Yakuza no hakaba: Kuchinashi no hana

Watched this fairly late on a Friday night, so I'll keep this review brief, because bed is calling out to me.

I've been really into yakuza films lately, as I like crime films and I really dig Japanese cinema, and the yakuza sub-genre quite naturally combines the two. The thing I liked most about this particular one was its unique take on the "undercover cop infiltrating a criminal gang" premise.

In it, the central protagonist (the undercover cop) gets friendly with a gang, and they know pretty quickly where he's from. So the conflict isn't about whether or not he'll get found out; it's more about finding out on which side of the law his intentions truly lie (if he has any strong feelings one way or the other), and later, conflict arises when the police get angry at him for seeming to enjoy his interactions with the yakuza too much.

It's got a great premise and a strong opening half-hour. It's also really well-filmed throughout, with some great, frantic camerawork, and all the performances are solid. But it did get a bit too messy for my liking, with a plot that could have gone in numerous interesting directions, but didn't really seem to commit to one solidly enough. Maybe this was intended to mirror the feelings of the main character... or it could've been that the writing of the screenplay was just a bit rushed. I guess I'll never know for sure...

There's not much to say really about YAKUZA GRAVEYARD perhaps other than it is a Kinji Fukasaku movie that finds the unsung master of the crime genre firing on all cylinders, his cinematic craft honed to stultifying perfection. Narrative use of montages and stills, hyperkinetic camera-work, relentless action, groovy score, convoluted plot, all the stylistic hallmarks of his yakuza directorial output are present and I'm sure he knew them so well by this point I bet he could knock one out of the park with his eyes closed. All in all an orgasmic smorgasbord of no-nonsense seventies crime cinema that takes no prisoners and that will have every last one of the genre's enthusiasts raising fists in the air with excitement. If you've perused any of Fukasaku's back catalogue from the early seventies you know exactly what I'm talking about – YG is not particularly original in that aspect but it shows the great Japanese director doing what he does best and doing it better than everybody else, then and now.

The cast is spearheaded by the always enjoyable and charismatic Tetsuya Watari (worked with Fukasaku in GRAVEYARD OF HONOUR - which Takashi Miike remade in 2002) and the fragile but determined Meiko Kaji, and is also populated by lots of familiar faces like Nagashi Oshima. Watari starts out as abusive cop strongarming yakuza thugs for information and the movie seems to be heading to a general cops vs thugs direction, that is until Fukasaku pulls an inverted Dirty Harry and has Watari siding with one of two yakuza gangs duking it out in the Tokyo underworld, pledging blood oaths with one of the underbosses and becoming romantically entangled with the wife of the boss who's away, doing time in prison. Kaji is said wife, a Korean half-breed and ex-hooker, running the gang in her husband's stead, emotionally vulnerable and leading an unfulfilled life. In the end Watari arrives to the same conclusions regarding the police as Clint Eastwood did in Dirty Harry, only the police he's renouncing is in bed with the yakuzas, doing political deals under the table, and his way of renouncing it is a lot harder and more violent than symbolically tossing a badge in a lake – a suitable, excellent ending to a grim and gritty piece. His transition from one end to the other is a bit abrupt but what the heck, this is a genre piece and not a character study so I'm not picky.

What easily stands out about YG is its breakneck, furious pace. The viewer will be forgiven for scratching his head in several occasions, wondering how the movie got where it is, and the convoluted plot doesn't really help orientation. It's basically plot-plot-plot only with torrents of mean asskicking, relentless and blistering as only Fukasaku knows how to shoot it. Every five minutes someone's getting his ass kicked – it's as simple as that and no exaggeration. It makes Steven Seagal flicks look like romantic comedies. Overall a top notch crime action flick that hasn't dated one bit in the places that matter and a definitive must-see for Fukasaku and yakuza fans.

Kinji Fukasaku, in my opinion one of the best directors in history of Japanese cinema, most known in the west for his movie Battle Royale (2000), but not many people know of his earlier work. In the 70's Fukasaku directed many movies which main theme is Japanese Mafia more known as The Yakuza. Every movie in that decade is pure gem. Yakuza Graveyard is also one of them. Everything in this movie is superb, directing, shaky camera work, acting and music, it is very moving and fast pace which is unique to Fukasaku, he was really ahead of his time. The most i love about his movies are main protagonists/antagonists and their rebellious attitude which is totally different from expectations in Japanese society. This time main character is played by fantastic Tatsuya Watari, also seen in Graveyard of Honor, even he is better in this one, such a great performance, also worth mentioning beautiful Meiko Kaji, only you can see such natural beauty in the east. Like previous movies, it is full of action, violence, sex, rebellion in Fukasaku's way. I also like how he portrayed police force, and their lack of honor and corruption and ties to organized crime. Definitely a gem in history of Yakuza cinema and Japanese cinema, must see if you are fan.

Very good and not over long, this is a splendid violent Yakusa action film, although not bloody. There is rather much shouting and screaming but the camerawork is wonderful with many tricks, freezes and hand held work. I seem not to have seen much of the director Kinji Fukasaku expect of course of Battle Royale (2000). I loved seeing Meiko Kaji here and with before so much more like Lady Snowblood (1973) and the fantastic, Female Prisoner:701 Scorpion (1972). Cinematic all the way, a little confusing now and again but it is great with that stunning camera always going on and magnificent as thrilling all the time.

Fukasaku's film, also known as "Yakuza Graveyard," is a compelling Japanese crime drama, from the director of "Battle Royale."

The plot centres on a 'cop on the edge,' played by Tetsuya Watari, a character far more disturbed than, say, Dirty Harry or Popeye Doyle from "The French Connection." Indeed, Watari's rebelliousness seems far more shocking in the context of Japanese society, where respect for authority and conformity are supposedly ingrained.

Equally interesting is the portrayal of the Yakuza. It is a crime family in the mould of "The Godfather," but more prosaic and less self-important than the clan created by Francis Ford Coppola. Above all, the film's theme is the lack of honour in Japanese society. The police are corrupt, and in many respects indistinguishable from the Yakuza. The central character develops a close relationship with one of the mobsters, whom he discovers is far more honourable and trustworthy than his police colleagues.

All in all, a fascinating and fast-paced movie.