The Yakuza

Audience Reviews

View More

Cohil P @cohil Sep 23, 2026 This movie aged very well. It's a smooth elegant Neo-Noir with a cheerful playing Mitchum, guided by a top cast including Ken Takakura as a japanese actor. The movie also plays in Japan. I like the script that rolls out the whole story step by step including unexpected parts at the end. No, this is not an action or samurai movie. It's a straight conservative crime and character play for the ones who appreciate this kind of cinema. See more Max M. @Househuntermax Jun 2, 2026 Sword fights, gun fights, double crosses, can’t trust anyone, I love this movie! I’ve never been much of a Robert Mitchum fan though and if they had cast anyone else in this role, probably would’ve give it five stars. If you like 70s movies or Asian action movies though you have to see this. See more Hector I @Hector1184BC Oct 18, 2025 Considered one of Sidney Pollack's most important films, it tells the story of a man who lived in Japan and returns many years later after rediscovering part of his past when he is called upon to free a young girl held captive by the Yakuza. The entire film revolves around this Japanese mafia and the values that result from it. The lead actor, Robert Mitchum, gives a very good performance, but I find his grimacing a little difficult to watch, perhaps too reminiscent of Ventura or an actor in a cowboy movie. Now for the story: Harry Kilmer, after serving in Japan after World War II, lives in the United States. One day, he is contacted by a former comrade who asks for his help. Harry reluctantly agrees and rediscovers part of his past. We are confronted with Harry's former love (Eiko), whom he wanted to marry, but she refused, causing Harry to return to the US. A film noir investigation thriller with a great atmosphere, it beautifully recounts this story of honor and revenge, which confronts us with a value system radically different from our own, without ever overdoing it. It can also be very violent in some incredible scenes, especially the last one. A good detective and crime film with the spatial architecture of the 1970s—what more could you ask for? ⅘ See more geert v @GeertVp Jul 11, 2025 Rather dull and too long, looks a bit like a tv-movie, it got nothing to remember, even Mitchum looks bored in this movie See more Blu B @RT43513976 Jun 25, 2025 A Deep Cut 70's Crime Action Classic. You can see how this would influence the likes of Tarintino as well. Everything is really well done across the board. The plot is like one step below a Noir level complexity with so much complex and layered relationships between the characters. This is 100% a film you have to really pay attention to the dialouge as well because it contains lots of important information character background wise, not necessarily expose wise though. As with most Pollack films it's very slow and deliberate taking it's time setting up the inner workings of the crime plot, immersing you into the world of Japan, The Yakuza, and the character relationships. I have to say it does a great job setting it up and never really feeling jumpy. It's just very layered and slow but it does have multiple action scenes including a really good sword fight climax. The action scenes are really good and really well edited to. Lots of on location scenes do a great job showing Japan in that ransition phase of Post WWII and the modern era of Japan. It's a unique time for sure. Mitchum is great in this, every character is pretty memorable, the villians are good, and the physical acting is really good in the fights. It's kind of amazing how this goes very slow burn but will erupt with white knuckle action on a dime and it works really well. The only really other minor complaints is this becomes more about Ken it feels like in the second half than Mitchum focus wise but they keep them together so it works still. And after the climax it still goes another 15-20 minutes or so and it's really interesting stuff but it sort of drags too. I wouldn't change it though. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, Hollywoood Japanese movies, or crime action flicks than check this out. Very suprised how layered, action packed, and interesting this was. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Apr 27, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajudou a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. See more Read all reviews

The Yakuza

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING