The Yakuza (1974)

Director: Sydney Pollack
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Brian Keith

Synopsis:
A former military policeman returns to Japan over twenty years after the war to rescue a friend's daughter from the yakuza, but saving her does not stop the yakuza from seeking to settle the score.

Impressions:
Usually you can't expect much out of Hollywood when it comes to the yakuza, but this movie was blessed with a writer with a good handle on Japanese culture and a joint production with Toei ensured respectful treatment and authenticity. There's a nice undercurrent of the contrast and conflict of traditionalism and modernity blended with the tragedy of love and loss, friendship and betrayal. Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura make a good combo and while the action isn't particularly elegant, it has a messy, realistic feel to it which keeps it grounded with the setting. I have to give Mitchum a nod for delivering pretty good Japanese lines and I'll note that while the subtitles aren't entirely accurate, they tell you what you need to know, filling in some blanks that you may not be able to fill via inference. In his review, Roger Ebert complained of the plot being too complicated, but for stories like this, it isn't that bad in my view. If you're not accustomed to unwinding knotted plots, you may need to give it a second watch. At very least, give it a first watch. This is good stuff and I recommend it.

Rating:
Watch It