Directed by Sydney Pollock (The Firm, Tootsie, Out of Africa, Sabrina-1995)

Written by Robert Towne (Chinatown, Mission: Impossible, The Last Detail) and Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull)

Starring Robert Mitchum, James Shigeta (Joseph Takagi from Die Hard)

Synopsis: “Harry Kilmer returns to Japan after several years in order to rescue his friend George’s kidnapped daughter - and ends up on the wrong side of the Yakuza, the notorious Japanese mafia…”

I found myself slightly bored for the first half of this movie, but I think my expectations were slightly askew. I had never heard of this movie or spoken to anyone who has seen it, but from the synopsis I was expecting more of a taut, violent thriller, when in reality the first hour is more of a crime drama, emphasis on the drama. Also, personally I found Robert Mitchum’s performance a bit wooden, or at least half-hearted, which did little to sell the drama for me. Eventually though I was pulled in, and the slower, more deliberately paced start actually made the brief, sudden bursts of violence more effective. These intense moments of action eventually gain momentum and lead to two really awesome set pieces in the final third of the movie.

The kidnapping plot is really just a window into the world of Yakuza culture, which is the real focus of this movie. The juxtaposition of a western perspective with these foreign notions of “honor” and “duty,” as well as the post-WWII Japan setting actually provide the story with a weight and thematic resonance that sets this film apart. It’s not just an average crime movie.

I thought Sydney Pollock’s direction was great too. There is something very deliberate and precise about every camera move and angle. Its cinematic. Like all the different elements (framing, movement, editing, music, etc.) add up to more than just the sum of their parts. I don’t know how to describe it. But I really like that.

Overall…

RENT IT, or stream it instantly on netflix.