Joe Shishido plays a tough guy with a secret agenda. His violent behavior comes to the attention of a yakuza boss who immediately recruits him. He soon tries to make a deal with a rival gang a starts a gang war. His real motivations are gradually revealed as we find out how this all ties in with the murder of a policeman shown at the beginning of the film.
I was really hoping to enjoy this picture with it being a gangster film, but typical Seijun Suzuki. I don't understand why the man gets so much play from Criterion? Other than Kurosawa, Ozu or Suzuki are probably the 2 most popular Japanese directors on Criterions list. I think this may be the last film of his I have to watch. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the man or his work, but everything has seemed so bland to me (it never impressed me).
