Criticature: "Toyko Drifter"---- 7/5/10

Pee-Wee Herman by way of Jet Li?

 The story is simple and yet it’s really not. I mean, it’s reeeeally not.

One of the most nonsensical gangster movies you’ll ever see, we jump right into the thick of things as ex-gangster “Phoenix” Tetsu tries to absolve himself of his criminal past. Of course things could never be that easy for a former gangster. So, in a glorious little black-and-white prefatory remark in which Tetsu is promptly beaten for his troubles, we’ve received our first enticing invitation from Japanese cult master Seijun Suzuki.

From there, it’s a telescopic flight through the looking glass as Tetsu finds himself on the run from rivaling Yakuza big-wigs who’d rather see him wear bullets than his blue-suede threads.

Known for his rebel attitude against studio execs, racy (but always masterful) content, and an expansive body of work (almost 40 films for Nikkatsu Company alone), this…companion piece to his number one son, “Branded to Kill”, is signature B-picture bliss. It’s a colorful criminal haiku that’s so brave it doesn’t even need to bother with silly things like coherence or sanity.

But if you’ve got the patient and carefree attitude this might just become a favorite.

Recommended if: 1.) You don’t mind turning that annoying critic in your head off when you watch a movie. What’s his name again? Oh yeah, B. Rain. He’s old and crotchety and doesn’t like anything. Tell him to shut up. 2.) You’ve always wanted to know what it would look like if someone staged a shoot-out on the set of “New York, New York” 3.) You’re continually amazed and captivated by Japan’s ability to rob common sense from the most commonplace of scenarios.

****
Seijun Suzuki…………………………Director

Kôhan Kawauchi………………..Writer

Tetsuro Nakagawa……………..Producer


Cast:
Tetsuya Watari………………….Tetsuya 'Phoenix Tetsu' Hondo
Chieko Matsubara……………. .Chiharu
Hideaki Nitani…………………. Kenji Aizawa
Ryuji Kita………………………Kurata
Tsuyoshi Yoshida………………Keiichi
Eimei Esumi…………………....Otsuka
Tamio Kawaji…………………Tatsuzo, The Viper
Eiji Go………………………...Tanaka
Tochiko Hamakawa…………..Mutsuko
Isao Tamagawa……………….Umetani
Michio Hino…………………..Yoshii
Shuntaro Tamamura…………..Koyanagi
Hiroshi Chô…………………..Kumamoto
Shinzo Shibata………………..Otoyoshi
Yuzo Kiura…………………...Fujimura
Yu Izumi……………………...Detective Sakai