Cruel Gun Story (Takumi Furukawa, 1964)

One of the later efforts included in the Nikkatsu Noir series is Cruel Gun Story, which also features the great Joe Shishido as a hit man released from prison in order to pull a big heist for Yakuza mobsters.

Of all the films included in the collection, Cruel Gun Story really feels like the most Americanized of the lot. This standard plot line goes in numerous unexpected directions. We all know the best laid plans rarely go as scheduled, especially when the crew asssembled by the mob to assist our anti-hero consists of junkies, down and out prize fighters, and twitchy gunslingers with femme fatale in tow.

Fans of films like The Usual Suspects, Kubrick's early heist flick The Killing and early Quentin Tarantino are sure to love this highly stylized potboiler loaded with plot twists and the kind of dazzling imagery consistent with this excellent collection. Also in the mix is an unforgettable score by Masayoshi Ikeda.

I Am Waiting (Koreyoshi Kurahara, 1957)

here's another installment in the nikkatsu noir series, the earliest effort in the collection.

nikkatsu was one of japan's largest movie studios. in the late 1950's as younger social and political attitudes were challenging the old ways, nikkatsu set out to create a wave of films that reflected the changing times. using western potboiler plots and classic american noir as springboards, numerous pictures were made by some of japan's younger filmmakers who were also eager to offer audiences someting different than the traditions offered by kurosawa, ozu, and mizoguchi.

i am waiting is a great example of such cinema. the story concerns a young boxer who meets a mysterious girl one night and is pulled into a whirlpool of mob intrigue that inadvertantly leads him to acheive justice for a crime committed against his family. his search for truth must first overcome enough chandleresque obstacles to bewilder even philip marlowe. there are a few short lulls in the first hour, but the final acts course a twisted plot that will keep audiences on their toes. as always with these nikkatsu pulp classics, imaginative imagery and shadowy photography associated with the finest noir films grace the frames of i am waiting from start to finish.

Sam wrote: ":o) ... did it feel familiar because the same actor is playing the same character (or do i have that wrong)? or because the subject matter is the same..."

i would say a little of both...because this iconic actor is a kind of clint eastwood of (a certain kind of) japanese cinema...you know? if there's a western and clint is in it you're going to expect a certain kind of performance. actually dirty harry is probably more apt in this case.

it's also because the story lines are similar (both borrow classic noir elements that deal with honor and trust).

:o) ... somehow i can imagine exactly that pg ... it sounds like a pile of fun ... thank you

did it feel familiar because the same actor is playing the same character (or do i have that wrong)? or because the subject matter of both films is the same?

i've decided to switch this to a nikkatsu noir thread, and review all the films in the box set (since i just picked it up...)

A Colt Is My Passport (Takashi Nomura, 1967)

here's a new release on the criterion collection's eclipse series called nikkatsu noir, which features a few japanese neo-noir classics from the fertile 1960's. this ensures suppliers like netflix will have it in stock.

for those of you that have seen seijun suzuki's branded to kill, a colt is my passport will feel strangely familiar. actor joe shishido was suzuki's james bond alter ego, offering a wry sense of humor that allows for a bit more restraint than connery's swagger. this time around, shishido takes on the yakuza mobsters who hire him to kill a rival boss and then go after him for doing the job. nomura's direction is more restrained when compared to suzuki's near-hallucinogenic style of exposition. this makes the film feel more american in some respects, although it's hard to think of an american noir film from the 60's that offers nomura's dazzling visual sense and outstanding cinematography. tarantino fans will love the spaghetti western style soundtrack by harumi ibe.

this is a great film and highly recommended for anyone that can imagine enjoying a japanese bill murray playing an indestructible james bond.