"Norwegian Wood" to star Matsuyama, Kikuchi

Tokyograph News · 05-14-2009, 06:33 AM

Tran Anh Hung's screen adaptation of the Haruki Murakami bestseller "Norwegian Wood" now has a cast. Kenichi Matsuyama (24) has been chosen to play the lead as the college student Toru Watanabe, while Rinko Kikuchi (28) plays his emotionally troubled lover Naoko.

The story's heroine, a lively young woman named Midori, will be played by ViVi fashion model Kiko Mizuhara (18) in her very first acting role. "Norwegian Wood" follows Toru's relationships with these two very different women, as well as his dealing with the death of a friend.

The movie starts shooting next month, though the scheduled release isn't until autumn 2010.

Link to article

Akinaka · 05-14-2009, 06:55 AM

Did Hung ever read the book? Kikuchi doesn't fit as Naoko. Matsuyama as Watanabe? Oh dear. And some fashion model as Midori? Hung never read the book, honestly, he didn't. He can't tell me he did and took these people as cast. They so don't fit at all. Kikuchi as Naoko... oh god... That's like Yonekura as Otsu in Musashi, totally not fitting. Honestly, the way Naoko's described in the novel Kikuchi is 100% wrong for her. Kikuchi doesn't have what is necessary to portray a character like Naoko. She doesn't have "it". Hung never read the book. If he had, somebody more fitting would play Naoko. And an 18-year old with zero experience for a character like Midori. Oivech... Nuts, totally nuts.

I absolutely love the book, but this cast is just ridiculous.

Oh, by the way, Midori isn't really the heroine, she's a supporting character, her appearances in the novel are quite small, compared to Naoko's. Toru is the hero, the book doesn't really have a heroine. There's several other women who Toru ends up dealing with, some taking more prominent parts throughout the storyline. Naoko is the actually the girlfriend of the friend who "died" (he actually committed suicide) and the three of them knew each other well. Midori has a few scenes in it that show her as more than just "lively". One of the things with her is, for example, she's wishing that Toru is thinking of her while he masturbates. In another she's kneeling naked in front of her father's photo (who's also dead, yes, plenty of dead people in it) to show him that she's not a little girl anymore, but rather a woman. There's plenty of sex in it. And yes, Naoko eventually commits suicide as well. Just like Hatsumi, the really beautiful girlfriend of one of Toru's friends. I mean, that's how the novel begins. Grown up Toru hears the song Norwegian Wood while being at an airport and his memories are brought back to Naoko and his friend. You don't know that Naoko's dead in the beginning, but I always have the feeling it's actually hinted at. The way Murakami describes Naoko, I think it's somewhat clear that she's not alive anymore by the time the novel begins after the first few sentences. At least, the first time I read it, I got the feeling that that's how it's going to be.

Just like most screen adaptions of novels I fear this one will follow the usual path and suck horribly (leaving out important stuff, changing things, bleh.) And squeezing this storyline into 2 hours WILL leave important parts out. It'll suck. Going by the cast announcement it seems that they're going to leave out the third woman who is extremely important for Toru in the storyline. Reiko. And Reiko meets Naoko while they're both in the asylum. Needless to say that Reiko and Toru eventually end up in bed, that's after Naoko's dead. But Reiko is important for the plot, as she's the one who actually gets very close to Naoko and gets to learn a few things that not even Toru knows.

I think I'll read the book a few more times rather than watching this movie. Let books be books. You want to "see" Norwegian Wood? Buy the book. READ IT. It's amazing.

I just hope they leave "South of the Border, West of the Sun" in peace (there's only one actress for the female lead in that one anyway.)

**migimaru** · 05-14-2009, 07:21 AM

I actually haven't gotten around to "Norwegian Wood" yet, so I can't comment on the accuracy of the casting. But I can clarify that even if Midori isn't an actual heroine in the book, she's being billed as the heroine in the movie.

So based on your comments, maybe Hung is adapting the story and changing some characters and plot details?

kevin332 · 05-14-2009, 10:26 PM

I'm confused... doesn't the article mention Mizuhara as "another heroine", suggesting Rinko is more important?

**migimaru** · 05-15-2009, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin332

I'm confused... doesn't the article mention Mizuhara as "another heroine", suggesting Rinko is more important?

Ahhh, yes it does... Good catch >_< Sorry about the confusion.

Shohane · 07-04-2009, 04:04 AM

Kenichi Matsuyama is a VERY talented actor; he possesses the versatility to adapt perfectly to any role under the sun.

I'm looking forward to this film!

05-14-2009, 06:33 AM	#1
Tokyograph News Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11	"Norwegian Wood" to star Matsuyama, Kikuchi Tran Anh Hung's screen adaptation of the Haruki Murakami bestseller "Norwegian Wood" now has a cast. Kenichi Matsuyama (24) has been chosen to play the lead as the college student Toru Watanabe, while Rinko Kikuchi (28) plays his emotionally troubled lover Naoko. The story's heroine, a lively young woman named Midori, will be played by ViVi fashion model Kiko Mizuhara (18) in her very first acting role. "Norwegian Wood" follows Toru's relationships with these two very different women, as well as his dealing with the death of a friend. The movie starts shooting next month, though the scheduled release isn't until autumn 2010. Link to article

05-14-2009, 06:55 AM	#2
Akinaka Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 33	Did Hung ever read the book? Kikuchi doesn't fit as Naoko. Matsuyama as Watanabe? Oh dear. And some fashion model as Midori? Hung never read the book, honestly, he didn't. He can't tell me he did and took these people as cast. They so don't fit at all. Kikuchi as Naoko... oh god... That's like Yonekura as Otsu in Musashi, totally not fitting. Honestly, the way Naoko's described in the novel Kikuchi is 100% wrong for her. Kikuchi doesn't have what is necessary to portray a character like Naoko. She doesn't have "it". Hung never read the book. If he had, somebody more fitting would play Naoko. And an 18-year old with zero experience for a character like Midori. Oivech... Nuts, totally nuts. I absolutely love the book, but this cast is just ridiculous. Oh, by the way, Midori isn't really the heroine, she's a supporting character, her appearances in the novel are quite small, compared to Naoko's. Toru is the hero, the book doesn't really have a heroine. There's several other women who Toru ends up dealing with, some taking more prominent parts throughout the storyline. Naoko is the actually the girlfriend of the friend who "died" (he actually committed suicide) and the three of them knew each other well. Midori has a few scenes in it that show her as more than just "lively". One of the things with her is, for example, she's wishing that Toru is thinking of her while he masturbates. In another she's kneeling naked in front of her father's photo (who's also dead, yes, plenty of dead people in it) to show him that she's not a little girl anymore, but rather a woman. There's plenty of sex in it. And yes, Naoko eventually commits suicide as well. Just like Hatsumi, the really beautiful girlfriend of one of Toru's friends. I mean, that's how the novel begins. Grown up Toru hears the song Norwegian Wood while being at an airport and his memories are brought back to Naoko and his friend. You don't know that Naoko's dead in the beginning, but I always have the feeling it's actually hinted at. The way Murakami describes Naoko, I think it's somewhat clear that she's not alive anymore by the time the novel begins after the first few sentences. At least, the first time I read it, I got the feeling that that's how it's going to be. Just like most screen adaptions of novels I fear this one will follow the usual path and suck horribly (leaving out important stuff, changing things, bleh.) And squeezing this storyline into 2 hours WILL leave important parts out. It'll suck. Going by the cast announcement it seems that they're going to leave out the third woman who is extremely important for Toru in the storyline. Reiko. And Reiko meets Naoko while they're both in the asylum. Needless to say that Reiko and Toru eventually end up in bed, that's after Naoko's dead. But Reiko is important for the plot, as she's the one who actually gets very close to Naoko and gets to learn a few things that not even Toru knows. I think I'll read the book a few more times rather than watching this movie. Let books be books. You want to "see" Norwegian Wood? Buy the book. READ IT. It's amazing. I just hope they leave "South of the Border, West of the Sun" in peace (there's only one actress for the female lead in that one anyway.) Last edited by Akinaka : 05-14-2009 at 07:02 AM.

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05-14-2009, 07:21 AM	#3
migimaru ミギ丸 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 736	I actually haven't gotten around to "Norwegian Wood" yet, so I can't comment on the accuracy of the casting. But I can clarify that even if Midori isn't an actual heroine in the book, she's being billed as the heroine in the movie. So based on your comments, maybe Hung is adapting the story and changing some characters and plot details?

05-14-2009, 10:26 PM	#4
kevin332 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8	I'm confused... doesn't the article mention Mizuhara as "another heroine", suggesting Rinko is more important?

07-04-2009, 04:04 AM	#6
Shohane Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Posts: 2	Kenichi Matsuyama is a VERY talented actor; he possesses the versatility to adapt perfectly to any role under the sun. I'm looking forward to this film!