WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL: Yakuza Movies

With the final screening of Sion Sono's yakuza film coming up, it seems like an excellent time to take a look at some classics of WTF yakuza film!

Fudoh: The New Generation (1996) directed by Takashi Miike

Takashi Miike was one of the first directors MM Programmer Colin Geddes brought to Midnight Madness. Riki Fudoh (not to be confused with Riki-Oh) takes over the action at his high school before taking over the whole island of Kyushu. His gang of adolescent assassins cut a swathe through the gangster community. But Riki isn't just looking for power, he's looking for revenge.




Branded To Kill (1967) directed by Seijun Suzuki

Jo Shishido is a very peculiar leading man. Deciding he was too blandly handsome, he got cheek implants (since removed) and his career as an antihero took off.  In Branded To Kill, Shishido plays, Goro, a hitman given a mission by a mysterious woman. Goro becomes a target when he fails to fulfill his contract. It sounds straightforward, but it's anything but, as the hitman hunting him psychologically torments him first. The mysterious woman has a thing for dead butterflies. And Goro himself has a fetish for the scent of steaming rice.  In short, Sono and Miike didn't come out of nowhere.



Tokyo Drifter (1966) directed by Seijun Suzuki

What can I say? I'm a sucker for Suzuki. Tokyo Drifter is an incredibly stylish and stylized portrayal of Tetsuya Watari as a yakuza hitman trying to leave the life. And just try to get the theme song out of your head.




Battles Without Honor Or Humanity (1973) directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Fukasaku is probably best known now for Battle Royale (2000), and he will always have a special place in my heart for The Green Slime (1968), but he sure made his mark on yakuza movies. In Battles Without Honor Or Humanity is part of a series of five films, The Yakuza Papers. Bunta Sugawara plays a veteran in Post-War Hiroshima whose loyalties are torn when his boss and his sworn brother's yakuza family feud.  and all of the films portray a brutal, highly unromantic view of the yakuza



Minbo: The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion (1992) directed Juzo Itami

In Itami's comedy, a hotel is troubled by yakuza in their lobby, frightening off guests and generally being an intimidating nuisance. They hire Mahiru Inoue, played by Nobuko Miyamoto, who specializes in getting rid of the yakuza. But she doesn't shoot or stab them, she uses the law and yakuza tradition against them. While the film itself might be seen as mild to non-Japanese people, Itami reportedly was murdered over it.


If you are curious about real life yakuza, check out Jake Adelstein's journalism and books.

WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL Final Screening:

Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

Video: R100 Midnight Madness World Premiere Post-Screening Q&A with Hitoshi Matsumoto

R100 directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto had it's world premiere at Midnight Madness last night. Here is the complete post-screening Q&A.


R100 Screening Times:
Saturday, Sept 14th, 9:00 PM SCOTIABANK 10

The Legends of Tak Sakaguchi

So have you heard of Tak Sakaguchi?

I thought I knew all the essentials. I did some digging, and was amazed with what I've found. And there is no exaggeration here of these points, I've only re-worded information from other articles for my artistic integrity!

Tak was a REAL live Japanese street fighter who was discovered DURING a street fight by future maverick director Ryuhei Kitamura.

Apparently -- Kitamura told him "You should be fighting in movies not on the streets" -- and during their second meeting, at a film party, it was Kitamura laying the beat down on someone when Tak walked in. (Source: Midnight Eye)

This next source is even more crazy... I did not make this up, but it's out there, been up since 2007. These are Chuck Norris internet meme level attributions, which just might have some truth to them:

• He passed a car that was going 60 km on a bicycle. Okay, I could see that.
• He fell from the fourth floor of a condo, with no injuries. Not gonna try it, but I suppose a well trained guy could conceivably do so.
• While he was training in the mountains, a wild BOAR attacked him, and he killed it.  What?!  It gets better!
• Tak is said to have fought a bear hand to hand and WON. 
• He's got a 22 consecutive win record in underground fighting. After seeing Alive, I can imagine this. 
• He fought also with 23 guys at the same time and won (I'm not adding anything in this translation! I'm going to say this is more impressive than the 22 win streak, although I guess those guys could have been more dangerous individually?)

Movie blood might be just as close as he gets to human mortality.

And according to my wife's research on another website in Japanese -- Tak even broke his neck while filming an action scene for Yakuza Weapon (2011), which he also directed, went on to do TWO more takes before agreeing to go to the hospital. Apparently, the doctor told him, "If it wasn't for your neck muscles, you'd be dead."

So just who IS this guy?! 

Well, he first emerged unto the international film scene as the star of Midnight Madness sensation Versus (2001).  Versus spawned a huge cult following and cemented his status as a cool, calm badass anti-hero who could believably destroy equally impressive opponents with guns, spinning swords and his reality hardened martial arts. 

Kitamura and Sakaguchi's partnership flourished through several more films: Alive, Arigami, Godzilla: Final Wars -- and the recently announced Versus 2, which was enough to bring Tak out of a short lived retirement.

Over his action packed career, Tak's blossomed into an action director and co-director (Vampire Girl vs Frankenstien Girl (2009), Tokyo Gore Police (2008), Himizu (2011), and single handedly directed  Be A Man Samurai School (2008); , Samurai Zombie (2008) and the aforementioned Yakuza Weapon.  He shares another co-director credit with amazing director Sion Sono in the upcoming Kenkichi -- but now:

Tak returns to Midnight Madness this year in ar in Sion Sono's manic romp,  Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013).

So just how much of the legends are true? We may never know, but one thing is certain: He'll bring his trade-mark badassness and effortless physicality to the role.


WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL? Screening Times:
Friday, Sept 13th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL Premieres Tonight!

Polish up your katana, swear your oaths of eternal loyalty, and practice all your sweetest gambling movies because Sion Sono's Why Don't You Plan In Hell? premieres at Midnight Madness tonight!

Of course, an oath of eternal loyalty might not be the best idea if playing in Hell is involved... Anyway get ready for some craziness at the Ryerson tonight!

WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL Screening Times:

Friday, Sept 13th, 11:59 PM RYERSON

Saturday, Sept 14th, 3:45 PM SCOTIABANK 1

Flashback: Hitoshi Matsumoto in "The Five Rangers"

Check out these great comedy sketches, (internet translated) of Japanese comedy giant Matchan as part of a defective group of power-ranger type heroes, who can't ever seem to get it right!

Embedding has been disabled by request, so click through to see "5 Rangers":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3J9vQC02pI

Initially, he's the middle ranger!

There's actually 13 of these, the story ever evolves to hit stranger and stranger heights!

More of Matchan's unique brand of comedy is on display in R100 (2013)!

R100 Final Screening:
Saturday, Sept 14th, 9:00 PM SCOTIABANK 10

R100 World Premiere Interview With Hitoshi Matsumoto 松本 人志

Hitoshi Matsumoto (Big Man Japan, Symbol) premiered his latest film R100 last night at Midnight Madness. Robert A. Mitchell who was in the middle of all the hysteria and excitement talked with one of Japan's biggest superstars.



R100 Screening Times:
Friday, Sept 13th, 11:30 AM SCOTIABANK 9
Saturday, Sept 14th, 9:00 PM SCOTIABANK 10

EXCLAIM Reviews R100!

At exclaim.ca, Scott A. Gray reviews Hitoshi Matsumoto's R100.

While how viewers respond to Matsumoto's vision will likely tell you something about themselves, what this bizarre journey definitely does lead to is hilarity and a strange sort of poignancy. Demonstrating a rare gift for the absurd, the film is edited together with the broad physical flare of silent film slapstick, mixed with the zaniness of cartoon anarchy. Furthermore, each music cue is impeccably selected to enhance whatever kinky distortion of reality is occurring on-screen.  

[....] 

R100 is such a special and unusual piece of cinema that it's the type of art enhanced by the element of surprise. Try not to learn too much about it before catching it, but be assured that if the idea of a combination of the sensibilities of John Waters and David Lynch is appealing, then this is an eccentric ode to bliss that should easily scratch that strange, little itch.

Scratch that strange, little itch at R100's premiere Thursday night!

R100 Screening Times:

Thursday, Sept 12th, 11:59 PM RYERSON

Friday, Sept 13th, 11:30 AM SCOTIABANK 9

Saturday, Sept 14th, 9:00 PM SCOTIABANK 10

Midnight Madness Alumni Throwdown: Hitoshi Matsumoto vs. Gackt

 In a televised competition, two legendary Midnight Madness Alumni Hitoshi Matsumoto (Dainipponjin aka, Big Man Japan; Symbol; and R100)and singing superstar Gackt (Bunraku) throw down on Japanese television.

Hello, Dears!

It is a tremendous battle that shakes the very foundations of 25 years of Midnight Madness History. Steel yourselves for "The Don't Laugh Contest!"




They try not to laugh some more.


And the winner goes to "heaven" and the loser goes to "hell":



Matchan and Gackt have had other contests, including a televised game of billiards. This is the only footage I could find of it, but it is excellent footage.



No matter who you root for in these competitions, put enmity aside and enjoy R100 on Thursday night. Maybe even stop for a moment and gaze at the very red carpet that Gackt once walked.
 

R100Screening Times:

Thursday, Sept 12th, 11:59 PM RYERSON

Friday, Sept 13th, 11:30 AM SCOTIABANK 9

Saturday, Sept 14th, 9:00 PM SCOTIABANK 10

The ABCS OF DEATH Japanese Directors: NISHIMURA

I was lucky enough to be put in touch with Japanese horror collective Sushi Typhoon's most prolific directors, so in this series we'll get to know them a bit better, and learn about their involvement with The ABC's of Death!

First we start with Yoshihiro Nishimura, a legend in Japanese horror FX with an impressive director's resume which includes: Tokyo Gore Police; Helldriver; co-director of, Vampire Girl VS Frankenstein Girl, and, Mutant Girls Squad!

MM: ABC's of Death is such an amazing, border crushing, epic project--and it's a great thing that you've all made a short for it; it's really bringing world horror talent together. You all already have such huge resumes with signature films-- but Sushi Typhoon has emerged as the most focused collaborative horror movement out of Japan today, and it's an absolute honour to speak with each of you!

How did you get involved with doing a short for ABC's of Death?

YN: Marc (Walkow), who premiered Tokyo Gore Police the first time in America and also has been helping me brought me the ABC's of Death project. I have decided to join it because it was a project about making shot films with the limited budget by the directors all over the world and Tim (League), who is helping me in Austin, Texas was involved as a producer too.

What is your highest priority when making a film; to scare, shock, be original, or raise the bar for your competition? Without giving away the story, which approach can we expect in your ABC's short?

None of them. Since it was a project by foreign funds and the release was certain in the foreign countries, I thought I should make a movie which I absolutely cannot screen in Japan. Visually and ideologically, we can not screen my film in Japan.

How would you define your specific styles of filming, and did you use your traditional approaches or decide to try something new for a foreign produced film?

Taken in one day shooting style, although I say, it was 24 hours. Some horror, splatter and action. As I said earlier, I made this film with the approach of making something for outside of Japan, moreover, something that cannot be screened in Japan, so please look forward to seeing it.

In Helldriver, you held off on the opening title credits until they explode at the 48 minute mark of the film! It was a spectacular moment! What brought about such an audacious decision?

I wanted to put the opening title at the moment when the era changes. Japan had been protecting the infected zombies, and then times changed from the moment that the Prime Minister was eaten by zombies, and we entered the era where we can kill zombies. It is one of the things I wanted to say in Helldriver is that moment. In any era, the fate of human beings are controlled by the absolute power of the government. We are all subjected to living under the selfish motivations of our authorities. I wanted to use satire to describe the meaning of a word spoken by those in power. 

Your films have some of the best high-powered blood sprays combined with some of the most outlandish deaths I've ever seen--when designing a death sequence/ultra gore set piece, what's the first thing you ask yourself?

It is Dream. Dream. And the fun of body parts. I have always imagined that I dismembered the human body into pieces and stacked them like blocks. And it is always in the freshness of morning that I come up an impressive scene for a movie. 

I'm told you'll be here at the Midnight Madness Screening, all the way from Japan! We're so happy you can make it. What does this mean to you?

Thank you. I'm looking for producers who would say: "I want to make a movie with you" with this good opportunity!

What kind of reaction do you expect from the Toronto World Premiere audience?

Expecting? I made a fun work in my own way. I wish for people to accept it for it is. 

 Re-learn your ABCs in a very tactile blood-spattered way when it screens:


THE ABCS OF DEATH
Fri., Sept. 14th, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 15th, 3:15 PM SCOTIABANK 9
Sun., Sept. 16th, 9:00 PM SCOTIABANK 9