PERFECT BLUE
Satoshi Kon, director
Unrated, 1999
(of 5)
"...If Alfred Hitchcock partnered with Walt Disney they'd make a picture like this."
-- Roger Corman
The above quote could not be more true about PERFECT BLUE, an amazing new psychological thriller from Manga Entertainment.
The film starts off at a relaxed pace as you take in the world of a young pop star, Mima. Meeting the people important in her life and seeing the events going on around her, you begin to feel like part of her, as if you were watching the world through her eyes. She makes the startling announcement that she is going to become an actress and retire from the pop music scene, and that is when Mima's world begins to fall apart. A skillful blend or reality and hallucination, you are unsure of what is real and what is not. You begin to question who is who and who is what, and before long you begin to question your own world. That is the trademark of an excellent psychological film. I cannot adequately explain this anime, but I can say this: the artwork is astounding and fluid, the dialogue is skillfully done. The plot has a wonderful pace, and the story is open to different interpretations; it is quite possible for three people to watch this and come way with three entirely different endings to the story.
Speaking of people, there is some graphic situations in here, so you might want to be mind the younger folk if they're around. Chase them out of the room so you can enjoy the story in peace!
All I have to say about the rating is that I sorely wish I could go past five - this would have to be at least a ten. I highly recommend keeping an eye out for anything else by this director - he may be a major figure in the anime scene some day.
Copyright TLM 2000
