Violent CopRating:
Release Date: 13 February, 2001 Retail Price: $19.98 OUR Price: $17.99 You SAVE: $1.99! Cast: |
Violent Cop Reviews
Superb film
Violent Cop
Starring: Takeshi Kitano
Not rated
After watching this movie, most people ask themselves at least one of these three questions: is there any relevance in Violent Cop's slow shots of various people walking down streets, is there any point to the acts of violence that take place in the course of the movie, and most importantly is this film trying to prove anything? Well, here are the answers: the point of the slow shots is because Takeshi Kitano, its director and uncredited co-writer has made a film that strips everything back to its bare minimum. It removes character development, almost all dialogue, and everything else that other writers and directors see as necessities. In answer to the second question, is the violence necessary. Yes, it is, mostly as a template for other directors on how to actually do it. I am definitely not the only one that is sick of the ten-minute fight scenes of movies like the Matrix that are merely unrealistic and stupid replacements for a decent script or solid acting. The way that Takeshi Kitano presents violence is that he does not hesitate, but does not dwell on it either. A few seconds (if that) and it's all over, and likely to never be mentioned again. As for the third question, I'll answer that at the end.
The script was originally intended to be essentially Dirty Harry as a comedy, but when the original director had to quit at the last minute Kitano took over and heavily rewrote the script to remove all comedy and most dialogue. What is left is a thin plot and characters who never say more than three words at a time. And boy is it effective. Violent Cop is essentially what every film is made up of without all of the "fillers" like dialogue. The end result is quite startling.
The characters were never meant to be of any great importance in Kitano's films. Kitano (or Beat Takeshi as he is known in the acting world) as usual just kind of sits around, expressionless, and occasionally kills someone. The characters were never meant to be any big part in it, because Kitano realises that when looking at the plot as a whole, the characters mean nothing. If there is one thing to be said about the characters that Kitano often plays in his films is that he first appears to have no personality, but the less he says, the more you know about him. Sure, he pretty much plays the same character over and over again, but he is a truly astonishing actor.
The film's opening scenes are a very good indication of what is yet to come. A gang of street punks bash up a poor homeless man while protagonist/antagonist (he seems to be a mixture of both) Yamamoto watches. Instead of intervening, he follows one of the kids home, enters the house and after flashing his badge walks into the kid's room. Yamamoto gives the kid a brutal beating and demands that he will admit to what he has done. And from here, the movie begins. Yamamoto is assigned to a drug related case and as a result of his snooping his disturbed sister is kidnapped, and it is up to him to save her. The film goes out with one of the most unexpected conclusions in recent memory, and we are given no explanation as to why this occurs. It's a great scene, but you're going to have to watch it if you want to know what it is.
It goes without saying that a movie called Violent Cop is going to be violent, but usually one would be expecting over the top action scenes and car chases. Not so, all the violence here is very realistic, and at times a little unsettling, especially in one scene involving a baseball bat and a lot of blood. So it's no Brother (reviewed!) but it is undoubtedly graphic at times.
In the answer to the last question, the film does have a point: the point is that life doesn't always work out the way you want it to. You think you know how the film will end, but the truth is you have no idea, and it is a reflection of real life rather than the unrealistic happy endings usually in movies. Kitano is known for his bleak conclusions, and I'm thankful that Zatoichi went out with such an awesome ending (Best. Dance number. Ever.) because, to be honest, the ending of this film left me kinda depressed. Keep in mind: this is not the first Kitano film you should see, checking out Zatoichi or Hana-Bi beforehand would be a very wise idea. This is a truly enjoyable movie that would pave the way for bigger and better things for Kitano, and comes recommended for fans of Asian cinema.
Grittier Than Some, More Contemplative Than Most
Perhaps not the best of Takeshi Kitano's movies (I have to admit to preference for Hana-Bi on many levels) but this is by far the grittiest of Takeshi's work. In his directorial debut, famous Japanese television comedian Takeshi Kitano (more commonly known as `Beat' Takeshi) plays Azuma, a brutal but honorable cop who runs out of patience - a Dirty Harry of sorts. Azuma's stifling daily routine necessitates him dealing with - among other things - a naive new partner as well as taking care of, mentally challenged sister. Azuma reaches his breaking point when a fellow cop is killed and drug dealers take prisoner his sister. It is time to take matters in his own hands and Azuma begins taking a different approach - vengeful course that crescendo in a shocking finale. AS mentioned previously, Violent Cop is a startling first feature from Kitano, who replaced director Kinji Fukasaku. First and foremost a television comedian, Kitano allegedly reworked the script to better suit his dark mis-en-scene visualization of the film. This turn of events serves an absorbing introduction to his one of its kind directorial style. Kitano intermixes scenes of intense violence with beautifully contemplative shots - as is evidenced in Hana-Bi aka Fireworks and Boiling Point (both also available on Amazon.com). Notches above in the yakuza genre by adding a contemplative twist, Kitano's films are signposts in 20th century Japanese cinema.
Miguel Llora
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