I just noticed that the trailer for Memoirs of a Geisha is online. As all movie trailers seem to do, it makes it look like one hell of an action packed flick. Of course I was keen to see if those murmurings about pancake makeup being deemed too scary were true, but the jury is still a bit out on that one. I did see some of the white stuff, but frankly I’m not sure how often geishas/maikos wear it, or in what situations they’re required to.
While the film has a bit of a train wreck waiting to happen appeal to it, and while the hormones wouldn’t mind getting more face time with the Chinese leads (especially Michelle Yeoh), I couldn’t help but get a sickening feeling watching the trailer. Hard to pinpoint, but something due to that manipulative nature of trailers, the way the edits and the soaring violins and suspense-laden percussions work their magic. Temptation Island meets The Last Samurai.
A fictionalized trailer (as noted) about a fictionalized production (Chinese actresses, cardboard Gion, et al.) about a fictionalized account (Golden). One never expects the real deal with these things, but do we much consider how far away they actually are?