University of Laughs vs. Visitor Q

Cleckley

on 9/21/2011

University of Laughs is a wonderful movie in its own aloof way. It's kinda smart and subtle and lovely I suppose. Actually, it's probably the only Japanese comedy movie that I found to be intentionally funny... That is if you exclude all the fucked up stuff like Visitor Q. I'm never really sure if Miike is going for comedic value, but that's certainly the outcome. Anyway, UoL is shot in a single room, almost exclusively, and focuses on the interactions between a playwright and the censor board rep he's up against. I like sort of admire that in movies, it's a rare quality. Visitor Q is rare too I guess. Not too many films stoop so low with such glee. Still, it's the kind of movie that has its bizzzzzarro charm wear off quickly.