The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese (2020)

Very powerful movie

I really enjoyed this movie. It felt dark, and gritty. I loved the characters, even with all their flaws and insecurities. I really felt the emotional turmoil from Wataru. I enjoyed seeing Kyoichi’s journey to find himself, and figuring out what true love really is. I liked the symbolism of him sitting in the chair, like now HE’S the one waiting... This movie is raw, heartbreaking at times, and beautifully performed. The sex scenes between the two characters really revealed their inner passions, and they felt like the most honest, and emotionally revealing scenes in the movie. Both actors did a fantastic job. This movie is about finding yourself, having the courage to accept who you really are, finding love, or rather recognizing love when you’ve found it, and the heartbreaking journey to love and accept the one who is right for you. I loved it! The actors are hot, and the sex scenes are also hot, and beautifully heartwarming at the same time. It was absolutely beautiful. I definitely recommend watching this movie.

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A story of a cat and a cornered mouse

Note: This character-driven movie has explicit sexual content and nudity.

STORY (No spoilers)
What happens when a cat who fell in love with a promiscuous mouse long ago decides to back it into a corner? Both are from different worlds and both come with their own personal baggages. Can they make it work?

I've read the manga on which the movie was based - it's one of my favourites because the main characters in it were incredibly flawed and insecure people but their insecurities and issues were just so relatable and understandable, I found myself immersed in their characters and in their story. Now, as an adaptation of the manga itself, I'd give this movie a 65% score in terms of its closeness to the original work i.e. it was generally faithful in broad strokes and in some detailed places, but there were still fairly noticeable differences, especially in terms of character vibe and personality and in some event modifications. Hence, I can understand why fans of the manga might feel disappointed or dissatisfied with this adaptation.

However, I'm going out on a limb here to say that I actually still appreciated this work despite the changes made to it. The movie had none of the internal monologues of the original but through the way scenes were presented and acted, we could still understand the internal turmoil and struggles of the characters and their changing perspectives/ feelings and that was a personal testament that both the acting and the direction of the movie was excellent.

There were also quite a few things about this movie that really fascinated me - some of the dialogue, the choice and arrangement of certain scenes, the camerawork, the use of imagery, lighting and sound, etc. The way it was filmed and presented gave off a gritty, moody, sometimes lonely and desolate vibe, and there was something about the whole combination that made me come away from this movie feeling this interesting mix of unsettled yet at peace, curious yet satisfied, sad yet happy. It's a movie that somehow struck certain chords with me and resonated in a curious way.

The best analogy I can give for my experience of this movie was like listening to a piece of music being played in minor key - the melody has certain notes and chords which give the piece a sort of asymmetrical form or disharmonic sound, but the overall tune still flows as a cohesive melodic piece which somehow evokes a myriad of feelings for the listener after it's all finished. It was beautifully haunting to me.


ACTING/ CAST
OKURA TADAYOSHI as Ootomo Kyouichi. He played a rather different Ootomo vis-a-vis the manga.
Manga!Ootomo was sort of your weak-willed-straight-guy - too accommodating, too eager to please and too easily seduced by women. Movie!Ootomo was a lot more reserved and inscrutable, more introverted and quiet, hiding a lot of thoughts underneath a silent facade. Viewers who don't know about Ootomo's background, habits and tendencies will probably find this movie!Ootomo to be very difficult to read or understand, and sometimes, even I had to pause a scene or rewatch it to try and figure out what was going on inside movie!Ootomo's head.
But, to be fair, if one takes the time to observe a little closely and to put his actions into the movie context, I found that movie!Ootomo was a very interesting and enigmatic character whose inner thoughts can actually be perceived through his actions (or non-actions, as it were). It's like, you can almost see the wheels in his head turning as he observes the situation and the people around him, especially Imagase, and internally forming his own conclusions and decisions. I liked this very subtle and nuanced portrayal.

NARITA RYO as Imagase Wataru. Again, another different portrayal from the manga counterpart.
Manga!Imagase was a very cold, aloof and well-dressed man who, only in Ootomo's presence, would become hysterical and paranoid due to his insecurities and fears. Movie!Imagase had a more laid-back and Bohemian vibe but I liked how you could so totally see his constant desperation and insecurities over Ootomo which he tries so hard to hide beneath a lackadaisical and nonchalant facade. His constant questioning and inquiring, his constant snooping and monitoring, totally expose his paranoia and his fear, and personally for me, some of Imagase's scenes were particularly beautifully directed and shot to show just how lonely and forlorn and pained he felt at times. I liked how the actor Narita Ryo was able to give off this fragile feeling during the key moments of the movie.


MUSIC
Honestly, this was the least memorable part for me. Very subtle soundtrack and score which is probably very suitable for the subdued and muted mood of the film.


RE-WATCH VALUE
If you're not too put off by the disappointing adaptation or by the fickleness and weirdness of the characters, I'd like to encourage you to consider rewatching because I personally found that I understood a lot of the hidden and subtle messages and scenes better upon a rewatch, and that made the movie even more fascinating and interesting to me.

The movie might feel a bit abrupt and truncated vis-a-vis the manga but it still a complete cohesive piece and I found the choice of certain scenes and the way the whole thing was directed gave this movie a very different style, tone and story from its original work, and I personally appreciated its almost indie-like feel.

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One of those underrated masterpieces

I saw a review saying that the movie might just have been a porno becauee of the graphic sexual content. I can't express how far over one's head the message of the movie might have gone for one to come to that conclusion.

I was shaken with tears after watching this. It gives off such a heartwrenching, melancholy, gritty, yet hopeful vibe that had me hooked from beginning to end. The characters are deeply flawed and relationship is toxic. But that's fine with me, because they don't romantize it. One of the leads tells a story of how how badly your dishonesty with yourself can hurt other people around you. The other tells a story of how badly your honesty with your feelings might hurt you, even though you have no control over them. It's a haunting image of how hard reality can knock you to the ground.

The music was really nothing special, it could have done pretty fine witout it. I feel like the plot itself is fine, but it's not what drives the story; it's the characters. One thing I loved about them was how well contrasted the characters' motivations were. One's was simple and raw, the other's complex and devious. It could not have been possible to portray this the way it was portrayed without the marvellous acting. I have not read the book so I don't know how much was changed, but the actors carried out their scripted personalities like it was a dance on roses.

This movie deserves you time. Just maybe don't watch it if you're feeling for something light hearted tonight.

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Flawed characters

I loved it. I'm gonna keep this review as vague as possible. If you are going into this thinking it's gonna be a typical bl movie then I think it might throw you off. This is not a happy, fluffy or really sweet movie. The characters are flawed and the relationship was messy. The acting though... so good and the chemistry was great. Japanese movies really kill me with their endings though. I won't go into detail, but the ending is implied, but not shown (and I get the ending but I'm just greedy and always want to see a more concrete ending if that makes sense?). There are so many subtle things that really gave impact and understanding to the characters and story. There is a lot of character growth, especially with Otomo towards the end. Honestly, it could end there and be a complete story... but I'd LOVE for a sequel. These messy characters were so engaging. I kinda want to see more of their story.

Someone in the discussion thread did a great analysis of the film that is worth reading once you finish the movie.

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Cheating and stalking, but I'm intrigued.

I had such mixed feelings about this. I despise infidelity. It's is so overdone in BL's. You also continuously worry that they will cheat again.

I mean, Otomo was just the worst. He cheated on his wife because he apparently couldn't refuse. As if it was the other woman's fault he cheated. Ehm, no. He made that choice. His wife wasn't great either, but at least she didn't lie till the very end as he did. Then he completely disregarded the other woman's feelings and ghosted her until he needed her again. Then there was the whole thing with Natsuo. Even if he didn't actually sleep with her, he was planning on it. Lastly, there was poor Okamura. He took that one way too far. He only got together with her because he no longer had Imagase. She was the nicest of all the women, and I hated how he just cast her aside when the possibility of getting back together with Imagase arose.

About Imagase, he seemed borderline obsessed with Otomo at some points. He blackmailed Otomo into kissing him/getting sexual with him at the beginning of the movie. Otomo did treat him horribly many times, but I honestly didn't feel that bad for Imagase. He should have let go of Otomo when he found out that he was indeed a cheater. Otomo never cheated on Imagase. He did, however, cheat on others with Imagase. So maybe they did deserve each other to some degree.

I'm just so very tired of the "straight guy" being in denial. The scene with Natsou showed just how insecure Otomo was. Choosing Imagase (a man) over Natsou (a woman) didn't necessarily make him gay. He obviously enjoyed sleeping with women, so at most, he'd be bi or pan, right? Whatever he was, it definitely wasn't straight. He did go to a gay bar at one point, but I wish there had been more indication of him coming to terms with his sexuality. He never told anyone about Imagase being a man.

I think he needed to be at peace with himself. That was at least what I took away from the ending. For once, he was the one waiting for Imagase. Beforehand Imagase was the one always seeking him. We could assume Otomo loved Imagase, considering he actually left Okimura when Imagase told him to. It was probably also his first time truly loving and needing someone, which was why he was willing to do it.

The last scene of Imagase made me slightly more sympathetic. He looked so broken. And that scene of Otomo sitting in the chair Imagase always sat in, waiting for him to come back, was so beautiful in a way.

Although it was a rollercoaster of emotions, I did enjoy it. We don't know how their story ended, but I honestly would feel fine with either outcome.

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A Cat and a Dog

This is the story of Wataru, who has been (secretly) in love with a straight uni mate, Otomo, for the past 7 - 8 years. They lost touched after graduation, and bumped into each other again, when Wataru was hired by Otomo's wife to gather evidence of Otomo's infidelity (to gain more alimony). And boy, there were plenty of O's affairs.
From the uni days, O is known as a serial dater, unable to stay faithful and this continued on even after his marriage.
The price for burying the evidence, they had a sexual relationship. And O wife divorced him, thinking he is the perfect husband.
Both of them, moved in together and that is how their relationship started.
So can u imagine, from Wataru's perspective, he is in love with a self declared straight (serial adulterer) man, who is seeking for a long term hetero relationship. Otomo is good looking, tactful, polished, successful, and over all good catch, that sleeps around. Not a very good basis for a relationship right.
So even, Otomo has changed, asked Wataru to move in with him, and by staying faithful to Wataru, the insecurities and doubts were too much to handle.
They broke up, each trying to get the relationship they are seeking for - Otomo, a woman who will cook long time stew for him and Wataru, a guy who is more affectionate and who is able to provide him with a sense of security.
This was not the ending...am not going to spoil the ending.
The story plot is strong, fast and the knives are deep. Many times, I needed to replay, to read the dialog again, to brain the scene. The character has so much layers and multi dimensional, you will hate a certain behavior, esp Otomo's unfaithfulness and his inability to communicate and gives assurance to Wataru. For Wataru, you want to strangle him, have a little bit more dignity, dun keep going back to Otomo, have a little bit more bottom line, and yet, can really understand him, why he kept coming back to Otomo. Then the last part....you fight for what you want for so long, just need one more step to achieve it, and you let go...haiz...

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Great movie, you have to watch it

According to a lot of people there are a lot of nudity and explicit love scenes in this movie. I agree, there are some love scenes in it, but it is important to the story and the only thing you see are some naked buts. What you do see in the love scenes are the emotions and the passion which the main leads have for each other, and that is one of the things which make the movie so beautiful.

But before there are any love scenes happening, there has a lot of work to be done by the gay main lead because his loved one is convinced that he is totally straight, he is adulterous and married. It is lovely to watch how that adulterous guy is tamed and in the end realises that his guy friend is the one that he really wants. It sounds like a sweet, fluffy and fairytalish movie, but that is totally untrue. The movie is romantic in a raw and and realistic way because of the wonderful acting of the both main actors, who are very handsome and a perfect fit for their roles.

I never watched a movie several times except this one, the best film of 2020.

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The struggle of two imperfect people

I don't know what it is about this movie, but it just captures me.

Especially Imagase, extremly well played by Narita Ryo. He is so desperate to be close to the person he loves, I felt so heartbroken for him in many scenes. He has so many insecurities and yes, he is kind of a stalker and blackmailer, but I felt so sorry for him!
Don't get me wrong , Okura Tadayoshi plays the indecisiveness of his character really well, I screamed so many times at the screen "Do something!".
And then there are the moments he really does something. Like letting Imagase sleep with him (I really felt this was kind of a sacrifice in order to keep Imagase in his life because otherweise he would loose him). And then, when he tops Imagase, that was THE moment of pure passion.
I think the ending in the manga is better than in the movie (for my romantic heart because it left room for a happy end). But I guess the movie-ending is more realistic.
Nevertheless it is great movie and definitely worth watching, if you want to be part of story about two people who are stuggeling with themselves. This is not a classic love-story but it is deep and mature, therefor I loved it.

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An ok adapation of the manga from a viewpoint of a manga fan

So as a superfan of the original manga I was REALLY LOOKING FORWARD to this movie and my view may be different to others who will view this movie (ie who have NOT read the manga or fans of Narita and Okura). I am also quite the fan of Narita Ryo (man that can do no wrong).

Overall I am disapointed. Basically I think the movie lacks the emotional impact and attachment from the main character Kyouichi. I was emotionally attached to Kyouichi in the manga but in the movie not so much. The movie lacked a lot of the emotional drama from the manga, to me it felt like a slice of life movie with various scenes/events playing one after the other. But I can't help to bring myself to hate this movie because I love the original manga that much and I still think the acting, production, direction value is still really good.

Okura as Kyouichi: Flat is how I would summarise it. He's good looking, but Kyouichi is a very emotional "wishy washy" type of character that is maniuplated emotionally a lot in the manga. I felt like when watching Okura that he was just "there" and trying to react when he needed to. He looked so emotionless in that sex scene with the girl and ONLY I thought in the sex scene where he tops Imagase I saw that passion in him. I mean he has a nice butt though LOL.

Narita as Imagase: I think Narita did well as Imagase, he acted and spoke in a gay way without being overly gay (if that makes any sense). He's a VERY laid back character compared to his manga counterpart. But when he gets emotional I could see it from him. But for a Narita role it's the most tonned down I've seen so far from him.

Chemistry: It's there in particular the roof scene and near to last sex scene I saw it. I like the casual banner between the two. But I was expecting MORE aguments and there was'nt much (in the manga there's SO MUCH aguments). Maybe the tonned down characters made the movie a more realistic.

There's a scene where after Kyouichi and Imagase break up, Imagase comes back to stalk Kyouichi after he gets together with Tamaki. Asking to get back together with him and Kyouichi clearly rejects him saying "I don't need you anymore" BUT THE SCENE RIGHT AFTER when he sends Tamaki home he goes straight to Imagase and they have sex?? and my brain stopped working..

Females: What happened? I think the only important one was Tamaki (she was fine). But for me there was a lot of loopholes. Like Natsuki just left after a point without chasing Kyouichi any further, I don't know if Kyouichi managed to break off with that girl he was just sleeping around with (I think he just stopped seeing her).

Music: Not really there, there's a few tracks here and there but for the most you don't see it.

Rewatching: EVEN THOUGH I was disapointed, This movie got a lot of hidden meanings to it like the gay bar scene. I can't help to go back and watch it to analysis every scene. That's why I am rating that high.

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Better Upon 2nd Viewing.

Updated Jan 2024. I watched this again knowing that I had found both characters really unlikable the first time, and was actually able to appreciate the story more. So I've raised my rating from a 4.5 to a 6.5.

While both characters are morally dark grey (cheating and coercion/dub-con/stalking), Otomo does have character growth. The changes are incremental and very subtle until the end when his actions suddenly make the extent of his internal growth obvious. Upon second viewing, I was able to empathize with his character a lot sooner (40min before the ending instead of 7min before).

Imagase, on the other hand, has no growth and is not fleshed out. He was just as 2-dimensional in my second viewing as he was in the first. Also, it's hard *not* to feel like whatever misery he feels, he brought upon himself (multiple times). He may be kind of pitiable, but I still struggled to sympathize with him because he was just one thing on repeat: an obsessed gay man who was very insecure about his straight friend/lover whom he kept pushing into an intimate relationship.

The way Imagase is written remains my biggest dissatisfaction with the film.

As with the first viewing, I was not that invested in the characters because, first, they aren't likeable, and second, because their connection lacks depth and affection (there doesn't seem much reason for them to like each other except for maybe being able to be comfortable around each other, which isn't nothing, but there's not a lot of that shown either). However, already knowing what I didn't like about it, I found the second viewing more mentally intriguing and enjoyable, and was able to better appreciate how the cornered mouse metaphor came into play throughout the story.

Another thing I was able to roll with better the second time around was the very loose sense of time. The movie somewhat disjointedly jumps from scene to scene and exact markers of time (days, weeks, etc) are never mentioned. Knowing where the story was going allowed me to string things together in my head. For the first watch, it was like reading a book with chunks of pages torn out at random; I could piece the story together, but it felt like multiple scenes were missing.

The sex is very realistic and the atmosphere created with light, colors, and cinematography was very well done and cohesive.

GENERAL SPOILER On The Ending:

......

It is an open ending, but I think the pattern of what will happen is pretty clear, only this time there's more hope for stability in it. The only thing left in question, in my mind, is when.

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Intense Beautifully Created

I am not a manga reader, my review will be base purely on the movie. Been watching BL shows from different countries. I would consider this movie beautifully created. The nitty gritty acting of actor Narita Ryo made me empathize with how much he wants to be a part of the person he love. That is played by Okura Tadayoshi. Imagine meeting up with someone you have feelings for 8 years ago and still feel strongly in the present? With what he observe of Otomo Kyoichi, I too will have my insecurities and self doubt come up to the highest degree. I appreciate that he got the courage to pursue his love every possible way, with all the things that Kyoichi shows him. He is honest with his feelings, very vulnerable because he wants to be LOVE. This is not a light hearted story and the expression by both actors to show their feeling are admirable. This mature theme in BL is very much appreciated. The Japanese produce BL, is very realistic of their storyline than other countries. I appreciate that BL genre is becoming open with the production of story, not limited around the school campus. This movie will be one of the example that raise the bar of acting, cinematography, script and story line. It my hope and wish that we will see more of these genre in BL with great acting and story.
I read that another book was writing in sequel to this "The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice." Hope some producer will make this movie with the same actor Narita Ryo and Okura Tadayoshi. My great thanks for making me enjoy the show and kudos to the writer SetonaMizushiro, you make my world more beautiful and fun.

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