This is a very funny film. Its based on a manga that Takashi Miike grew up reading in high
school by the manga artist, Dorkman.
The film opens with an amusing finishing move. The two main characters get in a
fight with some street punks, after beating one of the punks down, they vomit on his
face.
Miike does a good job of establishing characters in this early effort. You get to
like Makoto and Eiji as the movie progreses. Makoto seems so innocent and nice but
is naive enough to be recruited into the Yakuza. Since both Makoto and Eiji both
fail to graduate high schol, it seems that their job prospects are limited in
Japanese society.
Osaka Tough Guys show a lighter view of Yakuza life than other Yakuza films. It's
refreshing to see slapstick antics inside hostess clubs. While it is amusing, it
does show the dark side of Yakuza life like Makoto's girlfriend getting set up,
problems with debt collecting, and the fact that the community doesn't show hardly
any respect to their Yakuza sect.
It isn't as dark as Audition or Rainy Dogs. It is an enjoyable film that shows off
the nightlife of Osaka. Anyone who has ever lived in Osaka and visited places like
Umeda, Shinsaibashi, and Doutonbori, will see those locations, particularly in the
daytime scenes.
Overall a fun, fast-paced, action/comedy that you don't have to stop
and think to get into.
"The Asian Aperture" is ©2009 by Jason Fetters. Webpage design and all graphics herein (except where otherwise noted) are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2009 by Nolan B. Canova.
