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Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Brian Keith, Herb Edelman, Richard Jordan ... see more see more... , James Shigeta , Christina Kokubo , Denis Akiyama , Lee Chitillo , Go Eiji , Harada , M. Hisaka , Keiko Kishi , Kyosuke Mashida , Eiji Okada , William Ross

Between making They Way We Were and Three Days of The Condor, Sydney Pollack directed this little-seen thriller from a script by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne. The Yakuza stars Robert Mitchum as Harr... read more read more...y Kilmer, a former soldier who returns to Japan to help rescue the daughter of his friend George Tanner (Brian Keith). Once he arrives in the country, Kilmer discovers that the daughter has been kidnapped by the Japanese mafia, called the Yakuza. In order to battle the ruthless organized crime outfit and save the girl, Kilmer finds himself left with few options and reluctantly enlists the help of his old nemesis, Tanaka (Ken Takakura). The film was later re-titled The Brotherhood of the Yakuza and was originally shown in a 123-minute cut. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Flixster Users

76% liked it

1,552 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

10 critics

R, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Release Date: March 19, 1975

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DVD Release Date: January 23, 2007

Stats: 140 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (140)

  • harrycaul
    September 3, 2011
    harrycaul
    "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."

    Not quite as wonderful as The Friends of Eddie Coyle, this is still a pretty great ... read morelate Mitchum movie, and as an example of mid-Seventies Hollywood flirting with the Far East, The Yakuza is certainly better than Peckinpah's The Killer Elite. By modern standards the film is so slow-moving it barely qualifies as a thriller, though the funereal pacing is very deliberate, emphasising the dignity of the characters, maximising the tension and making the sudden, cathartic eruptions of violence all the more startling. The whole movie is brilliantly shot and edited, not just the splendid fight scenes, with Pollack cleverly cutting through much of the script's wordy exposition by carrying the dialogue of one scene over into the next. Among the interesting credits, the script was written by Leonard and Paul Schrader, with rewrites by Robert Towne; Robert Aldrich was originally slated to direct but Mitchum had him replaced by Pollack; and Mitchum's love interest is played by Keiko Kishi, who played the 'Woman in the Snow' in Kobayashi's Kwaidan.
  • kenstachnik
    September 3, 2011
    kenstachnik
    My 2nd favorite Schrader script, my 2nd favorite Robert Towne script and my 2nd favorite Sydney Pollack film.
  • pier007
    September 3, 2011
    pier007
    An american meets the dark and violent japanese underworld. an ode to friendship, honor codes and sacrifice among far east gangsters.
  • deano
    September 3, 2011
    deano
    Really exciting and haunting East-meets-West-head-on thriller with tough hero Robert Mitchum who goes against the yakuza (Japanese gangster) to protect his Japanese friends he trusts like a family.
  • fb68600877
    April 21, 2012
    fb68600877
    One of the best third acts--and especially the ending--in a movie I've ever seen. It's really touching, which is a bit weird because it's so violent. Sydney Pollack and his crew did a great job of making what is essentially a Japanese film for the U.S. market. Tremendous!
  • thrusz
    September 3, 2011
    thrusz
    This might be the first truly shameless bad ass film. Holy sh*t, everything goes down in this movie. Are you a fan of samurai swords? Watch this movie! Are you a fan of shotguns? Watch this movie! Are you a fan of people cutting off their own fingers? First get help and th... read moreen watch this movie!

    Now, here's the beef. This is a super-cool, super-stylized movie that I could never really imagine Robert Mitchum in until I actually watched it. He fits the role ideally. Mainly because he's pretty amazing in everything that he's ever done. Sydney Pollack also is Sydney Pollack, but really at some of his best. His color palatte in this movie is top notch and the constant return to the tattoo theme is such a good concept. I have to look this up on IMDB, but I'm pretty sure Maurice Binder did the opening credits. If he didn't, man, this makes a little James Bond nerd very happy seeing visuals like this.

    Here's some beefs with the movie though. Pollack understands that most of American audiences don't understand the cultural history of the Yakuza. Only little nerds get into that stuff. So there are entire scenes of just shameless explanation of what is going on. Sure, I was happy about it in many instances because I learned stuff (assuming it's all accurate.) But sometimes I feel like it's not necessary. Also, the main plot is kind of lost to terrible expositional dialogue. I'd rather see a flashback. I guess they couldn't get Mitchum's kid to play a younger version of himself anymore.

    Overall, this movie is amazing. I might have to buy the Mitchum set to add this to my collection. No matter what, top notch.
  • cbibuld
    September 3, 2011
    cbibuld
    This is a thinking person's action movie. Don't blink. Everything is important. It about friendship, honor and alot of stuff that get's lost in today's society.
  • kingmob6
    August 24, 2011
    kingmob6
    I went into this exceptional film rather blind, so I was was blown away by the sense of honor displayed between the characters, as well as the performances from all involved.

    Mitchum plays a man caught between two worlds, out of his depth and forced to seek aid from the last per... read moreson in the world who wants to give it.

    Great flick, give it a look.

View All The Yakuza Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
November 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

A confused and diffused film which bites off more than it can artfully chew. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A superior action movie, but all the same, it's for audiences that have grown accustomed over the last few years to buckets of blood, disembowelments and severed hands flying through the air. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Unsettling, but ultimately unsatisfying. Full Review

Paul Brenner
April 2, 2009
Paul Brenner, Filmcritic.com

has one leg is still straddling the Think Fast Mr. Moto era. Full Review

November 6, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Interesting and well-acted, if clumsy, American take on the Japanese gangster genre. Full Review

David Nusair
February 4, 2007
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...Mitchum, armed with a shotgun and a pistol, is particularly bad-*** here... Full Review

John J. Puccio
January 18, 2007
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

The movie is not your routine shoot-'em-up action adventure but an intricate weaving of people, conventions, and personal relationships. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

The final show-down is one not to be missed. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

There are enough double-crosses to satisfy the most jaded fans of the genre. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 4, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Yakuza Trivia

  • *I was an american yakuza, they called me stryker, and I was a hitman in hiding..although, i did once ride a horse through the arabian desert..who am I?* First its 'Strider' and what the hell is a yakuza? If u think we have some stupid people on Flixster press yes!   Answer »
  • Ken Takakura and Robert Mitchum co-starred in which movie?  Answer »
  • what is the name of the female yakuza that sends an assassin after the bride in kill bill vol.2 called?  Answer »
  • what actor was the main carractor in 1974 film yakuza abaut Japanise mafia  Answer »
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