FilmFan
06-22-2009, 01:18 PM
http://www.dvdnet.fi/catalog/images/violent_cop_kansi.jpg
Violent Cop aka Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki
Running time: 103 minutes
Directed by: Takeshi Kitano
Starring: Takeshi Kitano
IMDB rating: 7.2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098360/
Takeshi Kitano is regarded as one of top Japanese directors of the past 20 years, and this was his first film as a director (he had previously only been in front of the camera, mostly in comedic roles).
The character that the title refers to, Azuma, lives up to his name from the very start. When a suspect will not confess, he is beaten until he changes his mind. When someone takes advantage of his mentally-handicapped sister, they are set straight by being kicked down some steel stairs.
But the film is not mindless bloodshed just for the sake of it. A lot of the violence is necessary to the story, rather than random and gratuitous just for the sake of it. You know that it's coming, but are made to wait with bated breath as the characters size each other up and decide what to do next. Moments of silence and stillness are suddenly interrupted by a punch or gunshot.
As it begins to seem as if he has no one that he can trust, and life is rapidly going downhill, Azuma's actions become even more reckless, as he becomes focused on destroying the local gangsters at any cost.
I enjoyed this film, but essentially it's not much more than a fun but unspectacular B movie. No serious flaws, but no great strengths to elevate it to the next level either.
6.5
Violent Cop aka Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki
Running time: 103 minutes
Directed by: Takeshi Kitano
Starring: Takeshi Kitano
IMDB rating: 7.2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098360/
Takeshi Kitano is regarded as one of top Japanese directors of the past 20 years, and this was his first film as a director (he had previously only been in front of the camera, mostly in comedic roles).
The character that the title refers to, Azuma, lives up to his name from the very start. When a suspect will not confess, he is beaten until he changes his mind. When someone takes advantage of his mentally-handicapped sister, they are set straight by being kicked down some steel stairs.
But the film is not mindless bloodshed just for the sake of it. A lot of the violence is necessary to the story, rather than random and gratuitous just for the sake of it. You know that it's coming, but are made to wait with bated breath as the characters size each other up and decide what to do next. Moments of silence and stillness are suddenly interrupted by a punch or gunshot.
As it begins to seem as if he has no one that he can trust, and life is rapidly going downhill, Azuma's actions become even more reckless, as he becomes focused on destroying the local gangsters at any cost.
I enjoyed this film, but essentially it's not much more than a fun but unspectacular B movie. No serious flaws, but no great strengths to elevate it to the next level either.
6.5