Review of The Yakuza (1974) by Allan C — 16 Aug 2015
A unique action film film in several ways. First, it's directed by Sydney Pollack who made some good thrillers ("Three Days of the Condor," "The Firm" and "The Interpreter"), but never really made what I'd consider an action film.
This is also seem more overtly stylized than any of other Pollock's films. This film also seems to be one of the few that I can think of outside of Samuel Fuller's "Crimson Kimono" that tried to explain Japanese culture to American audiences in a post-WWII Japan setting.
Written by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne from a story by Schrader's brother, the film follows the always excellent Robert Mitchum traveling back to Japan for the firs time since the war to help his old friend Brian Keith deal with some problems he's having with the Yakuza.
The film spends a lot of time going over Japanese cultural aspects and information about the Yakuza that are old hat to audiences now and have been covered many times (along with Karaoke bars and Pachinko).
This one is probably my favorite of Mitchum's later career films and essential viewing for Mitchum fans. Very cool film.
This review of The Yakuza (1974) was written by Allan C on 16 Aug 2015.
The Yakuza has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
