The Yakuza

The Yakuza (1974) Director: Sidney Pollack Cast: Robert Mitchem, Ken Takakura, Richard Jordan, Brian Kieth, Keiko Kishi, Eiji Okada, Herb Elderman
Memorable Line(s): "When an American cracks up, he opens up the window and shoots up a bunch of strangers. When a Japanese cracks up, he closes the window and kills himself. Everything is in reverse."

The Yakuza is as much about the clash of cultures as it is about the bloody conflict that ensues in the plot. It is also the clash of tradition versus progress as the old world must face the harsh reality of change. It's also about the choice of the past having an inescapable effect on the present.

The Plot of the Yakuza
Harry Kilmer (Mitchem), a private investigator, is asked my his old war buddy, George Tanner (Kieth), to rescue the Tanner's daughter who has been kidnapped by the Japanese Mafia -- the Yakuza. Out of a sense of obligation, Kilmer returns to his past, to the Japan he left behind with the war. It also means re-connecting with, Eiko (Kishi), the woman he loved and left behind in Japan. Accompanied by Tanner's young and tough body guard (Jordan) and Ken Tanaka who we believe to be Eiko's brother and who is also a former member of the Yakuza, they pull off the rescue, but it turns bloody and the Yakuza crime lord who took the daughter must save face by getting revenge.

Tanaka insists that Kilmer and the body guard return to the States and that he will face down the Yakuza, but Kilmer starts to suspect that there something wrong with his friend George Tanner's motivations. In a stunning reprisal, the Yakuza crime lord takes a costly toll out on Kilmer, Eiko and Tanaka and one that has to repaid in kind.

As things aren't clear about Tanner, facts of Eiko and Tanaka are just as muddy. Along with surviving the danger of facing down the Yakuza, Kilmer must also discover the real truth of his past and these truths will rock his world.

The Performances, Writing, and Direction of The Yakuza
By today's standards, some might find The Yakuza slow, but it's really a slow build to moments of bloody violence and much of what happens in the movie happens below the surface. The strength of the movie is the script which is co-written by Paul and Leonard Schrader along with Robert Towne. What could have been a standard martial arts/crime movie is given a lot of depth by bringing in the cultural differences and the shadowy truths of Kilmer's past. The writers along with Pollack's direction let the silences build tension and allow the film to breath.

The actors all seem to bring their "A" game to meet and match the material. Mitchem, while having a limited range (and maybe too old for the part), does his best and seems to grow in the role as the movie progresses. The silences and the things left unsaid compliment his laconic acting style. Ken Takakura is stunning as the former Yakuza warrior. He seems to take control of every scene he is in. Keiko Kishi is both lovely and resilient as the woman from Harry's past.

If the film were made today, much of the action would surely be elevated to surreal heights and that would be to the detriment to story. Yes, there are moments in which Pollack lets a scene or a shoot languidly carry on, but for the most part, it all works to create a multi-layered movie and one that the viewer can become immersed in.

Summary Judgment on The Yakuza
Things left unsaid are what make The Yakuza so interesting. The silences and the pauses bring about a inner tension that makes the viewer pay attention with a little more intensity. This is what makes The Yakuza so intriguing. While I'm sure it's not for every taste due to its violence, I'm sure those that are looking for an intelligent action film will find they discovered a real gem.