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Blues Harp

  • 1998
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Blues Harp (1998)
CrimeDramaMusic

Ambitious yakuza Kenji befriends harmonica-playing bartender Chuji, who moonlights as a part-time drug-dealer for the opposing gang. Their friendship is threatened by Kenji's plans for advan... Read allAmbitious yakuza Kenji befriends harmonica-playing bartender Chuji, who moonlights as a part-time drug-dealer for the opposing gang. Their friendship is threatened by Kenji's plans for advancement, as well as by his bodyguard's growing jealousy of Chuji.Ambitious yakuza Kenji befriends harmonica-playing bartender Chuji, who moonlights as a part-time drug-dealer for the opposing gang. Their friendship is threatened by Kenji's plans for advancement, as well as by his bodyguard's growing jealousy of Chuji.

  • Director
    • Takashi Miike
  • Writers
    • Toshihiko Matsuo
    • Toshiyuki Morioka
  • Stars
    • Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
    • Seiichi Tanabe
    • Saori Sekino
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Takashi Miike
    • Writers
      • Toshihiko Matsuo
      • Toshiyuki Morioka
    • Stars
      • Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
      • Seiichi Tanabe
      • Saori Sekino
    • 6User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos16

    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)
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    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)
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    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)
    Blues Harp (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
    Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
    • Chûji Yonashiro
    Seiichi Tanabe
    Seiichi Tanabe
    • Kenji Shindô
    Saori Sekino
    • Tokiko
    Mickey Curtis
    Daisuke Iijima
    • Yûkichi Hanamura
    Akira Ishige
    Yôzaburô Itô
    • Talent Scout Sugiyama
    Huntley Nicholas
    • Chûji's Black Father
    Atsushi Okuno
    Bob Suzuki
    Tatsuo Yamada
    • Director
      • Takashi Miike
    • Writers
      • Toshihiko Matsuo
      • Toshiyuki Morioka
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Soundtracks
      New Coat of Paint
      Written by Tom Waits

    User reviews6

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    My last pre-2000s Miike film and another fine one
    Ley Lines came out in 1999 but I watched it after Rainy Dog as an end to that trilogy. Overall, I liked it very much but it had some goofy acting near the end, and the characters could have been more fleshed out. That whole ''Black Society Trilogy'' is quite good but I found this film just as good.

    The acting is better than the average Miike flick and the characters function more emphatically. They are all lovable people although with many problems both from the past and yet to come. The movie has many of your standard Miikeisms with homosexuality in yakuza circles, thug druggie life, and his many ways to express symbolism. But they all work much better here than in most of his stuff. Additionally, Miike again enjoys his art of boredom scenes and creates a very realistic tone without his more genre-bending contrivances. The music shines in this film and gives it an additional touch of heart and soul which elevates the tragic aspects that come at the end. The humor was pretty low-key but effective nonetheless. Some experimental bits and scenes also worked fairly well and I always love Miike's bold refreshments in directing.

    On the paper, this is yet another simple mafia tale from Miike about normal (outcasts), small people, and their struggle, but here it clicked just right. Miike knows how to make a good ending and this movie is a prime example of that.

    90s Miike was truly something, as brilliant and trashy he was.
    helpful•1
    0
    • powerofberzerker
    • Apr 7, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 15, 1998 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Блюз-гармоника
    • Production company
      • MAC
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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