Entertainment

07:22 AM CST on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Memoirs of a Geisha

B

Starring Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li. Directed by Rob Marshall. PG-13 (sexuality).

145 mins. $28.96

GONE WITH THE GEISHA: Think Gone With the Wind crossed with The Thornbirds. A woman who runs a geisha house buys Chiyo, a poor young Japanese girl. While still a child, Chiyo falls for a man called The Chairman because he is kind to her. Her desire to win him inspires her to become a famous, much sought-after geisha, renamed Sayuri.

RAZZLE DAZZLE 'EM: There are no big break-out song numbers as with director Rob Marshall's Chicago, but the look is exquisite in this slow but deeply romantic adaptation of Arthur Golden's best-seller.

QUESTIONABLE CASTING: Despite the odd, perhaps ill-considered choice to cast some Chinese actors in key Japanese roles, individual performances shine. As Sayuri, Ziyi Zhang's eyes are wonderfully expressive within the restrictions of the geisha's carefully guarded emotions. Ken Watanabe exudes charisma as The Chairman, although the sparks don't fly as much as they should between the leads.

BEST TRIVIA: Highland Park High School graduate Doug Wright, playwright of the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife , polished the script.

BEST EXTRA: You can get geisha and sumo-wrestling tips. But the best is on chef Nobu Matsuhisa, who plays a kimono maker. Especially since recipes are included.

BOTTOM LINE: A great date flick. Don't forget the sushi.

Nancy Churnin