Mark Schilling Review of "The Uchoten Hotel"
Koki Mitani's...new ensemble drama, "The Uchoten Hotel" , is a frothy mix of comedy and drama, at times in the same scene. It's entertainment as an ingeniously staged, tightly orchestrated three-ring circus, minus the rings -- though there is a magic act, not to mention a lost duck and a clownish elderly gent in white makeup...His main attraction is Shindo (Koji Yakusho), the hotel deputy manager, who looks the picture of smooth competence as he and his harried staff prepare for New Year's Eve events, including a reception honoring a deer research association's Man of the Year...more...
This film took about $5 million on its opening weekend which rivals last year's best domestic offerings. Koki Mitani is best known overseas for "Rajio no Jikan" (aka "Welcome Back, Mr McDonald"). I think it might be illegal to write an article about him without mentioning Billy Wilder.
