3-4x juugatsu (Boiling Point) (1991)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(2,349 ratings)

Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano directs, writes, and acts in this gangster comedy about the Yakuza, the notorious criminal organization of Japan. Masahiko Ono portrays the hapless Masaki, a local baseball player and gas-station attendant who runs afoul of some local gangsters. Masaki goes to… More Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano directs, writes, and acts in this gangster comedy about the Yakuza, the notorious criminal organization of Japan. Masahiko Ono portrays the hapless Masaki, a local baseball player and gas-station attendant who runs afoul of some local gangsters. Masaki goes to Okinawa to buy a gun so he can stand up for himself. In Okinawa, he meets Uehara (Kitano), a tough, hardened gangster who is in serious debt to the mob. Along with some friends, they go to Tokyo to confront the Yakuza. As in many of his acting roles, Kitano is credited in the cast as Beat Takeshi. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Takeshi Kitano
Written By: Takeshi Kitano
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Dec 14, 1999
Studio: Swift Distribution

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
A work of varied and strange miracles
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
There is little in the way of John Woo-style action setpieces in a Kitano movie.
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Weekly
I can think of no working director who uses stillness as gracefully and effectively as Takeshi Kitano.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's a cult film that delights as a cruel form of entertainment.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

A slow witted garage attendant travels to Okinawa to buy a gun when his friend gets into trouble with the local Yakuza. Even by Kateshi Kitano's understated standards, Boiling Point is a very ponderous affair. It has all the usual elements; the stoic but beautiful direction, the… More
A slow witted garage attendant travels to Okinawa to buy a gun when his friend gets into trouble with the local Yakuza. Even by Kateshi Kitano's understated standards, Boiling Point is a very ponderous affair. It has all the usual elements; the stoic but beautiful direction, the wide streak of very black humour and collection of oddball characters set within the world of violent men but to be honest, it only really gets going once Kitano himself appears on the screen. His obnoxious, sexually ambiguous psychotic gangster is easily the best thing about the film and it's a real shame he isn't in it more. The other actors all acquit themselves quite well, and it shows this collection of men used to getting their own way through violence are little more than a bunch of emotionally retarded, spoilt children with guns but in the end, when Takeshi isn't on the screen it feels like screen time wasted. Not his best, but it's still an amusing look into the life of a Japanese gangster but I'd begin somewhere else if you're looking for a starting point into Beat Takeshi's work.
Anthony L

Probably my least favourite Kitano film but entertaining none the less!
El Hombre I

The movie as a whole moves along at a steady pace, although not action packed you never feel that labored feeling that some may get if they are expecting one. The conclusion is well implemented, and although I'm mostly disenchanted with twist endings, Takeshi Kitano's… More
The movie as a whole moves along at a steady pace, although not action packed you never feel that labored feeling that some may get if they are expecting one. The conclusion is well implemented, and although I'm mostly disenchanted with twist endings, Takeshi Kitano's Boiling Point uses one in such a way, that depending on how you interpret it, could either be taken as a twist or a type of storytelling technique which I would describe if it wouldn't ruin it. Considered by some as the "black sheep" of his career, Boiling Point is still very much worth watching. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&current=BoilingPoint.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/BoilingPoint.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Christopher B

A great coming of age picture by the great Kitano. One of his more interesting performances as well.