UNLUCKY MONKEY (1998) 
Reviewed By-Steve Genier
Directed By-Hiroyuki Tanaka (as Sabu)
Cast-Shinichi Tsutsumi, Hiroshi Shimizu, Akira Yamamoto, Ikko Suzuki and Kimika Yoshino.
Source-Grey Market DVD
Runtime-107mins
The title says it all with this interesting cross between Japanese Yakuza and comedy directed by Hiroyuki Tanaka or better known as Sabu. Starting off with a well executed series of events that has a bag of money exchange hands three times. The camera work and transitions during this sequence is fast paced and is a great lead off to the rest of the film. After robbing a bank, hence the bag of mola, the first theft is hit by a car and eventually is killed, causing the bag to fly up into the air, while another thief makes a running dive for it who also is hit by another car. So, you kind of think this bag of money is cursed, but the third thief and our main character Yamazaki has better luck, well at least longer then the other two did. As he runs from the police, he accidentally runs into a lady and stabs her in the stomach.
Sabu weaves this story with another which has three man who their Yakuza boss is jailed, forcing the other Yakuza gangs to pressure them to disband. As the boss of one Yakuza outfit warns them, a joke goes bad and the three accidentally killing the boss. Scrambling to hide the evidence they bury him. Meanwhile, wondering the streets, Yamazaki approaches a the police but decides to hide for cover. He flocks with a group of people who go into a near by building and enter a board room where a meeting is about to start. The group of people try out to be activists fighting for information from a company who they claim is polluting the local area. What seems to be a safe haven for Yamazaki at first, he quickly becomes center of attention when the he is centered out to give proof to the groups claim. Instead, he gives a hero's speech and quickly gains the respect of not only the group of activists, but the company leaders as well. The celebration is quickly turned to burden when Yamazaki reads an article in the local paper about the girl he had stabbed.
Though most of the middle part of the film is slow moving and really pretty much of a building stage for the end results, stick with it. The bad luck runs throughout the film, as seemly impossible situation continue to unravel. The burden of killing the girl becomes so overpowering to Yamazaki that he what to commit suicide to redeem his wrong, but again that's not an easy task as he eventually runs into the three outlawed ex-yakuza on the run. He offers them the 80 million yen with only one request, that they kill him. He leads them to the loot and all hell break loose. Let the start Sabu manages to finish on a strong note, having all the routes that have been laid out throughout the film unfold in one scene.
Not the strongest example of a Yakuza film, but it does display some very interesting aspects. Great cinematography is highlighted with it's hint at realism. Rapid transitions create a very smooth flow to the film especially during it's long-drown out middle section, the bridge to a strong start and an equally as strong finish. Catchy theme accompanies this as well, provided by Daisuke Okamoto, it echoes the popular trend in mob films in the early to mid 90's. A running theme that Quentin Tarantino perfected with his classic Reservoir Dog in 92. Very good acting and it has to be for some of the situations these actors are put through to convince you. Shinichi Tsutsumi portrayal of Yamazaki especially stands out, his depth is incredible. Able to quickly change from mood to mood, showing just how much his character is burdened by the ghost of the women he killed.
Highlights from the film: Of course the beginning sequence with the exchanging of the bag of money. Another would have to be while on the lamb, the three outlawed ex-yakuza taking a break having a few drinks at a bar. A hitman is sent in to kill them, now not an ordinary hitman either. This guy has a few loose screws, before entering the bar, he puts his gun into action and puts it in his pants belt directing between his legs. Upon entering the bar, he trips on a set of stairs landing on his face as the gun goes off shooting himself in the family jewels, messy stuff really, but none the less balls out funny!
