Rent Brother (2000)
3.5 of 5 from 93 ratings
1h 48min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
In Japan, the sworn brotherhood of the Yakuza is described as being "thicker than the blood of kindred brothers". With his life under threat, disgraced Yakuza hard man Yamamoto escapes to Los Angeles in search of his half-brother Ken, a small-time drug dealer. Unable to speak the language and confused by his surrounding, Yamamoto teams up with Ken and his friend and fellow gang-member Denny. Soon Yamamoto finds himself back in the old routine. His ruthless efficiency in terrorising and killing rival gang members shocks even the blood hardened Americans, and before long Yamamoto's gang is strong enough to join forces with a rival Japanese crime lord called Shirase. The gang is now too big to be ignored, and they are quickly warned off by the Mafia. Yamamoto realises that there can be no turning back and as events draw towards their inevitable conclusion, the Yakuza learns that only Denny understands the ancient code of the "brotherhood". - Actors:
- Takeshi Kitano, Claude Maki, Omar Epps, Masaya Katô, Susumu Terajima, Royale Watkins, Lombardo Boyar, Ren Ôsugi, Ryo Ishibashi, James Shigeta, Tatyana Ali, Makoto Ôtake, Kôen Okumura, Naomasa Musaka, Rino Katase, Tetsuya Watari, Ren Murakami, Joy Nakagawa, Wanda-Lee Evans, Tony Colitti
- Directors:
- Takeshi Kitano
- Producers:
- Masayuki Mori, Jeremy Thomas
- Writers:
- Takeshi Kitano
- Studio:
- Cinema Club
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama, Thrillers
- Collections:
- Getting to Know..., Introducing a British Film Family
- Countries:
- Japan
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Reviews (2) of Brother
Unintentionally Funny Yakuza Gangster Story - Brother review by GI
An ultra violent gangster film written, starring and directed by Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano in his only foray outside Japan, a move he later claimed to have regretted. It's a bit unclear as to whether this film was intended as a dark comedy but if not it is certainly laughable in places. The set pieces are somewhat clumsy and if it wasn't for the gratuitous bloodshed then this is a film that only teenagers would probably enjoy or those that play violent computer games. Half the time the film is simple and yet often incomprehensible and so it's best to sit back and just watch it for what it is. Kitano is a sort of Japanese Charles Bronson/Clint Eastwood hybrid and his crime films are usually big, bloody shoot em ups, and this is oe exception. Here he plays Aniki, a Yakuza enforcer forced to flee Japan for Los Angeles where he meets up with his small time drug pusher brother. With Aniki's ruthless, violent experience he soon builds a drug empire killing all rivals un til eventually he has to take on the mafia. This plot cues beheadings, stabbings, excessive gunplay etc etc. If it's your thing great but it's all a bit puerile.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
A stunning mix of emotion and violence. - Brother review by CP Customer
Brother revolves around the character of Aniki Yamamoto, a Tokyo gangster who after his Yakuza clan is wiped out in a mob war flees from Japan to Los Angeles where he has a younger brother who scrapes a living as a small time drug dealer. Reunited with his brother they begin to eliminate their rivals, and thanks to Aniki's nerve and foresight they soon become a powerful clan that controls several city areas. However, on their quest to gain more power they eventually meet their match and things soon descend into a downward spiral of violence. I've been slowly working my way through Takeshi Kitano's back catalogue, and I have to say he has to be one of the most consistent writer-directors around. He's an absolute master at mixing images of beauty and peace with those of extreme violence, and also managing to add his own sense of pathos and wry humour into the mix, and 'Brother' is no exception. If you've not yet experienced the magic of a Takeshi Kitano film then 'Brother' is a great place to start, and proves once again that Kitano is one of the most talented and distinctive filmmakers around. If you enjoy this then check out Kitano's excellent emotional drama 'Hana-Bi' and the ultra-violent samurai tale 'Zatoichi'.
0 out of 2 members found this review helpful.