This is an enjoyable smart sleek adaptation
of the Japanese manga of the same name written by Kazuo Koike from 1986 to
1988. To a large degree it faithfully follows the narrative arc (till the
end) of the manga and captures some of the manga style. It really only is
hurt by the acting of the two main characters. Mark Dacascos certainly has
the looks and physical attributes needed but his acting style is as stiff
as a three day corpse - reading off his lines like he is a somnambulist.
The female played by Julie Condra seems to be in a different genre - a gothic
swelling romance - and her voice over in the film is whispery and throaty
- and totally unneeded. The two of them are married in real life and Julie
had a small part in his recent film One Night in Bangkok.
There are two other versions of Crying Freeman - both from Hong Kong. The
Dragon from Russia is a visual treat at the speed of light but less than
coherent and Killer's Romance, which I saw years and years ago and only vaguely
recollect (I need a revisit). I am surprised that there doesn't seem to be
a live action Japanese version though this one is co-produced by Fuji. It
is pure manga heroic pop involving the Yakuza, the Triads, assassins, cops,
mysticism, cults, murders by the dozens and romance. And an assassin who
sheds a tear each time he kills. This is action driven - whenever Freeman
isn't killing people it sits like an egg waiting to be poached. But there
is a lot of it and most of it is good if not always logical. In the final
scene Freeman attacks his enemies with a katana and they all have swords
as well - where did their guns go because they have no choice against Freeman
with a sword!
Crying Freeman is an assassin for the Chinese group called Sons of the Dragon
whose lineage goes back hundreds of years to fighting the Manchus. He was
of all things a pottery maker and was kidnapped by them and hypnotized and
trained to become their number one killer. They are in a constant war with
the Yakuza - even in San Francisco where this story begins. He is seen killing
a number of them by a female outside painting - the code says witnesses must
die too but he lets her live. The films shifts to Vancouver where he kills
some more and then goes to finally kill the witness - but the weapon he unsheathes
is not a knife and he beds her. We knew this was likely to happen ever since
the woman painted a portrait of him and then exploded a bottle of champagne
on it like a money shot. Not killing her is a no-no and now the Sons of the
Dragon and their ancient matron is not pleased. In the film also is Rae Dawn
Chong in a thankless role as a cop. Tchéky Karyo (La Femme Nikita)
also as a cop and Mako as the Yakuza head.
