Hard-core Yakuza member Yamamoto (Beat Takeshi) is force into exile by his organization for starting a war (the guy is fond of pumping bullets into tailored-suited foes). So, off to Los Angeles he goes where his little Anaki (Brother) has dropped out of school and instead is running around with a group of small-time drug dealers. Needless to say, Yamamoto is angry at this, but decides to help his little brother and proceeds to make the little enterprise a successful one.
Like most of Beat Takeshi movies, the focus here is not violence or action (although there’s plenty of it here) but rather moments of meditation. A paper plane gliding through buildings, a game of dice between new friends, an unexpected punch to the belly, a friendly basketball game between gangsters, a football game at the beach. This is a somewhat laid-back movie by a laid-back actor/director and a laid-back jazzy soundtrack. The violent moments are few but no less shocking and unexpected.
I’ve been a fan of Beat Takeshi since I saw him in the superb Sonatine. I’ve since came to find out that the nervous tick that Beat Takeshi displays on his cheek is not an acting gimmick but it’s the result of a car accident he was involved in. Also, Beat Takeshi is known in Japan primarily, as a comedian and TV presenter.
East meets West in this Takeshi “Beat” Kitano written, directed, acted and edited Yakuza flick and one of my favorite movies.
Dialog Sample
Mo: “What are you guys gonna do?”
Ken: “Cut his finger off.”
Mo: “What happens when you cut his finger off?”
Kato: “He can't swim straight anymore.”
Kato smiles.
Side note: Actor Omar Epps wrote the book From Fatherless to Fatherhood read an interview about the book on The Hollywood Reporter.