Review of Tokyo Drifter (1966) by Henry F — 12 Aug 2007

There is a fine line that directors must balance upon when it comes to style over content. Tokyo Drifter has numerous moments where you can almost feel ringmaster Seijun Suzuki faltering, whipping, & attempting to tame his beasts of sound, colour, and Nikkatsu-scope. For the most part he is successful, yet the story does on occasion become lost and things only really settle about halfway through, allowing one to enjoy the world of a reformed Yakuza, drifting through Japan essentially awaiting his own execution.

Though slightly dated, the film is groundbreaking and one could easily make comparisons to the present-day work of Wong Kar-Wai with its dominant themes of music & colour. Yet it is the decision to tell great parts of the action through reaction that work so well. One doesn?t witness the face of the antagonist but merely the response; the overarching sense of deception that is created is astonishing.