that certainly proved true in this case. It has already been said here, but Mika Ninagawa can easily put herself in the same row as Tetsuya Nakashima (and of course also Ken Ninomiya) when it comes to beautiful filmmaking. Very often I have points for improvement in my head (more effective use of color, different camera angle, different edit) but Mika not only does exactly what I want to see, she also exceeds everything.
Every shot is alive (those paintings are a simple example) thanks to beautiful use of color, varied camera work, an effective soundtrack (present, but never too much or too little), and wonderfully crazy characters. Those characters reminded me a bit of Sono, nice and crazy, violent, but certainly hilarious. And although the film gets a bit too woolly towards the end (you have to chase your dreams and stuff) it is especially great that the stylization is just perfect for 117 minutes.
That's how other films of 2 hours with such a small plot quickly feel long, but thanks to the stylization, development of the characters, and sufficient humor, it remains enjoyable for 117 minutes. By the way, the dishes look really delicious.
4.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
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