Review: USAGI DROP (Hiroyuki Tanaka)  Even though Hiroyuki
Tanaka (Monday, Kanikosen) is a certainty in my selection of
favorite directors, the past few years Tanaka has been
struggling to find his way (much like the rest of the Japanese
film industry). While Usagi Drop isn't a true return to form,
it's a damn good film that reaffirms Tanaka's status as an
A-grade director. Usagi Drop is a blistering sweet feel-good
film that will leave you with a warm and dear smile, what more
could you ask for?  The Japanese film industry finds itself in a
small commercial slump which seems quite difficult to shake off.
Many contemporary Japanese dramas and comedies are targeted
mainly at the local market, lacking authorship and feeling too
slick and derivative of earlier successes. While Usagi Drop
isn't completely free from this influence, Tanaka was able to
elbow himself in a comfortable enough position to make the film
his own.  Usagi Drop is the live action adaptation of a manga by
the same name, but (as often the case