Review of Branded to Kill (1967) by Daniel O — 10 Jan 2013

Very 60s. Though some may call it dated, Seijun Suzuki's 1960s pop-art aesthetic is thoroughly entertaining and unlike many films from that era, actually looks good. Suzuki's frenetic camerawork feels akin to what Jean Luc Godard was doing with films like "Breathless," only I find this film more enjoyable.

I love the chipmunk-cheeked protagonist Hanada (Jo Shishido), the number 3 killer who finds himself a target after he botches up an assassination. His fetish for sniffing steaming rice is hilarious and reminds me of the quirkiness that Quentin Tarantino uses in his films.

Though some of the plot elements may be somewhat sketchy, this film is thoroughly enjoyable and memorable and achieves what it sets out to do, which is to be a fun, brutal yakuza flick.