WHITE ON RICE-THEATRICAL TRAILER from Dave Boyle on Vimeo.
bigWOWO Rating: Asian American Silver
(Minor spoilers to follow. You all might be able to see this On Demand with your cable service.)
This one was a hard one to rate. Everything was good about this movie except the main character. The main character, a creepy FOB name Hajime who goes by the name Jimmy, is deadweight to what otherwise was a fun movie. Sometimes dorky characters are endearing, but this dork is creepy and obnoxious. He lost me at the first ten minutes or so when he humiliates a tall Japanese woman with whom his sister Aiko sets him up. After that scene, he never redeemed himself in the eyes of this WOWO. It didn’t help that he was chasing a woman half his age. Creepy. He singlehandedly brought this movie down from a gold to a silver.
That being said, let’s talk about what is good about this movie. Lynn Chen and James Kyson Lee were great. Chen lit up the screen as one of the main female costars. She has real star power–I hope she gets more leading roles. And Kyson–man, the guy is so cool without his Heroes accent. He shocked me with his acting talent–between Heroes and this movie, he showed the range of his abilities. Nae and Mio Takada were awesome in both English and Japanese as Aiko and Taku, the Japanese couple working on spicing up their marriage. The kid who played Bob was excellent, despite the fact that just about all his dialogue is with adults, rather than other kids. There are lots of attractive people in this movie.
One of the benefits of being an Asian American blogger is that people sometimes e-mail you about cool things. I knew that it was On Demand (cost=$4.99) because one of the promoters e-mailed me. I think a lot of the carriers have it, so if you have cable, check it out. You can see my last thoughts below if you click “show” below (with spoilers). If not, let me just say that even though I couldn’t stand the main character, this one is worth a look.
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I haven’t watched the movie, but the main character did look a little creepy, and not in a funny way.
Talk about synchronicity, B! I just did my review of another indie AA film with Lynn Chen and James Kyson Lee:
Movie Review: Why Am I Doing This?
Alpha,
He was totally creepy. And he was such a jerk. He seriously dug a big hole for himself when he verbally undercut that poor Japanese woman. It was totally uncalled for. He kept doing boneheaded things even after that. I had zero sympathy for him; I kept wanting to see him get hit by a bus or something (the character, not the actor!).
Man, I actually read your review before seeing this movie, but I totally blanked on the fact that these movies had the same actors in it! My bad! I think it was my first time actually seeing Lynn Chen on screen. She was amazing! And Kyson–the Heroes character Ando was good, but this role showed how much ability he really has. I guess this is how stars are created–they show such a breakout performance that people remember them. After seeing them here, I don’t think I’ll forgot them next time!
Actually, when I read your review, I was wondering how I might rent it. Your review convinced me that it was good enough to see but not worth buying. My money went to White on Rice largely because it was so easy to order. Seriously, more of these indies should take advantage of YouTube’s rental setup (as Children of Invention did) or On Demand. People like me who live in non-diverse places and who don’t have Netflix won’t get to see it otherwise.
Nevermind the movie. I do not care for the title.
White on Rice? What’s that supposed to mean anyway?
Actually, when I read your review, I was wondering how I might rent it. Your review convinced me that it was good enough to see but not worth buying.
Well I can certainly mail you my copy that I got from the company marketing the film. I got to warn you though: it was tough sitting through the movie in one sitting.
Email me your address, and I ‘ll send it to you.
Nevermind the movie. I do not care for the title.
White on Rice? What’s that supposed to mean anyway?
This is where Siegfried turns up. He’s White and he’s been rice chasing for years.
This is where Siegfried turns up. He’s White and he’s been rice chasing for years.
Hmmmm. I see.
Going by this logic, I guess that would make me “butter on bread” or something like that.
I also have no idea why it’s called White on Rice. There was no White main character to be “on rice.”
Alpha, glad you gave it an open and right review. I know at least one company was PISSED that I said something negative about a DVD they sent me (even though my review was 80% positive).
it was tough sitting through the movie in one sitting.
To be honest, it was tough sitting through that three minute trailer you posted. But if Tamlyn Tomita is in it, it can’t be that bad, right?
I’ll send you my address.
Well, regardless of what it means, I find myself getting weary of Asian-American films titles with words like rice, banana, bamboo, lotus, dim sum, joy, luck…you get the drift.
Haha.
“White on rice” means something that cannot be shaken off or eluded.
As useless as trying to shake the whiteness off of rice.
Example: “Chis was jockin’ on my single cousin like white on rice!”
I’ve also heard the terms:
“He was all over you like a cheap suit” or “like flies on…”
Haha! Hey, we can compromise Notty, and make it a cheap white suit!
Why not go all the way and make it a rice paper suit? :-p
LOL!
O.K., now you’re just sounding eerily like Master Po.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CudGbXbfHUM/SUktprh_hNI/AAAAAAAAAxs/oCqiCq4X5Io/s1600-h/master_po
Master Po & rice suits. You just lined things up for the perfect fart joke…but I’ve done enough damage.
I guess you can only pull this of if you’re Bill Murray (or Steve Martin).
Just found out that James Kyson Lee and I graduated from the same high school. We were apart 1 or 2 years.
I am disappointed in your review. I watched White on Rice in the movie theatre during the premiere in NYC, and even purchased the DVD. Everyone who attended the showing had enjoyed the movie, many of them laughing well past the punchlines and scenes.
Jimmy was portrayed that way, as an awkward Japanese man juxtaposed with Asian Americans who conformed (Isei versus Nisei, etc.). The movie was shown from his point of view as an outsider, a spectator to the American Dream, the American way of life. The whole movie revolves around him! I’m sorry but if you can’t move beyond your initial impressions of the protagonist, what are you doing writing reviews?
@simon tsui
The audience i saw it with were also rolling in the aisles and shitting bricks. but thats because the popcorn was laced with laxative.
By the way heres a review from a ‘real’ film critic. With a name like David Noh, i’m guessing he’s asian.
Take a look:
http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3i9f906f8e814991e17d0798e104717f31
If you’re asian with a name like Simon Tsui…what are you doing hawking shitty white man’s asian fetish films? F’ king sellout.