Year:  1974
Rating: 8.0

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After watching the Ugly Americaness of Black Rain where Michael Douglas's character swoops into Japan like a runaway steam roller, this was the antidote that I needed. On the surface there are similarities - here an American ex-cop goes to Japan to either rescue or negotiate the freedom of a girl from the Yakuza and in the end has to use violence to accomplish his goal. It also co-incidentally has Ken Takakura partnering up with the ex-cop played by Robert Mitchum. But this film is directed by Sydney Pollack rather than Ridley Scott who is a fine director but not exactly a subtle director. Pollack brings an understanding and respect for Japanese culture and tradition; even that of the Yakuza who live under adhered to rules and obligations.



It is giri - or obligations or a burden as Takakura calls it at one point that drives this film. A complicated spider web of obligations forces everyone to take actions that end up leading to death and tragedy. Fulfilling these obligations is what makes a man and gives him honor. To walk away from them is unthinkable. Kilmer (Mitchum) had been in the Military Police after the war and while there had saved the lives of a Japanese woman and her daughter and they fell in love. When her brother Tanaka (Takakura), who she had thought dead, came home from the war he forced her to give up Kilmer and Kilmer went home and has not been back in years. Now a friend (Brian Keith) of his comes to him asking for a favor owed - he is having trouble with a Yakuza head in Tokyo who has taken his daughter and he wants Kilmer, who knows the society and knows the brother who has gone on to be a top Yakuza to intercede. Tanaka has no liking for Kilmer but still feels obligated because he had saved the lives of his sister years before. Before the obligations are paid there are a whole lot of dead Yakuza around.


Ken Takakura is used to so much better effect here than in Black Rain where of course the American had to do nearly everything. Admittedly, he is 15 years younger here but he is such a presence in it and in the final conflict it is like a scene right out of one of his 1960's films where sword in hand he faces off against lots of bad guys. A great scene. In the cast also as Tanaka's brother is James Shigeta, one of the very few Asian-Americans to get a starring role in Hollywood with Flower Drum Song.


Pollack gets so much right here - small stuff regarding tea and ritual - and I loved how he showed the manner in which Yakuza introduce themselves to one another - something I have seen in older Yakuza films. They bend down a bit - reach out with their right arm and say where they come from and a little about themselves. This is done in an abbreviated fashion in a bathroom when three Yakuza members come in to warn Tanaka to give up Kilmer. He of course refuses. Giri.