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IMDbPro

Violent Cop

Original title: Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki
  • 19891989
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
23,390
2,322
Violent Cop (1989)
Trailer for Violent Cop
Play trailer1:21
2 Videos
15 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
A violence prone police officer discovers that his colleague is trafficking drugs.A violence prone police officer discovers that his colleague is trafficking drugs.A violence prone police officer discovers that his colleague is trafficking drugs.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
23,390
2,322
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Takeshi Kitano
    • Writers
      • Hisashi Nozawa(original writer)
      • Takeshi Kitano(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • Takeshi Kitano
      • Maiko Kawakami
      • Makoto Ashikawa
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Takeshi Kitano
    • Writers
      • Hisashi Nozawa(original writer)
      • Takeshi Kitano(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • Takeshi Kitano
      • Maiko Kawakami
      • Makoto Ashikawa
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Violent Cop
    Trailer 1:21
    Violent Cop
    VIOLENT COP - OFFICIAL US HD Trailer
    Trailer 1:20
    VIOLENT COP - OFFICIAL US HD Trailer

    Photos15

    Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Takeshi Kitano and Makoto Ashikawa in Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Takeshi Kitano and Maiko Kawakami in Violent Cop (1989)
    Violent Cop (1989)
    Takeshi Kitano in Violent Cop (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Takeshi Kitano
    Takeshi Kitano
    • Azuma
    • (as Beat Takeshi)
    Maiko Kawakami
    • Akari
    Makoto Ashikawa
    • Kikuchi
    Shirô Sano
    Shirô Sano
    • Yoshinari
    Sei Hiraizumi
    Sei Hiraizumi
    • Iwaki
    • (as Shigeru Hiraizumi)
    Mikiko Otonashi
    • Iwaki's Wife
    Hakuryû
    Hakuryû
    • Kiyohiro
    Ittoku Kishibe
    • Nito
    Ken Yoshizawa
    • Shinkai
    Hiroyuki Katsube
    • Deputy Police Chief Higuchi
    Noboru Hamada
    • Chief Detective Araki
    Yuuki Kawai
    • Detective Honma
    Ritsuko Amano
    • Honma's Fiancee
    Tarô Ishida
    • Detective Tashiro
    Katsuki Muramatsu
    • Deputy Commissioner Anan
    Ken'ichi Endô
    Ken'ichi Endô
    • Emoto
    Ei Kawakami
    • Hashizume
    Kiminari Matsumoto
    • Sakai
    • Director
      • Takeshi Kitano
    • Writers
      • Hisashi Nozawa(original writer)
      • Takeshi Kitano(adaptation) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Takeshi Kitano insisted on long takes. Close-ups easily lasted 10 seconds, medium shots went on for 20 seconds and the shot where Azuma (Kitano) walks onto the bridge and into the frame lasted 57 seconds.
    • Quotes

      Azuma: Turn yourself in tomorrow.

      Delinquent Kid: I didn't do anything!

      Azuma: You didn't do anything?

      [Rams kid's head into the wall.]

      Azuma: Well, then I didn't do anything either!

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits beyond the title.
    • Alternate versions
      When the film was released in Swedish cinemas in 1992, it was censored with a little more than one minute for violence, the cuts were made in the following scenes:
      • The policeman getting assaulted before he gets his head crushed by a baseball bat.
      • The scene where Azuma assaults Hazishume on the toilet, and the finger cutting sequence.
      • The following cuts are when Azuma assaults the killer in the locker room and a bloody execution scene at the end.
    • Connections
      Featured in Seven Psychopaths (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Gnossienne No.1
      (1890)

      Main theme is an electronic variation of the above title by Erik Satie

      Arranged by Daisaku Kume

      Performed by Daisaku Kume

      Produced by Kazuyoshi Okuyama

      Courtesy by Vap Inc.

    User reviews53

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Detective Pitiless
    Violent Cop is the first directorial work of comedian and television host Takeshi Kitano. He wasn't even supposed to do this job but when the initially hired director pulled out of the project due to scheduling conflicts, Takeshi Kitano took over and rewrote large parts of the script in the process. People must have been surprised when this film was initially released because it has nothing to do with Takeshi Kitano's quirky, funny and entertaining shows throughout the seventies and eighties. Violent Cop does its title justice and is brutal, cynical and nihilistic. It is often compared to the Dirty Harry franchise but while the titular hero of the American franchise is able to keep his cool, Takeshi Kitano's main character is unstable, unpredictable and pitiless.

    Takeshi Kitano plays brutal veteran detective Azuma who doesn't show much respect for his superiors, colleagues and rookies. He treats criminals the way they would actually treat their victims. The opening sequence is quite revealing in that regard as the detective follows the leader of a group of teenagers who beat up a helpless old man and proceeds to beat him up in his parents' house. The only person this detective seems to care about is his fragile sister who spent time at a hospital to treat a head injury. Once we are introduced to the detective's life, the actual plot unfolds. The detective discovers that his partner is involved in drug trafficking but before he can conduct further investigations, his partner is found hanged under a bridge. Azuma understands that the suicide had been staged and tries to track down the boss of the drug trafficking ring by any means necessary.

    The cinematography of this movie is very experimental and foreshadows Takeshi Kitano's later works. The movie has few dialogues and especially the main character prefers to use his fists before asking any questions. The movie features long moments of silence and static camera work before they are interrupted by hectic sequences and brutal acts of violence. The movie is quite brutal indeed and the body count rises quicker and quicker as the film progresses. Innocent bystanders get killed, a helpless homeless man gets beaten to pulp and even a pitiful woman gets executed. The film's conclusion is particularly cynical and nihilistic but offers an unexpected twist and some food for thought.

    Fans of Japanese V-cinema and enthusiasts for brutal yakuza movies will adore Violent Cop. It has an intriguing atmosphere, unusual characters and lots of violence. Despite its cynical, nihilistic and pitiless attitude, the movie is never shallow and actually offers some food for thought. The film has aged quite well and shows the dark side of Japan's society.
    helpful•4
    0
    • kluseba
    • Apr 10, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 16, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • This Man, He's Wild
    • Filming locations
      • Kanagawa-Shinmachi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Bandai Media Department
      • Shochiku-Fuji Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,960
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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