The Outsider (2018)

An epic set in post-WWII Japan and centered on an American former G.I. who joins the yakuza.

Director:

Martin Zandvliet

Writer:

Andrew Baldwin

Stars:

Jared Leto, Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shîna

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jared Leto	...	Nick Lowell
Tadanobu Asano	...	Kiyoshi
Kippei Shîna	...	Orochi
Shioli Kutsuna	...	Miyu
Emile Hirsch	...	Paulie Bowers
Ray Nicholson	...	American Stock Broker
Rory Cochrane	...	Anthony Panetti
Nao Ohmori	...	Hiromitsu
Min Tanaka	...	Akihiro
Masaki Miura	...	Kentaro
Shun Sugata	...	Prison Warden
Hiroya Shimizu	...	Banjo
Hiro	...	Satoru
Young Dais	...	Takeshi
Gô Jibiki	...	Eiichi

Storyline

An epic set in post-WWII Japan and centered on an American former G.I. who joins the yakuza.

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Plot Keywords:

yakuza | foreign language | katana | suicide attempt | blood | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

9 March 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Outsider

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Linson Entertainment,Waypoint Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tadanobu Asano and Nao Ohmori have also worked together in Koroshiya 1 (2001)

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Goofs

Early in the movie, when the waitress hands Jered Leto a beer, it's a long neck Bud instead of the stubby beer bottles that were used back in the day,

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Quotes

Orochi: The Shiromatsu family no longer exists. The head of the Seizu is a generous man. He wants all of you to live.
[to Nick in English]
Orochi: For you, I can offer you peace if you leave Osaka and your woman behind. We make no promises for her safety if you stay.
[in Japanese]
Orochi: Do you accept?
[in English]
Orochi: You're all idiots!

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Connections

Featured in The Month in Movies: March 2018 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Japanese Farewell Song
Written by Freddy Morgan
Performed by The Club Nisei Orchestra (as Club Nisei Orchestra)
Courtesy of Cord International & Hana Ola Records

User Reviews

Before you write this off... WATCH IT!

Imagine... You enjoy independent cinema... You are trying to rid of your ideleness, by seeing something fresh and exciting, yet it combines themes from other films involving organized crime. We all feel like outsiders at times. We all are just maybe looking for swim against the current, yet knowing when to flow with it - As Leto's character, Nick, in this film suggests to the very gorgeous Shioli Kutsuna. There won't be spoilers in this review, that last part I cited is found in the trailer.

I have been debating tirelessly on Twitter against Asian critics of this film. They dismiss it, before it was released as, "Whitewashing;" "Offensive;" "Westernizing;" amongst many phrases that are slanderous. It is impossible to know the intent of Jared Leto, for taking the role and executive producing. It is not possible to understand the mindset of Martin Zandvliet (Director), or the screenplay writer Andrew Baldwin, behind making this film.

Is this a perfect film? Or course not! It is not trying to be! Is there sexy style? Yes. Is there a cool plot? Definitely. Is it worth watching? Absolutely. I think this is one of the best 2018 has yet to offer and just like Leto's work in Blade Runner 2049, it'll forever be underappreciated. All thanks to the big baby critics (Not all Asian), but the others who before even witnessing this great film - wrote it off as something that it's not.

If this film was making an attempt to have a hot shot Hollywood guy (Jared Leto is anything but, the guy is the lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars and has proven to be a HARD worker as an actor) just be propped by Asian extras in a Japanese culture to make Asian culture more palatable, would the film be named, "The Outsider," or as they call him (You may remember from Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - nobody accused this of white washing, hmm wonder why?) "Geijin," which is Japanese for, "Outsider."

I am baffled by everyone's uproars to a perfectly harmless picture. Japan is behind China, but with South Korea shares the spotlight of having a top-ten rating in terms of revenue generated in cinema, where are the naysayers to be found in those films? But they go out of their way to bash this before it's even released! I find that to be more offensive than a guy who is white joining the Yakuza.

This movie is wrongly being bashed for everything that has nothing to do with the movie. How I worded that may be confusing, but I mean every syllable - read it slowly. The soundtrack, cinematography, the ode to John Wick nature this film has makes films like, "The Last Samurai," look as cheap as the title suggests.

This film was mishandled by its producers in my opinion and Leto could be one of them; however, how responsible they are for marketing is above my pay grade. I can tell you, if you see this movie for yourself - you should be thinking, "If a black or Mexican guy were to be cast instead of Leto, would we be having the same reviews shown to us?" I am in no way being dismissive of racial inequality, it is present and I admire any Asian critic who wishes to voice their opinion, but from my vantage point; I believe their using the wrong film to do so with.

This story is probably unrealistic; however, there is something profound about it. There is true magnanimity in Leto's character. Assisting Japanese thugs to the point of him becoming trusted and loved. If ever in your dull and idle life finding yourself feeling like an outsider - this is your movie.

I give it an A - because again, it is not perfect. The moments of violence seem all too convenient; however, this does take place after WWII. Enjoy it, believe me; I have seen awful movies - this is not one of them.