The Yakuza (1975)

Good concept, poorly executed.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

for a lover of old classic cinema, a must see. for a story about duty, past and duty. for inspired script and for the smart use of clichés. and, sure, for Robert Mitchell in a role who seems be perfect for him. because Japan of "Yakuza" has the gift to be a complex and realistic portrait . traditions, history, crime, the war against a powerful organization. and, sure, an admirable story of friendship. short, one of films for see it time by time.

Asked to negotiate the release of a friend's daughter, held hostage by the Yakuza, a private investigator travels to Japan with an ulterior motive of visiting a former girlfriend in this crime drama scripted by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne. Accompanied by one of Dave Grusin's most melancholic scores and edited with a slew of dreamy dissolves, this is an atmospheric film through and through with Robert Mitchum very sympathetic in the lead role with his yearning to recapture a romance once lost. The pacing of the project never quite feels right though. The story is just as much about Mitchum trying to evade attempts on his life, but any sense of danger or urgency becomes lost amid the dreamy shots of Mitchum wandering the streets and shots of his longing eyes when with his former girlfriend. An attempt on Mitchum's life in a Japanese bathing house is certainly quite memorable, but for a film credited as an Action movie on IMDb, the thrills and exciting moments are few and far between. On one hand, there is a lot to like in the film's daringness to be offbeat, offering something vastly different to what 'The Godfather' did for the Mafia being portrayed on screen, and yet this is a film barely about the Yakuza themselves. The film is at least topped off with a memorable conclusion in which Mitchum succumbs to a particular Yakuza ritual. In fact, his heartfelt turn alone is almost enough to make the film worth an unreserved recommendation, but this is ultimately a movie best watched with caution and as few expectations as possible.

I am writing this as a lifelong movie fan, a great admirer of Sydney Pollack's skill at directing everything from the genres of "Jeremiah Johnson" to "Tootsie" to "Out of Africa," someone with a graduate degree in Japanese psychological anthropology from Sophia University, Tokyo, and someone who lived in Japan for 30 years. A cheesy gaijin's (外人の）impression of Japan, "The Yakuza" is chock full of stereotypical things and scenes one will never see in Japan due to strict laws, heavy law enforcement, and the astronomical price of real estate in urban Japan. Immediately after World War II, the Japanese firearm and sword law effectively prohibited the private ownership of both guns and swords. Yet, in "The Yakuza," Herb Edelman's house in Kyoto is an arsenal of swords and firearms openly displayed on the walls. He owns even more guns hidden in drawers. Without any visible means of support, Herb Edelman owns a house in the Kyoto area that is financially impossibly spacious and full of items, such as a huge "Japanese lantern" that looks like he stole it from a shinto shrine. "Gaijin," written 外人 in kanji, is the term that Japanese people colloquially (and rather insultingly) use for "foreigner." It is composed of two characters that literally mean "outside person."

This film opens with a helpful definition of its title. But, being short and to the point, a good translation for "The Yakuza" would be "The (Japanese) Mafia". Retiring detective Robert Mitchum (as Harry Kilmer) is called by full-haired friend Brian Keith (as George Tanner) because the latter's daughter Louise has been kidnapped by "The Yakuza". The men joke about their advanced years and travel on separate planes, to avoid looking suspicious. Arriving in Japan, Mr. Mitchum seeks help from old friend Ken Takakura (as Tanaka Ken), who reportedly gave up the gangster lifestyle. Also involved is Mitchum's still young and beautiful old girlfriend Keiko Kishi (as Eiko)...Accompanied by tender narration, Mitchum visiting his former Japanese girlfriend at "Kilmer House" is a high point for director Sydney Pollack and the crew, in this otherwise numbing gangster epic. The scene ends on an obvious and sour note, when we get a hint about her hiding a dark secret...The most beautifully staged and photographed (by Okazaki Kozo) scene occurs with Mitchum and young bodyguard Richard Jordan (as Dusty) at a Japanese bath. This sequence manages to be both beautiful and gruesome. Other scenes are notable for their violent content, which even make hard-nosed Mitchum wince… several times. Most of the time, Mitchum and Takakura speak clearly and trade steely-eyed stares. The setting helps, but maintaining interest is difficult after Mr. Jordan and Christina Kokubo (as Hanako) exit the story. The young couple has surprising appeal and re-writes giving them more time on screen together would have been a good idea.***** The Yakuza (1974-12-21) Sydney Pollack ~ Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Richard Jordan, Brian Keith