Yakuza - samuraitten kirous

'The Yakuza' is a superb crime thriller that manages to entertain and provoke thought. The script by Paul Schrader and Robert Townes, displays the best of 70s film making. It features strong character development, and juggles action and themes of loyalty, betrayal and cultural differences, easily. Best of all, unlike most contemporary movies, it isn't DUMBED DOWN. It treats Japanese culture seriously, and it isn't your simplistic good guys/bad guys stuff we always get at the movies these days. 'The Yakuza' actually assumes you're a thinking adult, not a 15 year old who has to be spoon-fed.

Robert Mitchum, what can you say? A movie legend, but also a damn fine actor! This is one of his best roles. Sadly, also one of his most overlooked.

When I think of the best movies of the 1970s, of course I think of 'Mean Streets', 'Taxi Driver', 'The Godfather', et al, but I also never forget 'The Yakuza'. It's THAT good!