I've waited for this movie since the first announcement: not for the story itself, but because I was almost sure that I would have liked a movie with Toma. And I was right: actually, in this first movie, nothing important happens (but, from the preview, probably in the next one something more will happen). Even the story isn't so particular: he, her, the dead ex-girlfriend. The girl and the guy are different, but still fall in love with each other; he has some hurtful memories and is glued to his past, she suffers because of this, but somehow they manage to stay together.
Not really original, yes.
But Japan knows how to make this kind of movies without them being boring: it uses lights, landscapes, music, good actors, and manages to make two hours fly away, even if nothing special happens. And you don't feel bored.
First of all: cast and characters.
I've watched a lot of things with Yoshitaka Yuriko, but I still think that she's a strange actress... but I don't mean it in a bad way. When you hear her talking, you wouldn't give her 10 cents, nonethless you see her acting and think that she's actually good. Good in her own way, but good. I've seen her playing a lot of different characters, and I've always liked her performances.
Her character, Nanako, is a strong girl, and maybe is one of the characters I liked more, in this movie... more than Yano anyway. At least she knows what she wants from the very beginning, even if she knows it'll make her suffer.
Then, Toma. Honestly, I don't like his character, Yano, so much. I don't know, I always have some problems with that kind of guys. Anyway, he was seriously awesome. I loved him.
I know that he's too old for playing the role of a high-school boy... I mean, they can dye his hair how much they want, but you can clearly see that he's 10 years older than Yano. Especially when he smiles. But you know what? I think that the movie's Yano was so good exactly because the actor was older. That tired face, that air of a kid who has grown up too fast... they contributed to portray his despair. And I don't know how many of those young 'actors' who are so popular nowadays (and when I say 'young' I mean boys of Yano's age, not guys in their twenties... because among them there are some pretty good actors) have the ability to do such a good job.
So, who cares about all the 'He's too old for the role!' comments. He was perfect.
(and yeah, Toma acting in comedies is adorable, but I think he shows his real potential with more serious roles, because his way of acting is really intense. And I really don't get why people say that his best performance was in Hana Kimi O_O)
I would also like to spend few words for Takaoka Sousuke. He's an actor that I knew through one of my favourite dramas (Rookies), and I didn't remember that he was in Bokura ga Ita. For those who don't know him, he's Miyazaki Aoi's ex-husband, and maybe most of you read about all the troubles he had last year (even if most of people stayed on his ex-wife's side O___O). Anyway, it was a surprise seeing him there, and I was happy about it. I sincerely hope he'll soon return to acting, because he's really good ç_ç
I wanted give this movie 7 points out of 10... but I'll give it at least 8, and the reason is only one: the ending. Those few minutes touched me a lot and made me cry... and I like when things make me cry (and this is also the reason why Koizora wasn't such a great movie, for me: yeah, the story was sad, but I didn't cry at all...)
