Why ı feel like this movie created in a meeting instead of came to some screenwriter in time. In my mind definitely this conversation happened:
-Wait wait ı got something.
+Yhea?
-Do you remember how cool was Jared Leto in Blade Runner while wearing robes?
+Yheaa.
-We do that... Jared Leto in Japan, joining yakuza, doing some japanese things.
+God damn you are a smart man Mark.
-He will talk and move slowly just like he did in Blade Runner too.
+How about we do all those things in post WW2 Japan?
-Wow this thing literally writes it self...
This Netflix movie is directed by Martin Zandvliet and as leads we got Jared Leto as you can guess, Tadanobu Asano, Shioli Kutsuna (Hi Yukiooo, yes Yukio from deadpool 2). All the acting in the movie is wonderful but this movie lacks something ı can't quite put my finger on it. You watch the trailer and think, wow this looks interesting. But when the movie ends you are left with a dissatisfaction. I dont know why but ı feel like this with almost every Netflix movie. And this movie doesn't suprise in that department either.
Problem might be that we dont get attached to characters , we dont see any character growth, everything kinda happens just like that. In two minutes we see Jared Leto's character Nick and Tadanobu Asano's character Kiyoshi be best buddies. In just 2 scenes Shioli Kutsuna's character Miyu and Nick becomes lover. And boom Nick suddenly joins to yakuza. We never say maybe this wont be happen, they wont do that and thanks to that we never think what would happen if this event or thing doesn't happens. So we dont become aware of the stakes.
For example because of this at the end of the movie we never get worried about losing the city to other gangs, and when we lost the city it doesnt affects us in any emotional way. With this and also not getting any real backstory other than some generic infos makes us feel kinda empty, hallow. We realy dont get submerged into the movie. Sad, considering set pieces, atmosfere and locations was reaaaaly well done. This movie was a very big wasted opportunity. It could be one of the very best era movies of this decade with some decent screenwriting.
6/10
