Viewed on Streaming. CGI/effects = nine (9) stars; subtitles = five (5) stars; music = three (3) stars. Director Satoshi Miki takes the old saying "you're one in a million" (which means if you live in Tokyo there could be 12-13 just like you?) and surrealistically explores what could happen if "you're 20-30 in a million" and the count keeps going up! How this comes about is never explained, but seems to be related to an identity-theft phone scam (still prevalent in Japan that targets parents and, especially, grandparents) gone really bad where the scammer becomes the scammed. Tossed into the plot is the population control mechanism of "deletion" whereby "Me" organic duplicates start to kill off one another. Miki's feeble attempts to inject slapstick humor fall flat (although the actresses and actors seem to be giving it their best shots). Otherwise the Director relies on irony for sort-of-successful attempts at black "humor." Lead actor Kazuya Kamenashi plays virtually all 25 or so character parts (closing credits claim over 30), but most are brief Cameos and Walk Ons. Actresses steal virtually every scene they are in and provide a much needed counter presence to Kamenashi being just about everywhere on screen. Cinematography (semi-wide screen, color, hand-held) and lighting are good. Digital effects are outstanding for such a modest film. Multiple "Me's" really look convincing even in well-lit scenes. Subtitles are often too long given their on-screen flash rates. Some dialog is not translated. Lyrics are not subtitled. Synthesized music demonstrate the limitations of this approach. Often film scores are first created on a synthesizer and then transcribed for orchestra. Perhaps the budget ran out before the score could be migrated? A so-so movie. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of It's Me, It's Me
