Audition - by Takashi Miike

**spoilers ahead**

Just saw the film tonight. I loved it - but there are many out there who don't. As I was watching, I came to understand that I was in a different movie than I thought. Perhaps this is what is so disappointing to some. When you see an infamous Miike film, you expect a horror film in the purest sense and I don't think that is what Audition is. The final scene has given this film a reputation - that to me is unfortunate. It might "have" to be in there but it is a shame it does- because forever Audition will be the film with the crazy final 10 minutes.

I saw the film as really a Japanese Fatal Attraction. It was horrible to me that this man, who is portrayed as a normal guy with sensible wants and needs - someone we can relate to and sympathize with, did what he did to the women he "auditions". Who treats who like crap first...? He objectifies them does he not? Sometimes there is a price to pay for doing such things. An extreme price in this film but still - it was hard for me to really feel horrible for the fate that he himself set into motion. Both characters get a horrible payback for how they treat each other.

Miike also touches on sexual obsession. To men, everything is about sex. As Aoyama is hallucinating before he is going to die he still feels guilt for his desires (Son's girlfriend) and failed flings (his secretary). Even the torture scenes are undeniably sexual - maybe that is just my interpretation (I am a guy after all). Miike wanted me to feel that way. Maybe his entire point? The way she straddles him, the way she looks, and even the way she talks (deeper....deeper...deeper...). She is almost her most feminine in this scene. It should make lots of us males feel ashamed.

It is amazingly directed but one scene really struck me as brilliant. When the two are on their second date - talking in the diner - there is something off-putting. I backed up my DVD and watched it again - and again. Finally I saw a misedit. I watched it again at 1/12th speed. There is a camera move from one frame to another. Not cut wrong where a character moves- but a camera move of just a few inches. It was odd to me - 5 seconds later there is a more obvious jarring cut while Aoyama is talking. It was intentional but why? Later in the film the entire scene is replayed but from her perspective. No such odd cuts this time. I just felt it amazing that he would do just the tiniest thing to make you remember the scene and let you know that something just isnt right. Later I thought - which way did it really happen? Her way or his? Did she distort becuase of lonliness or did he because of lonliness and horniness?

We think for one minute that Miike is letting us off of the hook when the film cuts back to their first night together. We say to ourselves -Oh...it was just a dream. He has learnt his lesson and he can lead a normal life. But this is not Fatal Attraction. No easy ending from Miike. He has to pay...and so do we. The final scene is brutal.....

Sorry I was long winded and I probably am thinking about this film differently from everyone else but it was thought provoking....
Not the horror film I was expecting but something WAY more interesting.


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