This was my first look at a Takashi Miike film, and for a director with over a hundred movies to his credit, it felt like the work of a younger guy. The impetus and energy for the story comes from the fatalistic prospects of young boxer Leo Katsuragi (Masataka Kubota), incorrectly diagnosed with a brain tumor, who then figures what the heck, might as well go for the gusto in defending a hooker (Sakurako Konishi), who's been framed for stealing a stash of white powder from her pimp. It turns into a full night on the run from rival Chinese and Japanese drug gangs, with elements of the Shinjuku city police department thrown in. I didn't quite take note of the humor in the story that some other reviewers refer to since it's understated in a way that you have to look for it. Double crossing young gangster Kase (Shôta Sometani) alludes to the unreality of killing so many people on a given night, though it doesn't prevent him from running over a fellow Yakuza member after incapacitating him with a stun gun. When the action reaches a fever pitch, director Miike resorts to a colorful animated sequence to stylize the frantic pace of a high speed chase. Coming out of nowhere it has a somewhat jarring effect before reverting back to the main story. Plenty of blood and gangland violence highlight the picture, but it always leaves me with the searing question - can it be that easy to take someone's head off with the swipe of a sword?
Note*** This was the 100th film I've added to my list of 'Gangster Films I've Watched and Reviewed on IMDb'. Check it out!
Note*** This was the 100th film I've added to my list of 'Gangster Films I've Watched and Reviewed on IMDb'. Check it out!