Better Late Then Never

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This movie and the book it was based on, written by Iijima Ai, came out not long before I left Japan after a years-long stay. Recently I decided to check out the movie. I like it because it depicted elements of Tokyo I am familiar with. It had the best depiction of Tokyo I have seen so far. The main actress, Kagami Saki, did a great job and she was only 16 years old: Cute as a button, and both tough and vulnerable. Odagiri Jo's character seemed cool but not jaded yet maybe a bit precious for a bartender and DJ in the "mizu shobai" world. Abe Hiroshi, however much I usually like his work, came off as a buffoon, complete with a variety of particolored jester's costumes. Comic relief that wasn't funny?As well as being simplistic, the story was hokey in the standard Japanese weepy way, but I like that. Why do I consider it simplistic? Narrowing down someone of her age (both topically and personally) into a kind of long-term, deep romantic relationship was ludicrous. If there was a DJ in Iijima Ai's past one can't help suspect that there were tens, if not hundreds of equally intense relationships and one-night stands. I just can't see the exclusiveness depicted in the film. After all, this was the time when Japanese young women began to brag about having multiple boyfriends: one a kind of main squeeze; another guy to treat her to dinner; the guy with wheels to serve as a kind of chauffeur; the one that just loved to buy her expensive presents... Yet, I can see the DJ character as pure fantasy. The relationship Iijima Ai would have liked to have had but never, ever, did. Even so, I enjoyed, with reservations, the story.The story was loosely autobiographical based on Iijima Ai's life as an AV (adult video: porno) actress. She later made it big in mainstream television which made her famous as the "popular AV actress who managed to carve out a broader career in the entertainment field."She impressed many with her erudition, outspokenness, and breadth of knowledge.Wondering if Iijima Ai had worked on any more movies I clicked on her name here at IMDb and was shocked to see that there was a date of death at the age of 36. She died 9 months ago as of this writing now in September 2009. Her body had decomposed so badly in the 7 days it had remained undiscovered in her enormous (by Japanese standards) 21st-floor luxury condominium that, at first, it was not possible to ascribe a cause of death. No one missed her that much for 7 days to want to check up on her.Later, the official cause of death was said to be pneumonia. But isn't pneumonia one of the common causes of death for people who have compromised immune systems? Because of the Japanese anathema for truth, in general, I would tend to somewhat discount the official version of her death.The actual cause of death could be anything. Suicide because of her reported deep melancholy and depression. AIDS because of her extensive unprotected sex with multitudes of promiscuous AV actors. The timing would be about right too, wouldn't it? Eighteen years after first entering the AV world. Her retirement due to "health" problems a year or so previous. Straight illness would be possible, I suppose, if she were extraordinarily lucky those years past. It could have been exacerbated by her depression. Pneumonia even. Murder. One reason for murder being that she was becoming an AIDS activist. If it became well known that she was dying of HIV-related complications then she would serve as an even greater hindrance to luring young women into the massive commercial sex industry in Japan as she served as promoter by being able to graduate from the commercial-sex industry into the mainstream (although commercial sex itself is nigh about mainstream in contemporary Japan). There must be countless young women who think when they are scouted, "Gee. Iijima Ai made it big after her AV debut. This could be my big break. Sure. I'll make some adult movies with you guys." But, understanding clearly the risk of lethal contagion, such thought would become much more rare and difficult, being supplanted by, "No way! Look what happened to the famous Iijima Ai!" The rich and powerful people behind that industry would look to lose recruits. It was also said that not so long before her death someone at her management agency embezzled something like a million dollars from her. Who is pursuing that now? Her death would be quite convenient, no? For someone with her background, nasty connections, and wealth, few causes of her death could be totally discounted.Anyway, there was a scene in the movie where the lead character mentions to a friend how she just destroyed her own life and a possible chance for happiness by doing something irreversible, and in retrospect, foolishly rash. Much like making AV movies for the easy and copious amounts of money. We might say Iijima Ai had a propensity for self-destruction and shortcuts—ultimately leading to that shortcut to an early death.The movie was prophetic. And chillingly honest in its exposure of one woman's soul. Or lack of one.

Based on a true story this is a standard—unfortunately—tale of a teen who's raped, blamed for it, abused and disowned by her family and then enters the sex industry. There's a few too many "You only perceive what's important to you when it's gone" dialog moments, but I enjoyed the sad and dreamlike, as opposed to angry or exploitive, tone of the film. Three good performances included: Jo Odagiri is solid and sweet as the good guy. (I've seen a handful of his films and this is my favorite Jo performance); Hiroshi Abe brings humor and strange insights as a flamboyant 'benefactor' and keeps the film from ever becoming too sappy; and Saki Kagami in the lead role, with baby fat in her cheeks, plays naive but smart through dumb faith (in something). She seems like her innocence might be unmasked at any moment but it never quite is. At times she seems creepily too young to be playing a role like this but never really slides off the edge. She gets props from me. PLATONIC SEX is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination. There's really nothing new and some of the writing is a little too precious, but I give it a marginal rent-not-buy recommendation because, by not attempting too much it gives itself a better chance of succeeding. And I think it does with the help of three above average performances—two by a couple pros and one from a newcomer.

This is based on the story of Eiijima, Ai who was an up and coming porn star in Japan. It's a tragic story thats true! She grew up abused and lacking moral or emotional support from her parents following a rape. This happens to a lot of porno stars in Japan as well as the U.S. - they're the victims, and continue to be victims following illicit relationships and lost dreams; they hope to find satisfaction through money or gifts from "sponsors" or managers. This is a very depressing film. I believe the actress on whom it is based on has never married to this day. I don't judge porn stars, but there is usually a story behind their decision to enter the industry. Hers is a fascinating one.