Review of Black Rain (1989) by Arnold S — 14 Mar 2008

My favourite film.

Ridley Scott takes us on a journey through the Japanese underworld, with two New York cops as our out-of-depth guides.

After chasing down a Yakuza gangster in New York, Michael Douglas and his partner Andy Garcia are charged to take him back to Japan where he is a wanted felon. A clever ploy at the airport enables the prisoner to escape and now Douglas and Garcia must help track him down once more.

Michael Douglas is suberb as Nick Conklin. He is a cop under pressure as he is being investigated back home for corruption, so cannot be seen to be letting criminals go. Douglas captures the character's stubborness beautifully, as he bashes his way through this undergound world he knows nothing about. Andy Garcia is also perfectly cast as his likeable partner, Charlie, who is only too happy and loyal to help Conklin get his man.

Ken Takakura is also outstanding is the Japanese officer assigned to the US pair. The fact that he is the embodiment of everything that Douglas hates - 'a suit' - feeds the tension between them well until both begin to see the merits in each others qualities.

Ridley Scott's direction fits in perfectly with the landscape of the film - especially post- Bladerunner. Most shots are tight around the actors, enabling the viewer to relate to their view of a strange new place - only taking in what is immediately around them and never feeling a sense of grounding. Our leads are strangers in a dangerous world and Scott helps sustain this feeling throughout.

The script is a fantastic product of the 80's, with a wonderul story structure as well as brilliant one-liners. "I usually get kissed before I get fucked," Douglas spits out at his superior. These are the kind of lines with a certain delivery that can't be copied anymore. In the 80's they worked, now they would just seemed spoofed.

Hans Zimmer provides a good score and Jan De Bont some beautiful cinematography. All in all, I think this film is as closed to perfect as I've seen any cop thriller be.

The fact that it is a cop thriller, and that the 80's were full of them, is much to the detriment of its reputation. As outstanding a film as it is, it is unspectacular in its story which has made it easily forgettable to most viewers over the years.

Take the time to watch this one and I am sure you will quickly realise its merits and give it the credit it duly deserves.

Amazing film.