Doppleganger (2004)

Synopsis: Unable to perfect his robotic arm wheelchair prototype, dour inventor Hayasaki (Koji Yakusho) begins to slide into a workaholic depression, especially after his funding is threatened by corporate... Unable to perfect his robotic arm wheelchair prototype, dour inventor Hayasaki (Koji Yakusho) begins to slide into a workaholic depression, especially after his funding is threatened by corporate bottom-liners. Fortunately, his amoral, drunken doppelganger materializes, determined to use any means at his disposal (including murder and wanton destruction) to help his more sober half realize his goal. Gradually what starts out as a sober meditation on mid-life crisis spirals into fractured psychodrama, black comedy, and over-the-top action (including one RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK-style chase involving a giant disco ball). The zany second half becomes a road trip through the wilds of Japan culminating in an epiphany of two-fisted transcendental forgiveness. With this film, Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (CURE) seems to break free from his usual enigmatic style in mid-story, literally coming out of the dank, dark places of his previous horror films and into the sunlight of surreal, double-crossed screwball comedy. In short, it's a classy, cult movie and a crowd pleaser in every aspect, with plenty of sly, in-joke references for Asian movie fans. Yakusho brings deadpan grace to his dual role, while Hiromi Nagasaku is cute and funny as Yuka--the confused, codependent love interest with doppelganger problems of her own. [More]

Starring: Koji Yakusho, Hiromi Nagasaku, Yusuke Santamaria, Masahiro Toda

Starring: Koji Yakusho, Hiromi Nagasaku, Yusuke Santamaria, Masahiro Toda, Hitomi Sato

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Screenwriter: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Ken Furusawa
Producer: Atsushi Sato, Atsuyuki Shimoda, Motoo Kawabata

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