Takashi Kitano's return to directing Yakuza films is a darkly comic tale of the lack of honor among all thieves.
The story begins when the big boss, The Chairman, discovers that two of his under bosses have an understanding based upon a jail house pact. In order to remain on the Chairman's good side one of the two suspect bosses send his underling Otomo (director Takashi) to set up an office in the other bosses territory. This sets in motion a seeming never ending series of retaliations and power grabs. As some one said in describing the film it's bad guys and badder guys, with everyone upping the ante.
Its a bloody, violent, often uncomfortably funny film. It's probably closer to the real world of gangsters then anything we've ever seen. Its a film that is pretty much dog eat dog with everyone out for no one but themselves. There are no good guys anywhere with the police being little more than corrupt and ineffective, if they are going to do anything at all.
I'm not sure what I think of it. Like most of Takashi's films it gets better as it goes on and you see what he's getting at, at the same time the seemingly endless body count kind of gets in the way of any point... or maybe that is the point, to live this life is to be constantly trying to kill your way up. For me the there isn't a wholly satisfying ending when you realize that a sequel is coming some time this year (2011).(I mean where do you take it?) As it stands now its a trip...I'm not sure to what purpose but it's a trip.
The story begins when the big boss, The Chairman, discovers that two of his under bosses have an understanding based upon a jail house pact. In order to remain on the Chairman's good side one of the two suspect bosses send his underling Otomo (director Takashi) to set up an office in the other bosses territory. This sets in motion a seeming never ending series of retaliations and power grabs. As some one said in describing the film it's bad guys and badder guys, with everyone upping the ante.
Its a bloody, violent, often uncomfortably funny film. It's probably closer to the real world of gangsters then anything we've ever seen. Its a film that is pretty much dog eat dog with everyone out for no one but themselves. There are no good guys anywhere with the police being little more than corrupt and ineffective, if they are going to do anything at all.
I'm not sure what I think of it. Like most of Takashi's films it gets better as it goes on and you see what he's getting at, at the same time the seemingly endless body count kind of gets in the way of any point... or maybe that is the point, to live this life is to be constantly trying to kill your way up. For me the there isn't a wholly satisfying ending when you realize that a sequel is coming some time this year (2011).(I mean where do you take it?) As it stands now its a trip...I'm not sure to what purpose but it's a trip.