(1972)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-KINJI FUNASAKU CAST-BUNTA SUGAWARA, NOBORU ANDO, MAYUMI NAGISA, ASAO KOIKE, NOBORU MITANI and NOBUO YANA. SOURCE-EUREKA VIDEO PAL R2 DVD
Isamu (BUNTA SUGAWARA) is a no holds barred street mobster that let no one own him. He likes his women, his likes to fight and most of all doesn’t let the rival mobs scare him. When a rival gang (Takigawa) tries to muscle in on his territory, he fights back only to get caught hence a jail term. Still while inside, gang politics rule, but not Isamu, they just harden him. After serving his sentence, he is released only to find the old ways are gone, things on the outside are different. Still, that doesn’t deter Isamu in reaching his ultimate goal. He teams up with Kizaki, who has a plan to reunite Isamu’s old gang and to take a run for a territory. When they knock off rival gang, Yato’s businesses, their leader Okita takes them into their gang after saving them from impending death at the hands of the Takigawa gang.
This on the quick thinking of Kizaki who must try to save Isamu as he is shot. Of course this is against Isamu’s wishes. Once apart of the Yato gang, Isamu and Kizaki are assigned to their own territory where women and gamble rule the land. As the money rolls in, Isamu quickly gets bored of responsibilities that come with being a Yakuza. It was much more simplier one he was just a street mobster and he had his own ruling. Tensions run high as the leader of an outside gang comes to meet with the Takigawa and the possibility of sharing a piece of territory. Isuma sees the opportunity to break the mold and start a gang war, as he challenges Mr. Owada, who is the gang leader from Kobe. The bloody war begins as key people are killed off and overall positions shift. This is a war that Isuma can’t control as it wages onto his heels.
This is my first adventure into the bloody Yakuza battlegrounds of the 70's and director Kinji Fukasuka’s raw but real vision. Certainly a very explosive way to begin with this Japanese cinema genre as things tend to get quite bloody. Though I’m sure this is not the bloodiest this genre gets either. The main reason this film is complete and absolutely thrill given is the brutal force that actor Bunta Sugawara brings to the Isuma character. Never really giving care to his actions, never ever really shedding a tear, this guy is sheer brute force as his tough talk and fist gives you the viewer all the evidence needed to back it all up. Many of you who follow this genre know just how good actor Bunta Sugawara really is too, as he has dawned pretty much ever Japanese crime classic through the late 60's and much of the 70's. Films like Kosaku Yamashita’s 1974 crime/action film THE TATTOOED HIT MAN and Kinji Fukasuka’s 1969 classic JAPAN ORGANIZED CRIME BOSS. Of course that is only barely scratching the surface as to the impact he had on this films during this period. The sad things about this all though is, it took for his Fukasuka's late success with BATTLE ROYALE to actually open up a wide Western eye to his work and yet still there is so much more he has to offer even though he is now dead.
The film itself is chocked full of raw action and blood curdling killings. Paced at an ultra high speed, giving you complete numbness as the visual drug works it’s way through your red-blooded veins. That of course is not it as director Fukasuka pulls out just about every weapon to give STREET MOBSTER that already edgy cinematic feel. Not only is there gun play and blood splattering all over the screen, but what’s a film in this vein without it’s fair share of nudity. This is geared towards the male and there is certainly no excuses pulled here. Not to forget that STREET MOBSTER isn’t lacking in it’s style either, because there is plenty of it here. Utilizing some of the most influential methods that still to this day are used in many of Japan’s crime/action films. Everything from the camera work to the film’s catchy of the day score, to tell you the truth they are both very much timeless even after several viewings.
The Eureka Video release of this is either sold separately or through their limited edition triple pack honoring director Kinji Fukasaku with his other films YAKUZA GRAVEYARD and BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR & HUMANITY. STREET MOBSTER is presented in 16:9 anamorphic wide screen with is original Japanese audio and English subtitles, though only Digital Mono. The picture is a little grainy and shows that the restoration process his lacking a little here. Extras wise, there’s not a whole lot being offered up here as there is only a photo gallery, trailer and Fukasaku bio. Still, with the impact in which this film illuminates, this is simply enough to fork out those hard earned dollars, for this is the best option yet.
STORY-4.5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-2.5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-2.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-2.5 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-3 BITCH SLAPS Buy this disc at X-Ploited Cinema
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