The Yakuza poster & wallpaper

Brian Keith, Eiji Okada, Herb Edelman

World War II veteran Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) returns to Japan to rescue the daughter of his employer, George Tanner (Brian Keith), in this tense thriller directed by Sydney Pollack. Kilmer soon ...( read more  read more... )discovers the girl has been kidnapped by the Japanese mafia. Unable to go up against the brutal crime syndicate alone, he reluctantly enlists the aid of his old nemesis, Ken Tanaka (Ken Takakura). Paul Schrader and Robert Towne co-wrote the script.

Flixster Users

79% liked it

307 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

10 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Release Date: December 31, 1975

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DVD Release Date: January 23, 2007

Stats: 103 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (103)

  • organgrinder136
    June 13, 2009
    organgrinder136
    clearly the best western film about an eastern subject. it lacks no realism. the main running themes are extreme loyalty, an unbreakable code of honour and a certain nihilism by director sydney pollack. you can't go wrong with robert mitchum in a starring role and it's genuinely ...( read more)hard to pick between his performance here and the also amazing cape fear
  • pier007
    October 11, 2007
    pier007
    An american meets the dark and violent japanese underworld. an ode to friendship, honor codes and sacrifice among far east gangsters.
  • alanhyc1
    August 15, 2008
    alanhyc1
    abit slow but the remaster was good
  • thrusz
    December 6, 2007
    thrusz
    This might be the first truly shameless bad ass film. Holy sh*t, everything goes down in this movie. Are you a fan of samurai swords? Watch this movie! Are you a fan of shotguns? Watch this movie! Are you a fan of people cutting off their own fingers? First get help and th...( read more)en watch this movie!

    Now, here's the beef. This is a super-cool, super-stylized movie that I could never really imagine Robert Mitchum in until I actually watched it. He fits the role ideally. Mainly because he's pretty amazing in everything that he's ever done. Sydney Pollack also is Sydney Pollack, but really at some of his best. His color palatte in this movie is top notch and the constant return to the tattoo theme is such a good concept. I have to look this up on IMDB, but I'm pretty sure Maurice Binder did the opening credits. If he didn't, man, this makes a little James Bond nerd very happy seeing visuals like this.

    Here's some beefs with the movie though. Pollack understands that most of American audiences don't understand the cultural history of the Yakuza. Only little nerds get into that stuff. So there are entire scenes of just shameless explanation of what is going on. Sure, I was happy about it in many instances because I learned stuff (assuming it's all accurate.) But sometimes I feel like it's not necessary. Also, the main plot is kind of lost to terrible expositional dialogue. I'd rather see a flashback. I guess they couldn't get Mitchum's kid to play a younger version of himself anymore.

    Overall, this movie is amazing. I might have to buy the Mitchum set to add this to my collection. No matter what, top notch.
  • daddyronin72
    October 14, 2007
    daddyronin72
    My absolute FAVORITE film of all time!!!
  • kozureokami
    July 30, 2007
    kozureokami
    Robert Mitchum and excellent Japanese swordplay.
  • deano
    June 24, 2007
    deano
    Really exciting and haunting East-meets-West-head-on thriller with tough hero Robert Mitchum who goes against the yakuza (Japanese gangster) to protect his Japanese friends he trusts like a family.
  • cbibuld
    April 17, 2007
    cbibuld
    This is a thinking person's action movie. Don't blink. Everything is important. It about friendship, honor and alot of stuff that get's lost in today's society.

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Critic Reviews

October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A superior action movie, but all the same, it's for audiences that have grown accustomed over the last few years to buckets of blood, disembowelments and severed hands flying through the air. full review

View more The Yakuza reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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  • *I was an american yakuza, they called me stryker, and I was a hitman in hiding..although, i did once ride a horse through the arabian desert..who am I?* First its 'Strider' and what the hell is a yakuza? If u think we have some stupid people on Flixster press yes!   Answer »
  • Ken Takakura and Robert Mitchum co-starred in which movie?  Answer »
  • what is the name of the female yakuza that sends an assassin after the bride in kill bill vol.2 called?  Answer »
  • what actor was the main carractor in 1974 film yakuza abaut Japanise mafia  Answer »
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