The Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (The Bad Sleep Well) Reviews and Ratings



  • September 6, 2009
    Ahead of its time. A scathing indictment of greed and the corporate system. Badass.
  • July 24, 2009
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  • June 27, 2009
    Ah, revenge. A genre that's been limited to films offering nothing more than a series of gruesome kills as the bloodlusting viewers cheer on. Although Akira Kurosawa's "The Bad Sleep Well" shares more in common with a typical classical noir picture, it's hero isn't remarkably dif...( read more)ferent from the revenge-seekers we see today. He's a ruthless man driven by anger, an antihero conjuring up a series of pranks to achieve vengeance for his father. Because he doesn't show his enemies much sympathy, it's hard for us to feel sympathetic towards him. It's a film that exists in shades of gray, which is adequately compelling throughout most of the film - but the convoluted last half hour left me unmoved and, worse, uninterested.

    "The Bad Sleep Well" is prolific Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's take on Shakespeare's Hamlet. It's done in the style of a typical 1940's American noir, and it's sights are set on dissecting the evils of big business practice. It was also Kurosawa's first independent production with his own company.

    The film begins with the wedding between Keiko (Kyoko Kagawa) and Koichi (Toshiro Mifune). Keiko is the daughter of Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori), who is the president of the Unutilized Land Development Corporation. Iwabuchi's son, Tatsuo (Tatsuya Mihashi), is not entirely convinced that Koichi is a proper suitor for Keiko. He assumes that Koichi only married into the family for the benefit of his career. He says that he will kill him if he finds out that this is the case.

    Tatsuo is right - Koichi didn't marry Keiko completely out of love. His real name is Itakura, and he's the son of Furaya, an assistant chief who committed suicide five years previous. It wasn't so much a suicide as it was a murder, as Koichi is aware of a scandal involving Iwabuchi, vice president Moriyama (Takashi Shimura), and chief officer Shirai (Ko Nishimura), who convinced Furaya to take the fall for the benefit of the company. A mysterious gift arrives at the wedding. It's a cake in the shape of one of the company's office building, and in the window where Furaya jumped is a rose.

    It's hard to root for the vengeful schemer Koichi. Not only does his plot involve innocent third parties (Keiko), but we know that his father's death was on his own accord (albeit with convincing). Furthermore, because we never hear anything about Furawaya, there's no reason we should accept that he was any less corrupt than Iwabura, Moriyama, and Shirai.

    "The Bad Sleep Well" is mostly entertaining, however it falls apart near the end when the plot expands into a convoluted and tedious procession. For the two-or-so-hours leading up to the final reels, however, it's an enjoyable noir with some beautiful visuals and good performances.
  • February 4, 2009
    Film noir qui traite de la corruption dans les hautes sphères industrielles japonaises. Kurosawa n'y va pas de main morte et s'inspire de divers cas réels pour construire un récit puissant qui dénonce une réalité trop souvent ignorée et qui prenait de plus en plus de place à l'ép...( read more)oque.

    Mifune est encore une fois de la partie dans le rôle du jeune secrétaire qui veut venger le suicide orchestré de son père. Son jeu est toutefois moins physique qu'à l'habitude, plus axé sur la colère réprimée. Shimura est toujours aussi excellent dans le rôle de l'exécutif corrompu et sans scrupule.

    Plusieurs scènes mémorables, en particulier celles des funérailles et des apparitions fantomatiques (superbement photographiées), mais également une certaine lourdeur dans la progression du récit. Du bon Kurosawa, mais qui souffre un peu de sa durée excessive. La finale donne tout de même froid dans le dos par son réalisme cru.
  • November 21, 2008
    Mifune brings the house down. Did the opening wedding inspire Coppola's opening for the original Godfather? I can totally see it
  • March 27, 2008
    It takes a certain type person to enjoy a Criterion Collection movie, lets face it if Spiderman, Terminator, Or Lion King is your favorite movie, its very doubtful you will in enjoy a Criterion Collection movie. This one is no exception. A great movie but you must read subtitles ...( read more)and be willing to pay close attention. A great addition to a collection if you can afford it.
  • March 20, 2008
    This is the first of Kurosawa's contemporary stories I have seen, and once again the visual style and composition is remarkable, melding his unique style with the shadowy world of Film Noir. The plot is a variation on the themes of Hamlet set in the corrupt underbelly of corporat...( read more)e Japan. Toshiro Mifune proves there is more to his repertoire than the lone warrior, and is just as much of a bad ass without a katana in his hand. Unfortunately I was struggling with some more dubious subtitling and so probably missed some of the nuances of the script, and the unrelentingly grey morality combined with a (deliberately) unsatisfying ending left me feeling a little disorientated. But there are some wonderful moments, particularly in the middle of the film when Mifune's motives become apparent and his plans come into effect. A beautifully made and unusual morality tale that could be described as "corporate noir"!
  • August 16, 2007
    A modern variation of the Hamlet story. Proof that Toshiro Mifune has range. This is a complex and original crime film with an unforgettable ending.
  • July 5, 2007
    A masterpiece that is as relevant then as it is now.
  • July 4, 2007
    An almost unrecognizable Toshiro Mifune tries to avenge the death of his estranged father in this Hamlet-esque tale set in the 1960's world of Japanese business. The story is pretty interesting, and Mifune is as solid as ever, but some overacting (not by Mifune) and the overlong ...( read more)running time make this one just OK
  • June 15, 2007
    High class Kurosawa. Fresh, interesting characters and a darkly twisted plot, superimposed on involving corporate drama, make for a multilayered and frequently successful movie. Granted, he rarely cuts the fat, with long lingering shots and deliberate pacing, so honestly I feel l...( read more)ike his films are longer than they should be. As far as writing, direction and performances go, though, they are excellent.
  • May 31, 2007
    I want this kind of revenge
  • May 7, 2007
    Classic Kurosawa, gets better on its second viewing
  • May 1, 2007
    This film is really, really good.
  • March 19, 2007
    Kurosawa version of Hamlet!! Noting else to said, one of the most underrated movie of Akira Kurosawa! I you must see.
  • February 11, 2007
    incredible. kurosawa never ceases to amaze me. this is considered one of kurosawas least appreciated films but its so perfect. tashiro mifune offers up another brilliant performance. kurosawa is known for his period films but this one takes place around 1960 when the film was...( read more) made. this is just as good as kurosawas other more well known films. just incredible. this film tackles corporate corruption and revenge and it has some cool plot twists. must watch for any movie fan.
  • February 7, 2007
    A powerful retelling of Hamlet in noir style. My only complaint is that it ends on a wimper instead of a bang.
  • February 1, 2007
    New Year's Resolution: must see as many Kurosawa movies as possible and see the others again!
  • January 21, 2007
    wanna see it i cant wAIT LOL !!!
  • January 4, 2007
    An amazing drama by Akira Kurosawa.
  • December 25, 2006
    I just got the DVD for christmas :) so obviously I want to see it :)
  • December 11, 2006
    This film looks alright , i would like to see it!
  • December 8, 2006
    the bad do sleep well
  • November 23, 2006
    kurosawa's take on hamlet is among his most refined works simply for the style in which it's presented, mifune and shimura once again have beautiful collaboration, an underrated adaptation but still a classic
  • November 20, 2006
    Fantastic film. My second Kurosawa and it was really amazing.
  • October 22, 2006
    Buen thriller psicológico del maestro. Toshiro Mifune, excepcional como siempre. Venganza y final infeliz.
  • August 13, 2006
    Starts off bit slow, but it gets quicker as the film goes. The story (which is partially based on Hamlet) is great. The ending was wonderful.
  • June 5, 2006
    It's Hamlet. By Kurosawa. Set in postwar corporate Japan. And Toshirô Mifune is Hamlet. I could practically give this 5 stars before even watching it. Kurosawa once again lives up to my exceedingly high expectations of him. Part Shakespeare, part film noir, with an exceptio...( read more)nal ending; THIS is how you modernize a Shakespearean classic.

Summary


The Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (The Bad Sleep Well) Summary