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Pigs & Battleshipsis loaded with comedy but is in essence a tragedy.
Soon, he is playing two different factions in a yakuza war against each other.
In no small terms, it represents the crystallization of the modern yakuza movie.For rent on Amazon.
Its worth noting that this film has an intriguing if tragic connection toTokyo Vice.
Adelstein also allegedly uncovered the truth behind the filmmakers suspicious death as murder framed as suicide.
Grim stuff.Streaming on Criterion Channel.
The story follows Murakawa, a tired, middle-aged Tokyo yakuza who would like to retire.
In a sense, he is just a man looking for a way out.
If you only watch one film on this list, let it beSonatine.For rent on Amazon.
But perhaps one of his most underappreciated offerings isBrother, the one film Kitano made in America.
In it he plays Yamamoto, a yakuza forced to flee to Los Angeles after his clan is disbanded.
Similarly, Yamamotos foreignness is emphasized with him being very much lost in translation at the films start.
Plus, theres a scene where a random L.A. drug dealer is made to commityubitsume.Streaming on Tubi.
Why Dont You Play in Hell?
(2013)
Why Dont You Play in Hellis a yakuza movie about making a yakuza movie.
The Blood of Wolves(2018)
Hiroshima, 1988.
Fresh-faced, university-bred junior detective Shuichi Hioka is partnered with the crass and unorthodox Shogo Ogami as his senior.
