Movies

Takeshi Kitano, the maestro of Japanese crime dramas, returns with "Beyond Outrage," the sequel to his 2010 film "Outrage." Freshly premiered and still steaming from the kitchen of cinematic excellence, this film doesn't just unfold; it splatters the political intricacies of yakuza life across the screen with artistic flair. It's a tale entangled in betrayal and revenge, delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and the grace of a samurai katana. These themes dance tautly on the edge of gritty realism and poetic justice, painting a world where life's twilight can mirror the bleakest noir landscapes.

Outrage is an unforgiving plunge into the world of organized crime, crafted by the meticulous hands of Takeshi Kitano. With a mix of directorial prowess and grim authenticity, Kitano invites us to enter this perilous realm via the 2010 film that competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. With "Outrage," viewers are catapulted into a narrative drenched with betrayal and ruthless ambition, emphasizing the sinister underbelly of yakuza culture. Exploring blood-stained honor codes and the infinite spiral of vengeance, the film wrestles with the futility of violence, leaving audiences poised on the precipice of chaos.

In the bustling cinematic world of Hong Kong, where triad films emerge as frequently as news broadcasts, Wong Jing's "A True Mob Story," starring the indomitable Andy Lau, attempts to carve its niche. With the film's ambitious title promising an unprecedented glimpse into organized crime, one might expect a groundbreaking narrative. Instead, what unfolds feels more like a repetitive performance from the annals of triad cinema. The film's central themes are loyalty, betrayal, and redemption—territories as familiar as weary travelers on a well-worn path. Yet, thanks to Andy Lau's magnetic portrayal of Wai Kat-cheung, the film manages to breathe some life into its well-trodden journey.

Takeshi Kitano's "Violent Cop" strides onto the screen as a gritty neo-noir spectacle, launched upon unsuspecting audiences from the fertile creative grounds of late '80s Japan. Reflecting the murky depths engulfed by crime and moral ambiguity, Kitano's directorial debut delivers a haunting exploration of justice wrapped in bleak inevitability. Streaming through the sinews of this cinematic canvas is a story that drifts between raw violence and the spirals of inexorable fate, all while marking the genesis of Kitano’s storied filmmaking career. The film's tapestry of themes, orchestrated by the unusual score juxtaposed against its brutal narrative, sets the stage for a uniquely hypnotic experience that both disturbs and captivates.

The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil offers a gripping exploration of the murky waters between good and evil through a riveting crime thriller narrative. Under the directorial guidance of Lee Won-tae, this 2019 South Korean film captivates with its action-packed sequences and thought-provoking themes. Based on a true story, it deftly weaves a web of intrigue and moral ambiguity that leaves viewers pondering who truly embodies the roles of the gangster, the cop, and the devil. This captivating ambiguity is the heart of the film, challenging the audience to navigate the morally gray areas inhabited by its characters.

In a universe not so far away, a film titled "Flight Risk" has landed—or more appropriately, crash-landed—straight onto streaming platforms, helmed by a name once synonymous with epic storytelling, Mel Gibson. Prepare yourselves, for this is not "Braveheart," nor is it a movie that wrestles with deep philosophical themes. Instead, it is a whirlwind, turbulence-riddled escapade of bewildering decisions and a plethora of questionable accents. Central to this cinematic odyssey is a pilot of questionable credentials—wink, wink—and a handcuffed accountant. Hats off to the daring filmmakers who decided the vast Alaskan wilderness would be best portrayed from inside one small cabin for 90% of the runtime.

Takeshi Kitano, the renowned maestro of cinema, presents "Broken Rage," a 2024 Japanese action comedy with a peculiarly inventive twist. Released on what seems to be a mission to unsettle and intrigue, the film deftly combines the dire seriousness of an aging hitman's final, life-defining ultimatum with the zany unpredictability of slapstick comedy. Kitano, wearing multiple hats as writer, director, and leading man, transforms this narrative into an experiment that defiantly resists conventional genre boundaries. It's a venture as peculiar as it is daring, illuminating Kitano's vision of storytelling that transcends the mundane.

Watching a film about a plane crashing while you're on a flight slicing through a storm might sound like a recipe for tension, but it’s a unique juxtaposition that turned my viewing of "Plane" into an unforgettable experience. Jean-François Richet's 2023 action thriller transformed what could have been a predictable disaster narrative into a gripping tale of survival and redemption. As my aircraft swayed ominously through the tempest, Gerard Butler and Mike Colter delivered a story within the story, elevating my expectations from their storm-induced low to soaring heights of captivating cinema.

When I stumbled upon the 2024 action flick "Aftermath," directed by Patrick Lussier and starring Mason Gooding, Dylan Sprouse, Megan Stott, and Dichen Lachman, I braced myself for a thrill ride filled with suspense and explosive action. Instead, what I got was a front-row seat to a demolition derby of filmmaking: a spectacular collision of bad scriptwriting, painful performances, and puzzling plot choices that could run circles around any B-movie cache.

When you sit down to watch a biographical film named The Ballad of Davy Crockett, you may have some fair expectations. Perhaps a legendary tale filled with thrilling adventures and a touching narrative, one that would pay glorious tribute to the life and times of the famed American frontiersman. Alas, this cinematic endeavour by director Derek Estlin Purvis with Colm Meaney, Jesse Hutch, and William Moseley isn't just disappointingly far from it, it's perturbing.