American Yakuza
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American Yakuza
Plot
An American FBI agent infiltrates the notorious Japanese yakuza and is forced to choose between old loyalties and his new bond of blood in this lurid crime thriller starring Viggo Mortensen. The first American ever to be accepted into Japan's treacherous criminal underworld, FBI Agent Nick Davis (Mortensen) successfully infiltrates the American arm of the yakuza and quickly rises through the ranks due to his reputation as a skilled assassin. But when Agent Davis is subsequently adopted into the powerful Tendo crime family, his mission is complicated by Italian mob boss Dino Campanela (Michael Nouri) and unpredictable enforcer Vic (Nicky Katt). When crooked and uncompromising FBI task force head Agent Littleman (Robert Forster) sets his sights on Agent Davis, the stage is set for a showdown that will set the criminal underworld ablaze. ~ Jason Buchanan, RoviCast
Franklyn Ajaye; John Fujioka; Nicky Katt - Vic; Viggo Mortensen - FBI Agent Nick Davis; Michael Nouri - Dino Campanela; Yuji Okumoto; Robert Forster; Ryo IshibashiCredit
Don Phillips - Co-producer, Frank Cappello - Director, Sonny Baskin - Editor, Takashige Ichise - Executive Producer, Joel Soisson - Executive Producer, W.K. Border - Executive Producer, David C. Williams - Composer (Music Score), Shay Austin - Production Designer, Richard Clabaugh - Cinematographer, Aki Komine - Producer, Michael Leahy - Producer, Takashige Ichise - Screen Story, John Allen Nelson - Screenwriter, Max Strom - Screenwriter| American Wonders: National Parks of the West (1995 Film), American Wilderness (1972 Film) | |
| American Yoga Association: Basic Yoga (1993 Film), American Zombie (2007 Film) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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American Yakuza
| American Yakuza | |
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| Directed by | Frank Cappello |
| Produced by | Don Phillips Michael Leahy Aki Komine |
| Screenplay by | John Allen Nelson Max Strom |
| Story by | Takashige Ichise |
| Starring | Viggo Mortensen Ryo Ishibashi Michael Nouri |
| Music by | David C. Williams |
| Cinematography | Richard Clabaugh |
| Editing by | Sonny Baskin |
| Studio | First Look International Tohokushinsha Film |
| Distributed by | Toei Company (1993 theatrical) |
| Release date(s) | December 22, 1993 (Japan theatrical) |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
American Yakuza is a 1993 American action film written by Takashige Ichise with a screenplay by John Allen Nelson and Max Strom, and directed by Frank Cappello for First Look International.[1] Starring Viggo Mortensen and Ryo Ishibashi, the film had its theatrical release in Japan in December 1993, followed by theatrical release in South Korea in 1994. The film had its video premiere in the United States in 1995 and its DVD premiere in Russia in 2002.
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Contents
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Plot
American FBI agent Nick Davis (Viggo Mortensen) works undercover, rising through the ranks of the Yakuza to infiltrate their operations. Adopted by the Tendo crime family, he is entangled with the Italian mafia, the Yakuza and the FBI and must decide what is most important to him.
Partial cast
- Viggo Mortensen as Nick Davis / David Brandt
- Ryo Ishibashi as Shuji Sawamoto
- Michael Nouri as Dino Campanela
- Franklyn Ajaye as Sam
- Yuji Okumoto as Kazuo
- Anzu Lawson as Yuko
- Robert Forster as Littman
- Nicky Katt as Vic
- James Taenaka as Taka
- Toni Naples as Mrs. Campanela
- John Fujioka as Isshin Tendo
- Saiko Isshiki as Aya
- Fritz Mashimo as Okazaki
- Joey Ciccone as Rudy
Critical response
TV Guide wrote that director Frank Cappello did "an adequate job of weaving a relatively intricate storyline together, while delivering numerous explosive, action-packed sequences", offering that Viggo Mortensen excelled in his performance, and Ryo Ishibashi was impressive in his role. They concluded that overall, American Yakuza "is a surprisingly powerful portrayal of the loyalties that exist in the underworld, where violence and betrayal are a way of life."[2]
Reviewer Anton Bitel wrote after considering Viggo Mortensen's acting in this 1993 film, and how he is better remembered now as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings films, this one "will leave viewers wondering why Mortensen’s talents were not generally recognised a lot earlier." He also notes that one of the film's ironies is that when the Mafia takes on the Yakuza in the film and "boast of their 'American drive and know-how'", they forget the similarities in that a century earlier they were just as eager as the Yakuza "to get a foothold in this country”. Bitel feels that "American Yakuza is in effect ‘The Godfather: the next Generation’ – an immigrant saga of family, blood and assimilation that just happens to be set in the world of organised crime." He found flaws in that parts of the film "have the look of a rock video" and overall suffers from needing a larger budget. He concludes with praise for the acting, twisting plotline, and the carefuly restrained violence.[3]
References
- ^ "American Yakuza (1994)". InBaseline. The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/149340/American-Yakuza/overview. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ "American Yakuza: Review". TV Guide. http://movies.tvguide.com/american-yakuza/review/130405. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Anton Bitel. "review: American Yakuza (1993)". Movie Gazette. http://movie-gazette.com/1154/american-yakuza. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
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