uzumasa limelight

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Ochiai Ken's UZUMASA LIMELIGHT Is Headed To The U.K.!

Ochiai Ken‘s suspenseful swordplay drama, Uzumasa Limelight became an award-winning festival sensation during its run last year and it’s safe to suggest that many of the critics who have seen it all stand behind this one. It’s an ardent homage to a bygone era of stylish stunt acting with longtime veteran Fukumoto Seizo in his debut lead role after half a century of having established himself in the world of swordplay genre and action on film, which undoubtedly makes Uzumasa Limelight one worthy of moviegoers’ utmost attention. SYNOPSIS: Uzumasa (Kyoto) is considered the Hollywood of Japan. It has produced many “jidaigeki” films (period dramas with sword fighting) that are loved by many Japanese, and are highly praised all over the world. These films wouldn’t be what they were if it weren’t for the “kirareyaku” (actors whose main job is to be killed by the lead star). Men who are killed, […]

Ken Ochiai’s UZUMASA LIMELIGHT Releases In Select US Cities This December

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and seasoned stuntman Fukumoto Seizo has been the recipient of much-deserved popularity as of late following his acting debut in Ochiai Ken‘s new film, Uzumasa Limelight. While delivering its fair share of suitable swordplay action and drama, Ochiai‘s award-winning film festival favorite of 2014 serves largely as a poignant character study bearing virtually much more similarity to that of its lead actor, and not for nothing. Fukumoto has spent close to 80% of his life in the world of film, leaving an otherwise unchallenged legacy as one of the hardest working performance artists in his field. The film is still running its festival course with a screening gearing up for the Philidelphia Asian American Film & Filmmakers Film Festival on November 14. Thankfully though, the good-natured folks over at Eleven Arts have the film in their custody and will be granting the film a limited North American theatrical release on […]

JAPAN CUTS 2014 Announces 27 Titles And Much More!

Lee B. Golden III

There’s a great line-up awaiting those who will be able to attend this summer’s events at the Japan Cuts 2014, now well on its way to an eighth year run in light of what’s happening over at NYAFF. I’ve written about a few of these titles before and I personally look forward to catching some of them on my own time, including the festival’s newest announcement, the Mo’ Brothers Sundance 2014 favorite, Killers, starring lead actor Kazuki Kitamura who is also attending this year’s festivities among a handful of other guests. For tickets and other information, head over to Japan Society’s official website to glance at their coverage. Otherwise, check out the press release below! New York, NY — North America’s largest showcase of Japanese film and “One of the loopiest… and least predictable of New York’s film festivals” (New York Magazine), JAPAN CUTS: The New York Festival of Contemporary […]

Ken Ochiai's UZUMASA LIMELIGHT Honors The Unsung Heroes Of Chambara Cinema

Lee B. Golden III

The golden age of samurai movies may be long gone, but such films are always welcome in the eyes of adoring fans who continue to share appreciation for the chambara genre. That sentiment can be seen extended through the latest effort of director Ken Ochiai in his new film, Uzumasa Limelight, which centers on seasoned action actor Seizo Fukumoto as a retiring stuntman training a young actress in pursuit of action film stardom. The new film showcases Fukumoto‘s in his first principle lead role, ostensibly based on his own life as a “kireriyaku”, perfecting the art of dying on screen to sell the hero’s performance. To date, Fukumoto‘s eclectic career highlit by names such as the late Kinji Fukusaku and Shigehiro Ozawa, and actors like Sonny Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada and Tom Cruise, has earned him the legendary record of dying on film anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 times, a figure […]