Sailor Suit and Machine Gun

The concept has plenty of cheeky promise. From the moment I first came across 'Sailor suit and machine gun' I was excited to watch it and see just what sort of ridiculousness the movie might represent. Unfortunately, I only find myself disappointed: there are a lot of things this picture wants to be and do, but the writing and direction simply isn't strong enough to meaningfully accomplish any of it.

Hiroko Yakushimaru puts in a strong lead performance as juvenile crime boss Izumi Hoshi, portraying with admirable range and poise the schoolgirl who is in way over her head. Some scenes are done especially well, and there is some fine camerawork in some instances - framed shots, tracking shots, and so on. There's some definite cleverness scattered throughout the screenplay, and the narrative as presented to us is complete and cohesive. Yet too much of the runtime passes by with too little noteworthy character moments or plot to truly be worth two hours of our time.

At varying points 'Sailor suit and machine gun' wants to satirize yakuza flicks, or instead be an earnest crime thriller. It tries to embrace the coming of age story, and the bloody vengeance tale, while also striking poignant emotional beats. But at no time is it funny, or thrilling, or impactful. At no time is it satisfying, fulfilling, or rewarding. For all the story ideas that the feature folds in, none of them are realized organically, or convincingly; none seem to have been given the full energy and consideration they deserved. Even the scene suggested by the title - what should by all means be a defining moment for Izumi in the story - is executed halfheartedly: bereft of real vigor, showing restraint that's honestly unwelcome. This could have been a genuinely great, outstanding movie, an exploration of the journey of an innocent introduced to power in the criminal underworld. What it was, instead, is mostly just tedious, middling, uninteresting light and sound.

I'm very disappointed, and a little frustrated. I can't say I'm familiar with the novel this is based on, but I can recognize some strong ideas in the screenplay. There are some elements here that I can appreciate. I would appreciate them a lot more if they were put to good use in a movie that was written and directed with far greater attentive care. Even as it maintains a coherent plot, the film we get is much too tepid and listless to be engaging, and those aspects that are done well can't save it. I entered with moderately high expectations, perhaps, but I kept waiting for an epiphany, and it never came - and given the story this feature wants to tell, that should definitely not be the case. Clearly there's an adoring audience out there for 'Sailor suit and machine gun,' and I'm just not it. All I can say is that for my part, I can't imagine I'll ever recommend this to anyone.

Two discontented thumbs down.

This was probably the young Hiroko Yakushimaru's most successful role in what was then the beginning of her career. She plays Koizumi, a high school student (hence the sailor suit part of the title) whose father passes away and by virtue of bloodline becomes the leader of a small Yakuza gang. The movie has some comic moments just from the concept, that a girl could run this somewhat motley group of guys. However, it is Miss Yakushimaru's performance that really makes this film. One moment sh'e weak, the next strong, one minute playful, the next serious, one minute a girl, next on the cusp of womanhood. One of the things I like about this film was they didn't complicate it by giving her a love interest. She gets to make mistakes, be tough and be a female in a male dominated world without there being too much reference to her attractiveness. Miss Yakushimaru has since gone on to make other films, including playing the wife in the two excellent Always Sunset On Third Street films, but this is her more or less at the beginning. I think you'll like it.

What a shame. The only good thing about this deservedly obscure cheapie is the idea. To work properly, a comic caper like this one needs plenty of action, well-measured pace, strategic shots of comedy, and at least some sympathy for the characters. Above all, timing is critical. Perhaps the biggest flaw is the timing is simply not good enough. There are long introspective segments which do not add to the story, separating the too-few action sequences. When the fighting starts, it usually does not make a lot of sense, and jarrs rather than thrills. There is some character-based comedy, but the film is so poorly pieced together that the pathetic gangsters rarely raise a chuckle.

The direction is sloppy at best. The script needs work. The pacing is completely off. And the actors are, frankly, not very good.

A sad misfire.

Humorous satire of Japanese yakuza flicks in which Hiroko Yakushimaru plays the daughter of a yakuza oyabun (boss) who dies and leaves the clan to her. Unfortunately, the clan is not exactly top flight, as they drive around in old, backfiring cars, one member is, well, a little effeminate, and veteran actor Ken Takakura (Black Rain, Mr. Baseball are his two most recent American flicks) tries his best to keep Hiroko out of trouble. The scene with Hiroko when she sprays a room with machine gun fire and then exclaims "Kaikan"!! (roughly translated as "exciting" but perhaps in a physical sense) became somewhat famous in Japan at the time with people using the phrase in the same tone of voice as Hiroko. A funny and entertaining movie that I would definitely recommend to anyone who can understand Japanese (alas, there is no subtitled version).

With a title like Sailor uniform and machine gun I thought this would be a cheesy but funny action flick from 80s Japan. Instead this movie is really boring and the pacing isn't very good. The only good thing I enjoyed was seeing the 80s Japan scenery.

I finished feeling disappointed.