Review of Tokyo Drifter (1966) by Eric F — 09 Jun 2009

"Tokyo Drifter" was directed by Seijun Suzuki, a highly controversial Japanese director who specialized in stylish B-movies. He completed 40 movies with the Nikkatsu studio before being fired after releasing "Branded to Kill", one of many films the studioheads heralded as incomprehensible. He was largely blacklisted by the studio system, however he continued with his cult success releasing independently produced films. Suzuki's highly stylized "Tokyo Drifter" has influenced a number of modern films including Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill: Volume I", and it remains a feast for the eyes.

The film centers around a disbanded gang run by ex boss Kurata (Ryuji Kita). After deciding to go straight, Kurata attempts to purchase a high-rise office building with a loan from banker Yoshii (Michio Hino). Meanwhile, however, a rival gang lead by Otsuka (Hideaki Esumi) roughs up Tetsuya (Tetsuya Watari), Kurata's former right-hand man, after trying to convince him to join their gang. Otsuka then schemes to take control of Kurata's building and gets Yoshii to sign the deeds over to him. His hired hitman, "Viper" Tatsu (Tamio Kawachi), kills Yoshii and frames Kurata. Tetsuya now must flee Tokyo and avoid the Otsuka gang, and thus he becomes the "tokyo drifter" of the title. Tetsuya, clad in a powder blue suit and sunglasses, whistles his own theme song as he evades the Otsuka gang.

The plot is absolutely convoluted. We're introduced to a number of significant players right as the film begins, and unless you're keeping a scorecard it'll take awhile to sort out who's who. This is a fault of the film - because we're not given much breathing room, we're struggling to keep up instead of being able to immerse ourselves in the story. You may need to see the film twice in order to really see it once.

As overwrought as the plot is, "Tokyo Drifter" achieves all it's success through it's visuals. There is a ballet-like final showdown in self-aware film set, but only after an absurd fight scene in a saloon that pays homage to American westerns. Those fond of "Kill Bill" will absolutely find something to love in the stylized violence and extremely striking colors.

"Tokyo Drifter", however, doesn't have a heck of a lot going for it outside of it's visuals. It's plot is forgettable and familiar, and it's characters are so relentlessly "cool" that they're kept emotionally distant. I kept thinking, while watching Tetsuya plow through baddies, "do I really care if he lives or dies?" The answer is no. While an absolute achievement in set design and cinematography, "Tokyo Drifter" fails to deliver a coherent narrative that completely captivates it's audience. A perfect example of style over substance - but, it's certainly such a fantastically stylish film that i'd imagine most people won't care.