American Yakuza (1993)

Director: Frank A Cappello
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Ryo Ishibashi, Michael Nouri

Synopsis:
An ex-convict gets a job working at a warehouse, where he saves a mid-level yakuza from a mob hit. He is slowly drawn into the world of the yakuza, only he is really an undercover FBI agent charged with taking down their operations.

Impressions:
I've always found undercover stories to be interesting and using the yakuza adds a little exoticism to it. It's dangerous to romanticize organized crime, but there is something alluring about the yakuza. While this film was made after the bubble burst in Japan, the spike in Hollywood's interest still remained. It's an interesting look from the outside. I particularly liked the camaraderie that formed between Viggo Mortensen and Ryo Ishibashi's characters. Michael Nouri also leaves a solid impression as the mafioso Campanela. For this kind of story, it's solid and I recommend giving it a watch.

Rating:
Watch It