Review of High and Low (1933) by David K — 03 Mar 2009

[b]High and Low.

[/b]This film, more than any other, proved to me that Akira Kurosawa is not only a great director, but he is also an immensely versatile one. While [i]High and Low [/i]contains many of the trademark touches that Kurosawa is known for, it is a film that feels distinctly unique from his other works. It is this combination of traditional Kurosawa and fresh technique that makes [i]High and Low [/i]such a wonderful film.

With this film, Kurosawa proves that not only is he a master of the period epic, but he is also a master of film noir. Here he creates a thriller that is on par with the best of Alfred Hitchcock, and he also adds the meaningful layers to the film that always make his works so complete. Not only is [i]High and Low [/i]a masterpiece of the film noir genre, it is also a truly thoughtful look at class relations in Japan, and in my opinion these themes also extend to almost anywhere else in the world.

Tishiro Mifune gives a wonderful lead performance that even surpasses his terrific work in [i]Throne of Blood. [/i]From my view, this is easily his best performance. Mifune plays subtle at all the right moments, but his screen presence is always felt. Like Bogart, Brando, Pacino, and Nicholson, Mifune is one of those dominating actors that you can just feel on screen even when they aren't doing or saying anything at all. Mifune is complimented by several supporting actors who all do wonderful work. Up and down, there isn't a weak link in this ensemble.

Though this may be a debatable point, I believe [i]High and Low [/i]is Kurosawa's most stylistically accomplished film. A scene in particular that I found to be stunning was when the kidnapper enters the dance club. Words cannot describe the amount of [i]cool [/i]that is literally dripping from this scene. The train sequence is yet another example of stylistic brilliance, and is probably one of the best sequences Kurosawa has ever shot. From beginning to end, this film is the product of Kurosawa being in the prime of his artistic career. From a technical standpoint, it trumps even [i]Ran[/i], which is often regarded as his technical masterpiece.

I say without a moment of hesitation that [i]High and Low [/i]is the best Kurosawa film I have ever seen. It is leaps and bounds better than [i]Throne of Blood [/i]which I consider to be a masterpiece in itself. I cannot thank DCC enough for this wonderful reccomendation.