ScreenWize

Whilst it’s expected to find slow, bleak cinema in official competition at Cannes, it’s surprising to find a film this poor on the list. Cannes does tend to support its alumni, so perhaps it’s Takeshi Kitano’s past successes at the festival (with films like Kikujiro no Natsu) that have helped. It’s difficult to believe however that there werent a very great number of films submitted to Cannes that were vastly superior to Outrage.

A violent yakuza film that opens with a promisingly restrained and stylishly shot banquet for the gangs of the story, it rapidly disintegrates into a sprawling series of tit-for-tat violence. The tone is monotonous - perhaps as dull as life would be for a thug - and the much criticised brutality of the film perhaps the only relief from the tedium of warring yakuza yelling at each other in small rooms.
Of more concern is the writing and acting, with some woeful dialogue and performances - in particular the plot involving an African ambassador to Japan who is dragged into corruption. Kitano himself is impeccable as the yakuza called upon to “clean up” when power struggles between rival gangs reach boiling point.

With Kitano writing, directing and editing there’s only one person to blame for this unruly film. It may find an audience with who enjoy a bit of a squirm, but other than the stylish bloodletting, there’s nothing watcheable for the rest of us.

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Filed Under: Reviews by Simon