Review of Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) by Kathy S — 09 May 2009

"Django" is a 1966 Italian spaghetti western that was similar to the previously released Clint Eastwood classic "A Fistful of Dollars", which is a remake of a Japanese samurai classic "Yojimbo". Takashi Miike is a highly prolific Japanese filmmaker, whose genre-blending films have either been praised for their originality, or revered due to controversial scenes of perverse sexual content and over-the-top violence. Quentin Tarantino is an American director whose use of nonlinear storylines, complex characters and dialogue, and stylish violence have made him a Hollywood legend. These three elements are just part of the creative dish known as "Sukiyaki Western Django".

Set in medieval Japan, the story is set in a western-like town named Yuta. Two rival clans, the Genji and Heike, show up in the town seeking a lost treasure and terrorizing the townspeople in the process. One day, a mysterious gunman "with no name" rides into town and decides to offer his services to the clan with the most wealth. During his stay, he meets an old woman with an extraordinary secret, a prostitute seeking revenge for the death of her husband, and a wide assortment of characters from the flamboyant leaders of the Genji and Heike clans to a sheriff with a split personality. Yeah, I said it! Eventually, both clans face each other, with the gunman in the middle. The one who claims the treasure in the end will be the last man standing.

Takashi Miike films are usually, if not always, unique and "Sukiyaki Western Django" is no different. Even though it is filmed entirely in Japan, Miike pays homage to the western genre from the dusty look of the town to the dialogue of the characters which, ironically enough, is spoken in English with a Japanese dialect. It sounds hilarious at first but after a while, you'll get used to it. Each character is unique and off-beat, and adds a cartoonish flair to an already cartoonish movie. The story is great, the action is over-the-top, the cinematography is surreal and beautiful, and the performances are impressive. Even the cameo by Quentin Tarantino himself is impressive, and downright laughable!

Fans of the twisted genius of both Takashi Miike and Quentin Tarantino will enjoy this film. Fans of spaghetti westerns, especially Clint Eastwood's and "Django" itself, should appreciate the film's tribute to the western genre, and the creative ways they keep it fresh and original. Anyone else seeking a film WAY out of the ordinary, and highly entertaining, should give this a look. Recommended like a hot pot of beef sukiyaki.