I’ve been dipping into the occasional anime lately, and whenever I do one or more of you seems to recommend REDLINE (2009). I’ve been sold for a while, but every time I’ve thought to rent it it’s been checked out. Then I saw that it was playing in a series of anime screenings at my favorite Seattle theater (SIFF Cinema Downtown, f.k.a. Cinerama). I knew the visuals would be better on the big screen, but it didn’t occur to me the that sound would be the most important part until the bass from (music by James Shimoji, SURVIVE STYLE 5+) started thumping in my chest. It’s a racing movie, so the roaring engines are crucial as well, but that danceable techno beat is the key. I definitely wouldn’t have enjoyed this as much turning the volume down out or respect for the neighbors.
It’s set in the future, when intergalactic travel is old hat. The opening text notes that despite civilization having moved beyond the wheel, there are still “fools” who celebrate it in car races. I like how this frames the subject as old school people outside of the mainstream, passionately dedicated to something they’ve been told is obsolete. Very relatable! But this really doesn’t seem like a niche hobby. When our hero unexpectedly qualifies for the titular elite competition reporters mob him like he found a Golden Ticket. (read the rest of this shit…)
A widely circulated anecdote about THE MATRIX (I believe coming from an interview on the DVD extras) says that when the Wachowskis pitched the movie to producer Joel Silver they showed him Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 anime film GHOST IN THE SHELL on video and said, “We wanna do that for real.”
