Memoirs of a Geisha

Every once in a while a movie caresses me and makes the next few days more beautiful for me. Memoirs of a Geisha is one of them. The sight of the graceful movements and gait of the geishas blew me away so much that I wished I was one for a while. Ziyi Zhang always looks fragile and influential at the same time in front of the camera. That's why she was absolutely perfect as Sayuri. Of course, praise is also due to the other actors, as I didn't notice any unnatural overacting. I am pleasantly surprised... 4.5 stars. (01/07/2012)

The truth is unfortunately that Rob Marshall gets quite lost and doesn't know where to go with this. The material is much stronger and denser than he is able to handle, and this results in a mess with some sensitive shots and scenes, but they quite often overshadowed by the typical touch of Hollywood big-budget production. The visuals and the production design, on the other hand, are superb. From the costumes, the breathtaking sets (it was filmed exclusively in Los Angeles!) to the clearly Oscar-worthy cinematography that focuses mainly on details – the cameraman excels to the fullest. The screenplay is quite routine, but that was somewhat expected. The excellent composition by John Williams adds to the overall pleasant and well-captured atmosphere. Otherwise, apart from occasional moments, it is too cold. (02/08/2006)

Rob Marshall relies on superficial attractiveness, extravagance, and exoticism. His film is not intended for the Japanese audience, as it would probably be inappropriate to cast an actress of Chinese origin in a key role. The film has great visuals, at least in the first half, with the camera gliding along the winding streets of the historic district full of undulating roofs, the graceful curves of young beauties, their meticulous make-up, and elegant kimonos. While the form is polished, the content represents a banal fairytale about how a poor girl eventually found happiness through countless hardships and obstacles, fulfilling her desires. It is shallow and, considering the excessively long runtime, quite empty. The beginning is promising, but the rawness lasts only about 15 minutes, and then it just plays along without providing any statement about the time, society, or specific characters. Though Memoirs of a Geisha looks nearly perfect, it lacks spirit and without it, it is only halfway there. It resembles Christmas decorations - beautiful at first sight, shiny, but hollow and with a short lifespan. Overall impression: 45%. (05/03/2017)

What can it be like when a Hollywood director decides to do a movie on a Japanese topic? Opulent, megalomaniac, romantic and in many respects also respectful of the culture. And I kind of think that this is a success. (02/11/2019)

Noble near-boredom. It’s as if Rob Marshall didn’t know what he was making a film about, what culture he was operating in, what to emphasize and what was secondary. The only things that make this pile of sexless scenes interesting are the solid actors and John Williams’s beautiful music. Something is also salvaged by the last two minutes (with nicely mixed background colors), which, though destroying the impression of the intentionally non-Hollywood subject, give the film the emotional counterpoint necessary for the satisfaction of mainstream viewers. (01/13/2006)