the audience applauded

Great Film overall

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

The life and work of Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. Mostly known for his erotic or perhaps pornographic photos its clear from this film that there is more to the man than just dirty pictures. Coming a cross as a charming rogue its clear that Araki loves what he's doing, which is photographing everyone and everything at all times. There is a comment by one of his fellow photographers to the effect that Araki is more than his erotic pictures and that there is nothing that he doesn't know about photography. Seeing his images whizzing by in the film its clear the statement is true as we see the vast range of his work that stretches from the mundane to flowers to portraits to porn to whatever else you can think of. He's an amazing man that I'm certain will worm his way into the hearts of anyone who sees the film. If there is a flaw to the film its perhaps its rapid fire, hip and happening style, which may capture Araki's manic energy, but some how short changes some of the images (and ideas) since many are too good to let get lost

Although the life of the controversial photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, is the subject for a potentially great film, Arakimentari proves to be a fairly banal documentary. The director Travis Klose tags along with Araki in Japan, and presents "a day in the life of" scenario that is interwoven with talking head interviews and standard biographical information. While the film succeeds in displaying the wide range of work that Araki has produced, Arakimentari has virtually no formal or stylistic merits.At best, this film is an educational introduction to Araki and his work. But for those who are familiar with the photographer, and are aware of the potentials in documentary film-making, Arakimentari may come across as a disappointing investment of 85 minutes.The soundtrack by DJ Krush however, is worth mentioning.

Marvellous, rousing, affecting and inspiring documentary on the infamous Japanese photographer, Araki. Not totally convinced by the DJKrush original soundtrack or the editing but nothing can take from the content dominated by the impish little man with a camera and enough enthusiasm to carry the film himself. In fact he gets help from the likes of Bjork, Richard Kern and Takeshi Kitano and the whole party goes from start to finish in wild abandon slowing only to cover the photographer's wife's death in 1990. Explicit and controversial covering his bondage work and 'sexy housewives' as well as 'art'. Some philosophy along the way, not all of it half baked and certainly a film to watch should one's urge to take pictures begin to flag!

I must say that when I read the synopsis for this film in the Chicago International Film Fest brochure it seemed interesting. It said that it was a documentary which explores the rich life of a notorious photographer who broke all sorts of new grounds in Japan. I thought that I would go and see the film in order to see how he had been influential and how he caused controversy only to see a film that was horribly disappointing. To me the movie played more as a tribute to a photographer that the filmmakers liked than a true documentary. I walked out of the theater having learned very little. The film is filled with interviews of people who both know and love Araki, people who are all on his side. When there is a controversial subject matter, as Araki's photos undoubtedly were, there are inevitably two sides to the argument. In this film the audience is only exposed to the side of that argument that loves the man and his work. I can't remember one negative thing that was said about Araki throughout the entire feature. In the end I felt as though I had watched a feature length tribute video that someone would show at Araki's birthday party or a family gathering, NOT a film that delved deep into the information and arguments surrounding a potentially rich subject.