Spotlight: Takeshi Kitano

Like many other oblivious people, I thought Takeshi Kitano was just a Japanese TV personality who drove around in a dodgem, squirting water at people on the final stage of cult TV show, Takeshi’s Castle. Little did I know until watching Hana-Bi, that he is perhaps the most celebrated and charismatic director/writer/actor in Japan today.

His work as a director is beautifully crafted and shot, and shows some of the most imaginative and original film making since David Lynch. On the other side of the spectrum his acting is practically flawless. Similarly to Joe Pesci, Kitano manages to create characters that are chillingly intimidating, but at the same time very funny. Whether it is an exiled Yakuza hit man, a blind Samurai, or a troubled artist, Kitano can do it all.

Brother
Director/writer/actor

One of Kitano’s only part-English Language features, Brother is the story of an exiled Yakuza hard man who moves to LA with his small time criminal brother, and slowly starts to take over the city underworld. Shot in his trademark style, with wide shots and similarly creative photography aplenty, Brother is one of Kitano’s most underrated titles.

The film can be quite testing, and the nonlinear narrative is sporadic, making it hard to follow at times. In general though, Brother is extremely entertaining. Like many other Kitano titles, the film commands the ability to make you laugh one moment, then recoil in shock the next. A compelling blend of cultural clashes and criminal life, with Kitano’s signature violence topping it off, Brother does not disappoint.

Outside of its target audience, Brother may not seem as impressive. Whilst watching with my girlfriend, she was taken aback at the logic behind the Yakuza values of honour and respect, especially the removal of fingers. If you’re a fan of art house and gangster films, especially those of the Oriental persuasion, I cannot recommend it enough.

Rating: 4/5.
Verdict: The good.

Battle Royale
Actor

Set in Japan, where discipline in schools has gone out the window, the government has passed an act which pits a class of school kids against each other on an island. The objective - fight to the death. Having seen plenty of gory and graphic film, I can still say taking into account the visceral nature of the film, as the school kids kill each other off, Battle Royale is one of the most shocking films I’ve ever seen.

Kitano only comprises a minor role in the film, as the teacher of class 4B, and the overseer of the sickening massacre, but once again he really does shine with very little screen time. It is once again his ability make the most bizarre characters seem real with his calm and charismatic appeal, despite the violent and psychotic nature of the character.

There are many underlying themes present, and the film really drives home values such as friendship, loyalty, and trust. In a nutshell, Battle Royale is one of the most critically important foreign films of the last two decades, and delivers a knockout blow of violence and morality.

Rating: 4/5.
Verdict: The good.

Hana-Bi
Director/writer/actor

Kitano plays a police officer whose wife is dying from Cancer. In an effort to spend more time with her, he quits his job, and travels around the Japanese countryside with her. On top of this, his best friend gets shot whilst on the job, and gets put in a wheelchair for life, burdening him with guilt.

It is impossible to describe the surreal and captivating experience of watching Hana-Bi, but providing you’re open to such a complex blend of genres into one film, you’re assured to find a beautiful and bittersweet gem.

Hana-Bi is a brilliant encapsulation of Kitano’s style and ability, and is a perfect blend of drama, violence, love, and black comedy. Whether it be his masterful and artistic direction, his poetic and ingenious writing, or his career defining performance, Hana-Bi showcases Kitano’s talents perfectly. An absolute must see, and a severely underrated masterpiece.

Rating: 5/5.
Verdict: The good.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the reviews, and a brief highlight of one of today’s most prolific directors. I’ll have some more reviews up next week of American Graffiti, Four Lions, and whatever my girlfriend decides to get from Blockbuster.

James