Hokuriku dairi sensô

This movie can basically be summed up as "small town gangsters vs. big city gangsters." If you've seen any of Kinji Fukasaku's other yakuza pictures, like the Battles Without Honor & Humanity series (a.k.a. The Yakuza Papers) or Yakuza Graveyard, you'll know what to expect in terms of pacing, camera-work, and storytelling style. Every character in this movie is either a snarling alpha male or a sniveling coward. The action scenes are frenetic to the point of being confusing. And the movie practically revels in its own amorality. What sets Hokuriku Proxy War apart from other Fukasaku gangster pictures, however, is its setting. Most of the movie takes place in an extremely cold climate, which Fukasaku takes full advantage of. It never seems to stop snowing in this movie, and all the interiors are warmly lit, while suggesting wintry weather kept at bay. Also, if you're a fan of '70s earth tones, fur collars, brown suits, and tinted eyeglasses, then brother ... this is the movie for you. You might not remember the plot two days after you finish watching it, but you probably will remember the violent set pieces and the cool styles. Definitely recommended for yakuza movie fans. (Also, after I watched this movie, I watched a preview for it, and the preview contained tons of scenes that weren't in the film itself. If anyone has more information about this ... message me. Thanks!)

Having formed his own style and known for his pioneering contribution to the Jitsuroku eiga genre, Legendary Kinji Fukasaku has made many films with endless story of violence. Here in his final Yakuza film, it is enough in abundance but minus Bunta Sugawara. Based on true story of Kawauchi Hiroshi, this time around, the Yakuza conflicts is set in the cold region of Hokuriku (the Land of Snow). Hiroki Matsukata plays the role Noboru Kawada, a deadly lone wolf Yakuza exuding violence, he gives it all to stop enemies penetrating into his region. Many want him dead, as he at loggerheads with the most powerful. He explodes into unpredictable actions with his own unorthodox ways for teaching a lesson. It is evident right from the opening when we see Kawada burying his nemesis neck deep in snow and there's more torture, and more till the end of the film which ends in the same freezing cold place, the jeep, a brilliant finale. I don't want to reveal the cards, I will emphasize that the film is based on real events.

Yumiko Nogawa plays Kawada's wife, portraying a masterly performance with confidence. I loved Yoko Takahashi who gets to play his second wife, but i bet it will turn out to be one of the best roles in the film and i want to give brownie points for late Sonny Chiba's role, not the best of all that his done but it's a good one here.

This is a fast, blood soaked Yakuza drama with creatively staged fights, shaky camera angles, stark cinematography. It serves everything in full platter and knows what the fans of genre expects from such films. I must say, the film is also facilitated with great background score by composer Toshiaki Tsushima which is worth mentioning.