Review of R100 (2013) by Michal Marek N — 19 Nov 2017

I have no real idea what the hell did I just watch, so I'll try to collect my thoughts here, as a analysis attempt - Since his first movie, Matsumoto always made one film every two years, but since R100 came out, he hasn't made anything new. He's been a well known comedian and content creator since forever, and he's not getting younger. Matsumoto might be the 100yo director in the film. He just made something he enjoyed making, a stylish and crazy ride as his last big production that was misunderstood by the producers.

Next-up, I don't think the movie within a movie is ever called R-100, its just a rating, and I think it might be a commentary on art films. A 100 year old director is already considered a genius so he can make whatever he wants and if someone doesn't like it he can just say "You'll understand it when you're my age" because nobody will ever stand up to him. He's even making the Katayama's "sadist face" in the very end, as a way of admitting to it.

The movie itself, the main plot, it is always changing styles and generes, adding new subplots and forgetting others. The movie is the dominatrix and the viewer is basically Katayama. We bought the ticket to the movie, just like Katayama entered the club on his own will, and we lost all control, being punished for having expectations. That's why the movie is the opposite of being predictable, it's because it wants to throw you off track, and dominate you as the viewer.

And lastly, I think there is also a side commentary on movie cliches. A sick wife, loving father and a son that's waiting for his mom to be back, why have all of those generic characters in a movie all about style and unconventionalism? As a joke, maybe as a laugh at the expectations of the viewer (and the producers?). If you want evidence just remember the last scene of the film. The photoshoot. Why was Katayama pregnant? Well, his son wanted a younger sibling, and there needs to be a happy ending, right? The main character must always win.

I have no idea if anything I said made sense, but even if I'm wrong I don't thing this movie is random for sake of being random. I like Matsumoto way too much to admit that. R100 was a great movie, as funny, cryptic and stylish as "Symbol".