The Ramen Girl (2009)

Touches You

Best movie of this year hands down!

A lot of fun.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I had to look up ramen and see how it is made and what it is made up, outside of pork and ready made instant noodlesIf U want a pretty intense well acted dark comedy with drama and romance you will probably like this movie. If U want this movie to deliver on its synopses, U will be disappointed like me.I can recommend a movie which is all of the above and focuses on food preparation , it was made in south Korea and is called 'Doenjang {later titled - the recipe}', its much better than this in all categories except for acting.

I'm very interested in Japanese culture and I love films that show the contrast between life in Japan and in the West, usually through the eyes of a visiting westerner. This is sometimes pulled of very successfully (for example in 'Tokyo Pop'), but sometimes less so. For me 'Ramen Girl' falls in the latter category.Other reviewers commented that Brittany Murphy shines in her role as the naive American visitor, but for me the Japanese supporting cast are the stars of the film. Murphy is not a bad actress, but I found the way she portrayed the emotions and reactions of Abby theatrical and overblown in an almost anime-like way. That may be a valid take in a different context, but here it falls flat because the Japanese characters around her are portrayed in a much more subtle and sensitive way. The ramen shop owner (Toshiyuki Nishida) is gruff and irritable, but real emotions shimmer through at key moments in the film. His wife (Kimiko Yo) is the classical obedient Japanese spouse but there are moments when she gives guarded criticism or shows small but secret acts of rebellion. The restaurant regulars and the ramen master add comical notes, but without slipping into the grotesque.There were aspects of the plot that were too implausible for me to pass over. Most irritating for me was the fact that Abby still only understood a handful of Japanese words after working in the restaurant for more than a year. It also seems strange she managed to hold on to a fairly large (for Tokyo) apartment on the pittance she must have received as an apprentice. Overall though, this is a gentle, entertaining little film with an unexpected ending and well worth watching at least once.

I came across this movie while cruising through the cable movie channels and chose it out of curiosity, not knowing more than that (the late) Brittany Murphy was in "Clueless." What a wonderful treat it turned out to be. The movie poster/DVD cover attached to this film is ridiculous. Obviously, the marketing department didn't know how to handle the story. Despite how Murphy's character, "Abby," is portrayed in the art, she never wears a red, sexy kimono and heels. And, she never has that submissive, come-hither expression on her face. Instead, this is the story of an overly attached girlfriend who, upon being dumped and left alone in Tokyo, decides to dig into herself and find her own strength. She fights through obstacles and challenges to be true to her own path. She grows into a self-determined character who defies typical "romance" storyline expectations. The supporting characters are intriguing and it's a shame we don't learn more about them, but the film still works. Murphy portrays "Abby" naturally, with quirky sweetness and unexpected strength. Too bad the marketing department did such an injustice to this film. It's a rare story about a strong, young woman. Shame on the marketers for trying to hide a positive story behind that silly packaging.

Konnichiwa (Hello)Not all Asian movies are about martial arts or vengeful evil spirits. This is one such film that boldly goes on to prove just that. It is about culture, tradition, attitude, and endurance of the human spirit. Eventually, what it comes down to is a face-off between the perfectionism of the East versus the arrogance of the West, albeit in not as many words. Incorporated into an almost well written script are ample reasons illustrating exactly what makes the Japanese tick; what makes them strive for perfection and why they put their heart and soul into everything they do. I say almost well written, because the film holds its ground all the way only to end abruptly. That being said, it has a feel good ending which satisfies, nonetheless. When Abbey travels to Tokyo to spend time with her expatriate boyfriend Ethan, she has no clue of the rude shock awaiting her arrival. Even before she can unpack, Abbey is literally dumped on the sidewalk while Ethan takes off with no promise of return. Abandoned in this beautiful city yet unable to speak a word of Japanese, her life seems meaningless to a point where she suffers a mental breakdown while visiting a local noodle (ramen) house. When the proprietor reluctantly offers some solace, Abbey naively embarks on a journey of self esteem and acceptance. Soon, her interest in Japanese culture draws her in to the art of preparing the ultimate bowl of ramen, but not before enduring intolerable psychological torment from her teacher, Maezumi. Although the film claims to be a romantic comedy, elements of romance are very subtle, while humor pops up when you least expect it. As such, humor is manifested in scenes similar to when The Bride first meets the legendary sword craftsman Hattori Hanzō, in "Kill Bill: vol 1". This is clearly due to the language barrier, yet scripting is such that when the lead actors blurt out insults and abuse in their native language, the message goes across through visual disgust from sheer body language. Dialogue in this regard gives an authentic touch to the setting, even though subtitles interpret most Japanese conversations. Acting on the other hand, could have been better coming from Brittany Murphy as Abbey. Murphy's usual melodramatic style of acting complete with weird facial expressions are repeated, but somehow seems unfitting in her role here as an American struggling to understand the instructions of a Japanese cook. However, it is Toshiyuki Nishida who steals the show as the ramen cook turned master. Even with English subtitles, Nishida's portrayal of a tyrannical sensei is fascinating and his persona as a charismatic actor is evidently clear in all his scenes. Once Again, Japanese perfection.Speaking of Japan, director Robert Allan Ackerman has skillfully presented Far-Eastern culture and traditions through genuine locations, props and background music. This is not just a film on how to cook noodles, rather, rendering of the human spirit into anything that celebrates life, love and people, no matter where we come from. Considering his transition from TV movies to this debut theatrical release, Ackerman not only delivers a creative and original story fusing Eastern and Western way of thinking, but in the process announces his arrival in feel-good cinema. All in all, a decent film that takes a clever stab at cross-cultural communication and triumph against all odds. As in the end, when push comes to shove, each one of us really has what it to takes to make a difference, rise above stereotypical thinking, and achieve apparently complex goals with nothing but inner strength and an honest will to succeed.And, for what its worth, there a few easy to pick up Japanese phrases thrown in, just in case Arigatou (Thank you).