The Legend of the Stardust Brothers review: The Legend of the Stardust Brothers is one of those films so perfectly suited to the film festival circuit. What could have possibly been a cult film, had it had any exposure at all, looks destined to finally be embraced by cinematic enthusiasts 34 years after it was made. Like many such curiosities, however, the assembling of the project may be of more interest than the final product.
Image Courtesy of Clout Communications
Directed by Makoto Tezuka son of legendary manga writer/artist Osamu Tezuka – while still in film school at the age of 22, The Legend of the Stardust Brothers was based on a soundtrack of a film that didn’t exist yet, composed by Haruo Chicada. From there, Tezka constricted this wild bonkers ride that may not result in the most consistent or audience-friendly film. But certainly will leave a lasting impression.
In what is essentially a compilation of 80s music videos, we are told the story of The Stardust Brothers, a duo made up of Shingo (Shingo Kubota) and Kan (Kan Takagi), two rival musicians who are plucked from obscurity by a mysterious record label. Here they are given a backstory about being twins separated at birth and reuniting into a new musical sensation. Going forward they dabble with the idea of solo careers, drinking problems, and producers interfering and controlling their lives and creativity.
The story is told through song and music videos, and these vignettes are the high point of the film. It allows Tezka to fully embellish his visual flair. Whether he takes inspiration from western videos or Japanese horror, this is when the film feels alive. Disappointingly though, the songs never quite reach the same level as the aesthetic. They’re never tuneless, poorly composed, or ear-aching, but neither are they catchy, memorable, or powerful. Granted, it is always difficult to truly appreciate a musical in another language, given that the translation of the lyrics may seem awkward with the tune you are hearing, but I’d expect to be able to hum at least one tune come the closing credits.
Elsewhere the story is, understandably, sidelined, while the performances register their expressive comedic notes very well. There is a lot of pastiche and commentary aimed towards the music industry as well as musical biopics, that still seem relevant today, which means hopefully audiences will be able to relate whilst navigating the madness. This is one beautiful curiosity that will certainly have explorers of film (forever on the lookout for something rare and unique) researching, detailing, and championing its existence. It may not be perfect, but the love and craftsmanship infuse the journey infectious charm.
The Legend of the Stardust Brothers was reviewed at Arrow Video Frighhtfest 2019.
