Kitano in America

Brother, directed by Takeshi Kitano, starring Takeshi Kitano and Omar Epps.

Takeshi Kitano is a Japanese filmmaker, actor, TV personality and comedian; outside of Japan he is known only through his films, his most known is HANA-BI, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1997.

There is a long tradition in Hollywood of importing talent from other countries, at one time or another directors were imported from Germany, Italy, England and The Three China’s (Mainland, Taiwan & Hong Kong); after HANA-BI’s success they wanted Japan’s latest international director, Takeshi Kitano.

The Illusionist vs. The Prestige

The Illusionist, 2006, directed by Neil Burger, starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Rufus Sewell.
The Prestige, 2006, directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine and David Bowie.

Here is something I posted on an Internet forum about The Illusionist a few months ago: