Fortuna's Eye (2019)

Director: Takahiro Miki
Producers: Yasushi Hashimoto, Tomoya Nishino
Screenplay: Naoki Hyakuta (novel), Riko Sakaguchi

Starring:
Ryunosuke Kamiki as Shinichiro Kiyama
Kasumi Arimura as Aoi Kiryu
Jun Shison as Daiki Kaneda
Daigo as Kazuyuki Utsui
Airi Matsui as Mariko Uematsu
Yukiya Kitamura as Takeo Kurokawa

Music: Yuki Hayashi
Cinematography: Kosuke Yamada
Editing: Hidefumi Hanatani
Release Date: February 15, 2019 (Japan)
Running Time: 110 minutes
Language: Japanese

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

Surprise Director Mix-Up!

Alright, third movie of the week by Yoshihiro Naka... wait a minute! I made a mistake and found out when starting this review that this movie is directed by Takahiro Miki! I was finding it weird that the movie had such a different feeling from the previous works I've seen. So, we will have an extra review this week. This time we got a very soft romance story with a supernatural premise. The protagonist, endowed with the Fortuna's Eye, perceives others as transparent when their death looms near. Regrettably, the film’s overly sweet tone and implausibility didn't resonate with me, feeling more suited for a teenage audience rather than a seasoned viewer.

Not Quite My Style

This was too kawaii for me. Too soft and unbelievable. I also don't like Ryunosuke Kamiki because he is too model-like and looks straight out of a fashion magazine or J-pop band, just like our temporarily bad guy Takeda, played by the overly handsome Jun Shison, his abrasiveness and sudden change of heart is just unbelievable. The narrative pivots around the main character, who I found excessively passive and difficult to connect with due to his confusion about his powers and lethargic responses. Furthermore, the plot introduces a doctor sharing the protagonist's peculiar vision, raising a paradox: why would someone capable of foreseeing death choose a healing profession? This contradiction, among other exaggerated coincidences like the dramatic airplane scene, detracts from the story’s credibility. However, I appreciated the altruistic undertones and the climactic train scene, which presented a compelling blend of urgency and moral resolve.

Technical Elements and Final Thoughts

The cinematography and musical score were mixed bags. Initial piano compositions set an engaging tone, but that pop song in the girlfriend-boyfriend montage was a killer for me, I really didn’t like it. I’m not a teenage girl, so that's normal 😅. The music is also really good when the main character runs to stop that train. It gave a little bump to my attention and made the scene thrilling to watch. While the cinematography was competent, it didn’t contribute significantly to the film’s impact, echoing the narrative's lack of depth. Ultimately, "Fortuna’s Eye" might appeal to younger audiences with its straightforward and idealistic portrayal of romance and destiny, but it lacks the complexity or rewatchability that more diverse audiences might seek. Following up next, and not waiting for tomorrow here's a review of a Yoshihiro Nakamura movie. (Click Here)

🎥 Cinematography (5/10):

The visuals were okay. They didn’t add much flair or depth to the storytelling.

📖 Story (5/10):

The plot had potential with its unique premise: our lead can see through people marked by death. Yet, the execution? Not so much. The narrative dipped into realms of the unbelievable too often for my taste, overshadowing an otherwise altruistic message that peaked through at the film's climax.

🎬 Direction (6/10):

Miki’s direction was competent enough, keeping the film ticking along. However, it lacked that compelling grip, especially when managing the pacing and the emotional resonance of the characters.

👥 Characters (3/10):

Here’s where I struggled the most. The characters felt underdeveloped and their motivations just didn’t hit the mark for believability.

💥 Visual Effects (6/10):

What little there was did its job without drawing too much attention away from the story.

🎭 Acting (5/10):

The performances felt disconnected, which might partly be due to my lack of fluency in Japanese. Yet, something about the emotional delivery just didn't feel right, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.

💬 Dialogue (2/10):

Slow and not very interesting.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (3/10):

The setting was a blend of the mundane and the mystical, which was fitting but never fully exploited to enhance the film’s thematic depth.

🎵 Music (5/10):

The soundtrack started off strong with some lovely piano pieces but lost me with the pop track.

😄 Entertainment Value (4/10): 

The film was too mellow for my liking, lacking the dynamic peaks and troughs that make a story engaging. Recommended to teenage girls.

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