Sympathy for the Underdog

Sympathy for the Underdog (1971)

  • 80% of users liked it
    (839 ratings)

Filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku first sketched out the lean and uncompromising vision of life among the Japanese Mafia which dominated his acclaimed Yakuza Papers series in this potent crime drama. Gunji (Koji Tsuruta) is a veteran gangster who is eager to return to life in the underworld after spending… More

Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By
Kinji Fukasaku
Genres
Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense
In Theaters
Jul 12, 2001 Wide
On DVD
Feb 1, 2005

Critic Reviews

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    I'd rather be eating sushi than watching such an undercooked flick.

  • Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

    Sympathy for the Underdog is something of a transitional, minor work, but it is every bit as accomplished in style and technique as Fukasaku's later films.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • alan j


    thought this movie was released around 2001; actually this movie was made around 1971. Basic yakuza fare; the lead actor is pretty cool and the plot is mildly interesting, but the supporting cast is rather pedestrian. QA fairly simple story and a pretty unrealistic… More

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