Action

DVD REVIEW . Cops vs. Thugs

Hothead cops, warring yakuza, prime waterfront real estate. It’s about as combustible a mix as one could hope for, and the backdrop of Kinji Fukasaku’s ever so bluntly titled Cops vs. Thugs. All Fukasaku’s favorite themes are present and accounted for: honorable gangsters, despicable authority figures, oppression, passion, fury, and the lone protagonist who refuses to play by the rules of either warring side.

Years of mafia warring have reduced the number of Yakuza clans from seven to two. The police are hoping to use the animosity between the two clans (fueled in part by the aforementioned property) to their advantage, and their young, idealistic chief has devised a method for quelling the gang violence even further. However, Detective Kuno (Fukasaku Regular, Bunta Sugawara), a hard nosed cop with ties to, and a mutual respect for theYakuza, realizes that things aren’t as clear cut and easy as the Chief would hope them to be. What follows is a frenzied, masterful take on underworld politics and anti-hero justice of the type that would make Harry Callahan smile.

While the film has the most straightforward of straightforward titles, the narrative is anything but. Hostile takeovers, double-crosses, mob hits and points of intrigue come flying fast and furious. Unlike the recently reviewed Curse of the Golden Flower, Fukasaku requires a bit of intelligence and a healthy attention span from his audience. Furthermore the cast, in trademark Fukasaku style, is extremely large. From the moment of its opening bust you’re thrown into the mix, and sternly told to keep up. You take a bathroom break or even take the time to make a remark to your viewing companion, and you’re guaranteed to get left behind. After all, it is the rough and tumble world of the Yakuza we are dealing with. To dumb it down would be to sacrifice authenticity.

It’s no secret that to watch any Fukasaku film is to watch the work of a master. With Cops vs. Thugs his skill with the wide screen canvas is evidenced in every shot, from the busy, crowded Yakuza meeting rooms, Police headquarters, and hostess bars (every shot seems to have at least a dozen people in frame), to quieter sequences of conspiracy and negotiation. Furthermore, while action has the appearance of being captured on the fly closer inspection reveals it to be meticulously framed, even through fluid handheld capture. One needs only to witness the various shootouts and chases to realize the true sense of danger and excitement the prettified-documentary treatment provides.

Acting is all of the fiercely volatile variety, and Bunta Sugawara, Ken Takakura et al growl to perfection. Pinky Violence fans will note the appearance by Reiko Ike as one of the hostess girls in the film. It’s a bit odd to see her manhandled by Yakuza, when she’s usually the one putting them in their place. Regardless, it’s cool to see her in any film.

Dense, smart, and packing quite a strong punch, Cops vs. Thugs is crime drama at its finest, and ranks with some of the best of Fukasaku’s work. If you’re a fan of Fukasaku, you owe it to yourself to see it. And, if your only familiarity with Fukasaku is Battle Royale, Cops vs. Thugs should provide quite the nice gateway to his other films.

The DVD

Kino presents Cops vs. Thugs in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. While the picture certainly has been cleaned up from its original print (there are no traces of dust or scratches), the picture appears somewhat faded, leading me to believe this is essentially a dump of a previous laser disc transfer. The richness and depth of color just aren’t up to the restoration standards set by Criterion and, recently, Panik House. But, the film is quite good, so I can’t really complain. The soundtrack is presented in its original mono format, and is quite clear. The waka-chaka guitars and blaring sirens sound as if they’re right in your living room.

Kino provides little to nothing in the way of extras. There is a trailer gallery, featuring Cops and Yakuza Graveyard, and a photo gallery with promotional stills from the film. That’s it. It is worth noting that Kino does include an insert featuring the original Japanese poster. Really, that’s it.

All in all, great movie, disappointing disc.

About the Author

Chris Nelson has been a film fanatic since age six. A former film and English major, he is now a Software Engineer and contract Technical Writer living in the Silicon Valley.