Millennium Actress (2001)

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There's one more animated film coming up after this one and most people will probably know which one it is. I'll tell you about that movie when the time is there, but let me just get this on the record first: IF there's ever an animated film that can become my favorite animated film of all time instead of that one, it's definitely Millennium Actress! My first viewing of it (a year ago, I think) was simply one of the richest (animated) motion picture experiences I've ever had. The story is emotionally extremely resonant, the storytelling is refreshingly original and the visuals are simply FANTASTIC! The film touches on many truths about life and love, but it's how it presents those truths that makes it truly a spectacular and extremely effective piece of cinema!

The story seems quite simple at first. A TV interviewer and his cameraman visit a former famous actress who has kind of lived as a recluse for 30 years.The TV interviewer is a really big fan of hers and is really excited, while the cameraman is much more relaxed about it. Nothing prepares us yet for the sheer blast of originality that will come our way. The interview starts and suddenly Satoshi Kon makes one of the boldest and most refreshing moves I've ever seen. Instead of simply telling the actress' life story through flash backs, he uses the style and environment of the movies she has played in during her career to give us an insightful and wonderfully poetic look inside the soul of the actress. We're not merely getting an enumeration of facts, but in a surreal way, we're experiencing what she's going through psychologically.
We witness her quest for a man that gave her a strange key when she was young. She believes that he will give it all meaning and that he'll be able to bring it all together. She believes that finding him will finally bring her happiness and peace of mind...

Even if you're not into anime, you just have to check this film out. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before or since. The movie breathes love for the film medium, it breathes love for cinematic history and it's all the more fascinating, because this genuine love and passion is partnered with incredible animation, very skillful directing and a truly profound and existentially satisfying script. The creative genius behind this film, Satoshi Kon, has sadly died in 2010 at the young age of 46. He made a few other praised animated films, but for me, this one is his masterpiece.

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I'll say it because I fear no one else will.

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Love me some Heavy Metal.

Well, personally I was quite disappointed by Millennium Actress. When I saw all of the imagery it looked like it was going to be a fascinating film, but I guess it just wasn't my niche.

Well, it IS a fascinating film and I personally can't understand people who think otherwise. It's one of those "perfect" films, in my opinion.

@Jiraffe: I liked the beginning of Heavy Metal (the cab story) and I actually wished the whole film would've centered around that character. Some of the other short stories were fun too, but I wasn't completely satisfied, because nothing ever reached the level of the first story for me.

@Jiraffe: I liked the beginning of Heavy Metal (the cab story) and I actually wished the whole film would've centered around that character. Some of the other short stories were fun too, but I wasn't completely satisfied, because nothing ever reached the level of the first story for me.