Scrap Heaven is a beautifully-directed, well-acted, tightly-structured film about 3 people who are completely different except for their grim view of life, and they each want to cause their own form of revenge on the world. Their paths cross one night and then continue to cross willingly and unwillingly over the duration of the movie, and their similarities become more apparent as the film goes on. The end to each character's story isn't completely satisfying, and there is a lot of vagueness regarding certain motivations of the people in this film, but all in all the film remains a clever, dark, hilarious, and DIFFERENT viewpoint of modern Japanese society...
Yes, themes of emotional detachment, societal servitude, repressed thoughts and feelings are nothing new in Japanese films... but this film explores all these themes with a sense of humor and some ridiculousness. The end is a bit predictable, and the film seems to sometimes wander when trying to make its point, but I can safely say I was never bored with this film... and I've thought about it nonstop since I finished watching it. Just a really great film.
Also: I noticed, at times, a strange parallel between this film and Fight Club, actually, and I'm sure I'm alone in this. Some of the acts of anarchy, and one of the main character's blatant Tyler Durden-isms (including his choice of clothes) had me wondering. It's nothing that crazy or distracting from the rest of the film, just worth noting.
Yes, themes of emotional detachment, societal servitude, repressed thoughts and feelings are nothing new in Japanese films... but this film explores all these themes with a sense of humor and some ridiculousness. The end is a bit predictable, and the film seems to sometimes wander when trying to make its point, but I can safely say I was never bored with this film... and I've thought about it nonstop since I finished watching it. Just a really great film.
Also: I noticed, at times, a strange parallel between this film and Fight Club, actually, and I'm sure I'm alone in this. Some of the acts of anarchy, and one of the main character's blatant Tyler Durden-isms (including his choice of clothes) had me wondering. It's nothing that crazy or distracting from the rest of the film, just worth noting.