Sonatine

Sonatine

Sonatine

This is a great movie without a doubt. You like Tarantino? You certainly like Sonatine. This movie has it all: humor, violence, drama,... The dialogues are great. The Russian roulette scene is great cinema. No one else does it better than Kitano. Watch this movie!

The sumo ring on the beach when they imitate the game made of cardboard. I will never forget that scene for the rest of my days. How Kitano ever thought to enter that in the middle of this serious movie is beyond me. I don't know anyone else that has seen this movie and I needed to share. Also the suicide at the end threw me.....why kill yourself after taking all of the assholes out? He could have still retired like he wanted. Was it guilt for the young guy that got killed on the beach? I don't know but I have a feeling that Kitano would want me to answer the questions myself. If anyone has any insight or would like to recommend some other Beat movies let me know.....

Takeshi Kitano's Sonatine is a beautifully shot, contemplative, funny and violent film. Takeshi plays the role of the yakuza looking for a way out with his usual understated style wearing the role like a comfortable pair of shoes. No overt histrionics to impart emotion when a glance will do. The middle section of the film whilst the protagonists await the catalyst for the furious finale is absolutely beautiful, touching, funny, sumptuously shot and above all very human. The black humour of the film courses through the writing and performances of all of the cast but the humour is warm and with a definite respect and love of its characters.

This is an astonishing film. Minimal, avoiding any kind of romanticism to take the edge off the violence, it pushes and pulls you several ways at once. You want to identify with the protagonist and his henchmen, and they can often be amusingly human, but they are also so emotionless and cold-blooded, even concerning their own, that it gives you the chills. You always have the sense of a sophisticated eye in the shots, as if Kurosawa is looking over the director's shoulder. It is an absolutely beautiful work. Takeshi Kitano is a master of the close shot. It seems that almost every moment of violence occurs when the antagonists are within arm's length, even when it is with guns. The showdown in a crowded elevator is a masterpiece of tension mixed with cool hipness. On top of all of this, there is a powerful allegorical subtext about pivot points in life and the necessity of choice. Why aren't more people in the US talking about this film?

Sonatine is a great illustration of the contrast between American and Japanese films. Though the onscreen violence is graphic and sudden, it is rare and always purposed. The film is often quiet and still, with very subtle humor. Beat Takeshi has created an anti-action flick, free of a huge soundtrack and consistent one-liners, whose grace is muddled only by awkwardly translated subtitling. Sonatine is the not the movie the re-release advertising makes it out to be. Not what you'd expect.

This movie starts out great and gets better. Takeshi's stylistic portrayal of the yakuza makes for one of the best films of the decade. Very powerful ending.

Takeshi Kitano strikes with a masterpiece. What starts as typical yakuza flick sees Kitano and co. taking a trip to Okinawa to help out some friends, however these friends don't need any help, and Kitano's group of slackers and newbies accidently complicate the entire situation, forcing the crew to hideout at a little house where they enjoy their vacation until everything erupts and Kitano shows off his Harvey Kietel style.