The Movie
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Directed by Rob Marshall and staring Ziyi Zhang as Sayuri, Ken Wantanabe as the Chairman, and Michelle Yeoh as Mameha, the movie adaptation went on to win three academy awards (Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Cinematography, and Best Achievement in Costume Design) and was nominated for best picture in 2006.
For full cast and crew, to see other nominations, or awards won, please click here.
Despite winning a few Oscars and other international awards, many critics greatly disliked the movie. One complaint being that Zhang is a Chinese actress playing a Japanese role. Other critics dislike the dialogue or the inaccurate portrayal of geisha, claiming that the movie portrays them solely as prostitutes, which they were not. Most critics agree that the movie's cinematography and the costumes are exquisite, but the plot and characters are lacking.
For full cast and crew, to see other nominations, or awards won, please click here.
Despite winning a few Oscars and other international awards, many critics greatly disliked the movie. One complaint being that Zhang is a Chinese actress playing a Japanese role. Other critics dislike the dialogue or the inaccurate portrayal of geisha, claiming that the movie portrays them solely as prostitutes, which they were not. Most critics agree that the movie's cinematography and the costumes are exquisite, but the plot and characters are lacking.
Movie Reviews
The New York Times:
"Mr. Marshall can't rescue the film from its embarrassing screenplay or its awkward Chinese-Japanese-Hollywood culture klatch, but "Memoirs of a Geisha" is one of those bad Hollywood films that by virtue of their production values nonetheless afford a few dividends, in this case, fabulous clothes and three eminently watchable female leads" (Dargis, 20005). To read the full review, click here.
Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun Times:
"I suspect that the more you know about Japan and movies, the less you will enjoy "Memoirs of a Geisha." Much of what I know about Japan I have learned from Japanese movies, and on that basis I know this is not a movie about actual geishas, but depends on the romanticism of female subjection" (Ebert, 2005). To read the full review, click here.
Los Angeles Times:
"Nothing against kimonos, especially kimonos this exquisite, but director Rob Marshall's pageantry-plus adaptation of the Arthur Golden bestseller is all fabric and no flesh, a case of pretty pictures relaying the basics of a story beloved by book clubs the world over" (Phillips, 2005). To read the full review, click here.
USA Today:
"With its gorgeous cinematography, costumes and production design, Geisha is a visual feast, but it lacks emotional heft and leaves the viewer strangely unsatisfied" (Puig, 2005). To read the full review, click here.
"Mr. Marshall can't rescue the film from its embarrassing screenplay or its awkward Chinese-Japanese-Hollywood culture klatch, but "Memoirs of a Geisha" is one of those bad Hollywood films that by virtue of their production values nonetheless afford a few dividends, in this case, fabulous clothes and three eminently watchable female leads" (Dargis, 20005). To read the full review, click here.
Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun Times:
"I suspect that the more you know about Japan and movies, the less you will enjoy "Memoirs of a Geisha." Much of what I know about Japan I have learned from Japanese movies, and on that basis I know this is not a movie about actual geishas, but depends on the romanticism of female subjection" (Ebert, 2005). To read the full review, click here.
Los Angeles Times:
"Nothing against kimonos, especially kimonos this exquisite, but director Rob Marshall's pageantry-plus adaptation of the Arthur Golden bestseller is all fabric and no flesh, a case of pretty pictures relaying the basics of a story beloved by book clubs the world over" (Phillips, 2005). To read the full review, click here.
USA Today:
"With its gorgeous cinematography, costumes and production design, Geisha is a visual feast, but it lacks emotional heft and leaves the viewer strangely unsatisfied" (Puig, 2005). To read the full review, click here.
Videos
The following video is the official Memoirs of a Geisha movie trailer.
The following video is an interview with Ziyi Zhang about her role in the movie.
The following video is a sound clip of "Sayuri's Theme Song" from the movie soundtrack.
The following video will begin the movie, which you can watch in its entirety via YouTube.
The last clip is a dance Sayuri does in the movie. After watching this clip, check out this site's "Life of a Geisha" page to compare traditional geisha dances with the cinematic version.