TIFF 2012 HIGHLIGHT #1: OUTRAGE BEYOND

As much as I loved Outrage (one of the 20 best films of last year) I honestly didn’t think it would spawn a sequel (or a possible part three, judging how Outrage Beyond ended). As I mentioned in my Toronto preview for the pink smoke, almost everyone from the first movie died. My initial thoughts upon hearing of an Outrage sequel was: why make a sequel with damn near all new characters? Just make a new movie. But Kitano manages to pull things off nicely. With the lack of good and/or overrated mafia/organized crime films in recent years (Gomorrah and The Departed to name a few), Outrage and Outrage Beyond are a breath of fresh air to the genre. Over the years I’ve become a HUGE Takeshi Kitano fan mostly due to the discovery to his brilliant film; Sonatine (1994). I'll see just about anything he directs and/or acts in (especially his grittier work like Boiling Point and Violent Cop). He gets a pass on certain things that I give other filmmakers tons shit for and I don't fully know why (but hey at least I recognize my hypocrisies). He has this ability to tap in to my dark sense of humor unlike most directors working today. Anyone familiar with Kitano's career should know that not many modern Japanese actor/directors have the same kinda range and versatility as him. From violent existential gangster films like 'Sonatine' & family-oriented films like; Kikujiro to his darkly comedic portrayal as a twisted teacher in the post-lord of the flies/pre-hunger games/kids killing kids on a deserted island cult Classic; Battle Royale - he's kinda done it all. So basically what I’m trying to say is that I’m kinda bias when it comes to his work so take that for what its worth. But at the same time I DO understand that he’s an acquired taste and not everyone "gets" him. Take the audience at the TIFF screening the other day for example - by the time Outrage Beyond was over, I noticed a good chunk of the audience had thinned out.
Right off the bat I will say that watching Outrage Beyond made me miss the presence of "Mizuno" - (Otomo’s right-hand man played by Kippei Shiina who was killed off in the final moments of Outrage). Besides Kitano, Mizuno made the film so much more enjoyable for me with his evil performance kinda reminiscent of Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs. At the end of Outrage, a film you obviously have to see in order to follow Outrage Beyond, main character: Otomo (Kitano) is locked away in jail (although presumed dead by his enemies), all of his crew has been killed off (with the exception of Ishihara, who double crossed him in order to join forces with Kato who's now in charge of all yakuza activity after secretly killing off his predecessor at the end of Outrage). Outrage Beyond doesn’t really give any kind of summary of the first film or a brief synopsis for those who haven’t seen the first part. It really dumps you right in the middle of things from the start. As you can tell from the description, the plot can be a lil difficult to follow as there's a ton of double, triple & quadruple crossing.

In Outrage Beyond we pick up with Otomo after he's been let out of prison early (thanks to Kataoka, the corrupt police commissioner from the first film) so he can join forces with his former yakuza rival: Kimura (the man who's face Otomo slashes up in the first movie) to bring order back to the Yakuza that's become way too corrupt and infested with younger members who don’t show respect to the older generation of Yakuzas. Yes I realize it sounds odd saying that an illegal crime organization like the Yakuza has become TOO corrupt but in Takeshi Kitano’s world, the bad guys (yakuza) are the good guys and the good guys (the police) are really the bad guys. Kitano’s last two features have kinda drawn heavily from that vintage gritty world of old school Scorsese where dirty cops take payoffs and people get bumped off at the drop of a hat. And speaking of people getting bumped off, Outrage Beyond has quite a ridiculous body count in the final 45 minutes of the film (I honestly lost count). The few reviewers from the Venice film festival who reported that the murders were substantially less than Outrage must have not stayed for the last half of the movie (there's a particularly tough murder to watch that involves a drill). Now I will not lie, the first hour of Outrage Beyond does border on being rather tedious and boring. But if you can hang in there and manage to pay attention (it’s a bit difficult to keep track of who's who with so many characters) the last half of the film is a great payoff.
Outrage Beyond also makes a few subtle references to past Kitano films like Violent Cop and Sonatine.
Kitano's lead performance is just as laid back and apathetic as the old school ex-yakuza boss who's grown tired of the same 'ol boring life of execution style murders, finger chopping and double crosses ("there's even a moment when he utters the phrase: "I'm getting too old for this shit"). He has that "old man who doesn't give a fuck" swag in Outrage Beyond. He barks back and talks shit when a gun is pointed in his face and shoots people without blinking an eye. His stone face DOES make it difficult to determine whether something is supposed to be funny or not but I think that's part of what I like about him so much.
Unfortunately because there are so many characters in this film it’s difficult to remember another standout performance besides Kitano's. If you happen to be in New York City or the tri-state area there's a strong chance this will probably end up playing at The Japan Society just like Outrage did last year.



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OUTRAGE

Takeshi Kitano's latest, which was the closing film for the Japan Society film series; "Hardest Men In Town: Yakuza Chronicles of Sin, Sex & Violence", was a return to his unique take on the yakuza genre that most people know him for. A strange mixture of over the top violence, existentialism and dead-pan delivery reminiscent of Bresson. 'Outrage' is getting a lot of mixed reviews on places like rotten tomatoes and mubi.com, but take it from me; this movie is GREAT. For those of you who love Kitano's work like 'Sonatine', i can almost guarantee you will love this. While watching this movie, at any given point you will; die laughing, look away in disgust (see picture), or contemplate the life of the lead character. Rarely while watching a movie in a packed audience did i feel so much synchronicity with a group of people i would normally dislike had i not been in the same movie theater with them and enjoying the same thing.
'Outrage' is a movie about double, triple and quadruple crossing within a few closely knit Yakuza Families, and one man's ultimate rise to power by playing everyone against themselves. In fact, I'd say the films only 2 issues were the complexity of all the back stabbing (they seem to happen every 15 minutes or so) and the fact that it can be difficult to follow who is with what Yakuza clan at certain points in the film. Those elements didn't really bother me, but i can totally see how those aspects of the film would annoy people.
Takeshi Kitano also stars in the lead role as "Otomo", an under boss who gets caught up in the convoluted back stabbing and turf wars. At certain points in the film, it almost feels like Kitano is poking fun at the Japanese gangster genre. I think he knows that scenes of loud, overly dramatic acting Japanese men yelling at each other in a small room for 5 minutes at a time is kinda funny and that's why there's plenty of that in the movie. Something that also might get overlooked in the movie is Kitano's performance. Takeshi Kitano may have one of the all time greatest faces in cinema. He has one of the best expressionless faces. And this has always been the case, long before his reconstructive facial surgery. When he yells, smiles, laughs, whatever, theres still a bit of apathy and boredom in his face that always makes you crack up more than usual. Given Jim Jarmusch's fascination (at times) with Japanese culture, I'm surprised that he and Kitano have never collaborated on a film before. And honestly, these days, I would much rather Kitano act in a Jarmusch film instead of a Tarrantino film, who's notorious for his fascination with asian culture.
The existential nature of the film i mentioned earlier has to do with Otomo's seemingly growing apathy for the yakuza lifestyle. He seems to be sick and tired of the finger chopping, turf wars and other things that come with the life of being a Japanese gangster. One scene in the film does a great job a highlighting this. In the middle of a heated debate with a rival Yakuza boss, he just starts laugh arrogantly, as if to say "i honestly don't give a shit what we're arguing about" (a short moment of this scene is in the trailer below).The soundtrack to this film is done really well too. Very synth-heavy and moody. And as i stated in a facebook post last week, the drill scene in 'Marathon Man' has taken 2nd place thanks to this movie (once again...look at the picture above). Anyone who's a fan of Jarmusch, Tarrantino or Takeshi's previous gangster films will love this movie.
Since this movie played at Cannes, NYFF and other important film festivals last year, I'm almost certain that this will get some kind of a short release in nyc (most likely Walter Reade or BAM).
And on another note, I'd also like to stress that if there was ever time to Join a theater, NOW is the time. Through the summer, if you join Japan Society, half the proceeds of your membership go to the earthquake victims in Japan. And whats a little more unique in joining Japan Society over places like Anthology or IFC (not taking anything way from those theaters, because I'm a member at both places), is that Japan Society is more than just a movie theater. They have art exhibitions, lectures and plays as well.
Japan Society Membership Info
And if you haven't seen Sonatine, i HIGHLY recommend it. Its a great movie, with many of the same elements of Outrage; violence, humor, hypnotic music and existentialism. (sorry i couldn't find a good English trailer, but whatever, you'll get the gist of the movie). This movie is part a 2-disc special edition dvd with the Zatochi remake (also starring and directed by Kitano).