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Kikujiro Director: Takeshi Kitano Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 116 minutes Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2000-12-12 Buy from Amazon |
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From Amazon.com When words like "sweet" pop up in a review of a Takeshi Kitano film, you want to check that billing again. But yes, this really is Beat Takeshi, the funkiest dead-eyed gangster in Japanese cinema, in a gooey road movie about a glum orphan and a bumbling would-be tough guy who becomes his droopy guardian angel. The shambling walk is the same, as is the blank expression that twists into a cockeyed smile, and the film erupts (albeit infrequently) into sadistic bouts of petty violence. Takeshi is something between a gruff teddy bear and a bully as the former criminal turned unlikely babysitter who, on a whim, decides to hit the road in search of the kid's long lost mother. Whimsical adventures and silly games are punctuated by violent beatings: despite its moments of sweetness and offbeat humor, this is no family film. In one scene the downcast orphan struggles with a child molester who is trying to yank down his underwear before Takeshi rescues him. It's an uncomfortable scene that is inexplicably played for uneasy humor, the most extreme example of the film's ambiguous tone. Kitano never gets the film under control and the sweetness gets cloying at times, but he invests it with hilarious moments of bizarre, deadpan humor. Though hardly his best, this is without a doubt his strangest film to date, and that's saying something. --Sean Axmaker |
 "Interesting"I loved this movie! Its the most random film ive ever seen and I love it that way. From the beginning where we're walking with Takeshi and his wife in the film and hes talking to those kids, to the middle where there traveling and the car's tires blow out, to the end, I was laughing my bottom off. Id love to see another movie like this! Oh and by far the best part, "Keep off the Grass" lol "Beat Takeshi's Audacious, Edgy and Heartwarming Road Movie"In the title role of this highly original 1999 road movie, Beat Takeshi - with his twitching eye and bow-legged shuffle - looks and acts like a cross between Mickey Rourke and Harvey Keitel with a heavy dose of Walter Matthau's sourpuss demeanor (circa "The Bad News Bears") for good measure. He creates a truly memorable character - cynically profane, unapologetically insulting, childishly manipulative and somehow likeable. As the director and screenwriter of said film, Takeshi Kitano - the same guy - has fashioned something quite unique from a tired premise - a boy's search for his mother and the gruff man who begrudgingly helps find her. What could have been a predictable and sentimental wallow, especially with the indiscriminate use of angels as a pervasive symbol, is instead an idiosyncratic, emotionally adroit film that sometimes simmers on the cusp of violence. Yet it becomes ultimately affecting almost in spite of itself. In fact, Kitano does such a resolutely offbeat job that at certain times, the film reminds me of the narrative ellipses and low steady shots that were the trademark of Yasujiro Ozu's home dramas, intermingled with a surprisingly intense Quentin Tarantino-like, in-your-face edginess. The protagonist of the film is really the latch-key nine-year old, Masao, who is on a quest to find the mother whom his grandmother says is "away working". With his sad eyes and cherubic face, Yusuke Sekiguchi is perfectly cast as Masao providing the moral compass for the story. Whether he is running with his arms flailing or forlornly playing soccer by himself, he is poignant without being saccharine and completely natural. It is Masao's scrapbook that provides the framework for the film lending each chapter a descriptive title. Every chapter has a distinct character that is, in various turns, playful, hilarious, disturbing, surreal and heartbreaking. Case in point: Kitano is not afraid to use a child molester as first an uncomfortable source of black humor and then as the subject of Masao's nightmare. My favorite scenes come toward the end when Kikujiro organizes a motley crew of misfits to play games with Masao and have them masquerade as Indians, aliens, marine life and even watermelons. The variety in tone between chapters makes for unexpected tonal shifts, but somehow it works and adds to the greater context of the story. That Kitano is able to manage a consistent filmmaking style with a strong visual sense is a credit to the talent behind the camera - not only Kitano's direction, script and film editing but also his artwork showcased throughout the movie, Katsumi Yanagishima's sharply rendered cinematography and Joe Hisaishi's evocative Windham Hill-esque score. There are some funny sideline performances from Gidayu Great and Rakkyo Ide as Fatso and Baldy, two bikers who turn out to be the Abbott and Costello of soft-hearted slackers; Nezumi Mamura as a free-spirited drifter; Fumie Hosokawa as a relentlessly perky girl with a talent for juggling; and in the opening sequence, Kayoko Kishimoto as Kikujiro's take-no-prisoners wife. Kitano, however, elicits the most laughs if only for the film's central conceit that he gets away with his infantile gangster behavior. One would think the story would climax when Masao comes upon his mother, but Kitano confounds expectations with every new scene. The DVD really has no extras other than a couple of trailers not related to the film (not coincidentally, one is for Walter Salles' "Central Station" which has a similar story structure). I know this film has its detractors, especially among fans of Kitano's bloodier work, but I find it intriguingly ambiguous and thoroughly enjoyable. "SWEET, TOUCHING, MOVING, MASTERPIECE"I wish they made more movies like this. In summary, Kikujiro is the story of a small boy, Masao who is in search of his mother. He lives in the city with his grandmother and decides one day to embark on the journey. Since he's leaving alone, his friend tells her husband, Kikujiro, to go with him. What follows is a classic tale of friendship and soul-searching as the two go through often hilarious and heartful encounters. I absolutely recommend this movie!!! "A non-stop laugh riot (the 2nd time you watch it)"Unless you are particularly insightful and gifted at observation, you will be tepid about this film the first time you watch it. But then it will fester in your dreams, infect your everyday speech and haunt your daily life. When you suggest to your co-workers "Let's play 'Naked Statues'!" then you'll know it's time to watch it again. And again. And again. If you have never seen a Takeshi film: This is not an 'American' film. It does not feature snappy dialogue and action in every scene. Some scenes are completely silent, shot from an insanely distant camera point, or just plain odd. The story is not always linear, and you are forced to pay attention to subtle details and symbolism (like the bell that periodically rings in the background). But if you can handle it, you won't be disappointed. If you are a fan of Takeshi's gangster films: Note that _Kikujiro_ was made in the years following Takeshi's near-death motorcycle accident. This period in his life is marked by introspection, philosophy and less in-your-face violence. While it's true that several violent beatings take place, you will realize later that you never see a punch being thrown (amazing how he accomplishes this). Once you realize this about Takeshi, the film takes on a magnificent new dimension. Lastly, I must say that if you had the patience to read through this entire review, then you probably have what it takes to watch, enjoy & love _Kikujiro_. So go out and rent it. Afterwards we'll play 'Naked Statues'. "Beautiful, even with subtitles."I loved this movie from the first time that I watched it! It has english subtitles which is pretty distracting to some people so if you don't mind reading the foreign movie while watching it then this one is perfect for you. |
