Viewed on DVD. Restoration = ten (10) stars; score = three (3) stars; sound dubbing = (3) stars. Director Takashi Nomura's photo play places style way above substance. How the film looks seems paramount. All else is secondary, starting with the movie's title which is catchy but an illusion. The script is all over the place, but is basically trying to illustrate the lack of honor among gangsters as well as the stupidity within ranks of organized crime that reaches right to top management. (If you are a leader of a large, prosperous gang, would you risk your life by going into the field instead of just sending your foot-shoulder killers?) The Director seems obsessed with attributes (mostly invented by early American movie makers) of the mythical American "Wild West," and is striving hard to cast Japan of the middle 1960's as some sort of "Wild East." (Silly and nonsensical as it may seem.) Acting is no great shakes with the lead male actor (Jo Shishido) looking like he has a very bad case of the mumps (or a kilogram of cotton stuffed into his cheeks). This facial distortion does not add to his hit-man "ganger persona," but, instead, seriously distracts from his performance (apparently he underwent plastic to achieve this look!) The score apes music from contemporary Italian/Spanish westerns; it is out of place, usually irritating, and distracts from scenes when on the sound track. Sound effects are impoverished, seem to be an after thought, and often unintentionally humorous especially when male actors are always made to sound like they are wearing high heals, even when climbing gangways! Cinematography (wide screen, black and white), lighting, and editing are okay. Subtitles are about right for line readings, but often fail to translate signage even when the camera lingers on it. Yet another film that gives Yakusa (Gokudou) a bad name. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of A Colt Is My Passport
