GOOD MORNING SHOW
Original Title
グッドモーニングショー
Guddo m?ningu sh?
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Release : Oct-8-2016 Duration : 104min. ©︎2016 Fuji Television Network, Toho
STAFF
Director : Ryoichi Kimizuka (NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME) Screenplay : Ryoichi Kimizuka (REUNION) Cinematography : Naoki Kayano (LOCK-ON LOVE) CAST
Kiichi Nakai (Hit Me Anyone One More Time) Masami Nagasawa (The Confidence Man JP -The Movie-) Mirai Shida (Laplace’s Witch)
INTRODUCTION
A winner of Montreal and Japan Academy Prize, veteran director and screenwriter, Ryoichi Kimizuka, (“Bayside Shakedown” series, “Nobody to Watch Over Me”) brings his thorough knowledge of the television industry and experience as a teleplay writer to bear with the subject of his latest film: the morning variety show. Combining news, sports, entertainment, food fashion trends, and daily life information, the so called “morning wide show” format offers viewers a little bit of everything to jump-start their day and get ratings. Serving as main host of one such show is Shingo Sumida, a former television news reporter trying to salvage his tv career. But on this especially unlucky day, he finds himself beset by a host of challenges. First, his beautiful co-host plans to announce live on the air that they’re in a romantic relationship. Then, the show’s producer informs Shingo that the show is being canceled. When news breaks about an armed man creating a hostage crisis downtown, the embattled Shingo finds himself at the center of that mess, too. His wits and sincerity, career and privacy are hanging on the cliffhanging edge between Good Morning and Nightmare in Live TV show.
An all-Star Cast Spins Premium-grade, comedy entertainment
In the role of Shingo Sumida is the versatile, A-list film and television actor Kiichi Nakai (Princess Toyotomi, Owl's Castle), whose resume spans comedy to serious drama and NHK historical dramas. And yet this is his first time playing a television program host. Nakai brings his prodigious talent for portraying flawed characters who struggle with mediocrity to Sumida, a former “anchorman” of a top news program who was forced to step down after a botched report in the field. His career is rescued by a friend and producer, who gets him on a morning show as its main host and emcee. But things aren't going well. Sumida is ridiculed by his own family, and his delusional female co-host, Keiko Ogawa, threatens to divulge on air that the two are having an affair, having misinterpreted their relationship. Keiko is portrayed by nationally-beloved actress and multiple hit film star, Masami Nagasawa (Our Little Sister), who herself is playing a television broadcaster for the first time and relishes the opportunity to play such an eccentric character. This never-before pairing of Nakai and Nagasawa promises to deliver some great onscreen repartee. They are supported by Mirai Shida (Nobody To Watch Over Me) as rookie show host, Saya Miki; Saburo Tokito as Satoshi Ishiyama, Sumida’s producer and sympathetic coeval, Yoh Yoshida as Sumida’s wife and former television broadcaster, Gaku Hamada as the armed nutcase who takes over a building, and Yutaka Matsushige as the special tactical forces cop charged with resolving the standoff and the hostage crisis. The film is rounded out by other great character actor, including Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Kento Hayashi, Zen Kajihara, Haruka Kinami, and Shunsuke Daitoh.
Director Ryoichi Kimizuka began his career as a television screenwriter, quickly rising to the top of his field and branching out to writer for landmark variety shows like “Kinchan’s Kaso Taisho”. He has written many hit drama series and films over the years including the massively popular “Bayside Shakedown” franchise. Variety programs, called “wide shows”, have long been popular mainstays of Japanese television entertainment. “The Wide Show is television,” says Kimizuka. But with more and more people abandoning conventional television viewing for online viewing, such programs are increasingly having to fight tooth-and-nail for ratings, which means that anything goes. Tiffs between producers and directors, conflicts between information programs and news reporting, inclusion of viewer voices and behind-the-scenes episodes have all become fair grist for generating higher ratings. This film spotlights the excitement and agitation of a modern-day, live television host with a sublime mixture of seriousness, satire and sympathetic affection.
Kiichi Nakai, Masami Nagasawa and Ryoichi Kimizuka spin an uproariously cynical original comedy that will put a smile on your face. The Morning Show premieres nationwide at Toho theaters starting October, 2016.
STORY
Shingo Sumida is host of the “Good Morning Show”. Formerly a reporter and anchor for a news program, he was forced into retirement due to public outcry after a controversial report he filed at a disaster site, an incident that has left him petrified of in-the-field reporting. His career is saved by a producer friend and colleague, Satoshi Ishiyama, who gets him the morning show gig.
On this particular day, Sumida has just left home after arguing with his wife and son at 3 in the morning - his wake up time. In the car to work, he gets a call from his co-host, Keiko Ogawa, who presses him to announce today on air that the two are dating. She mistakenly believes that they are an item. On top of that, Sumida is informed by producer Ishiyama that the program is going to be canceled, with no part in the replacement show. Sumida is crestfallen. Just then, breaking news comes in of a man who has barricaded himself in a Tokyo cafe with weapons and explosives. The Morning Show turns its full attention to covering the incident as it unfolds. To everyone’s surprise, the perpetrator demands that Sumida be sent to him. Sumida, flashing back on the traumatic experience of in-the-field reporting, refuses. But his producer orders him there in compliance with police requests. Plus, it is sure to boost ratings. Sumida heads for the crime site relieved at least that the on-air confession by Keiko has been averted. On site, he is fitted with a camera, mic, and bullet-proof vest, while footage of him going to meet the armed criminal is aired live across the country. Meanwhile, back at the studio, Keiko is in control as the main host in Sumida’s stead in a position where she could say or do anything. But there is a time limit: the end of the program’s time slot. If the armed man isn’t apprehended before the show’s scheduled ending, the bomb will go off.
With every second of tension that passes for Sumida, the viewer ratings rise. Nothing like this has ever happened before. A variety show host taking on an armed gunman? With all eyes of the nation on Sumida, he is the news. But will he be able to save the hostages and himself?
