When Ryo introduced Gangster V.I.P. (Burai Yori Daikanbu) last night she mentioned that the print was not as in good condition as the other films in the series had been. Although we've been blessed with near pristine presentations so far, this print turned out to better than she implied. While the color was a little faded, it didn't impede the cinematic bravura director Toshio Masuda injected into the yakuza potboiler formula. The first ten minutes alone were a super high for a retro action addict like myself. A b & w montage flashback tells the sad sack back-story of orphan Goro (played by Nikkatsu superstar Tetsuya Watari - and I swear he was called Goro in Velvet Hustler, plus the protagonist of Branded to Kill is named Goro) then segues into color and a high-pitched action sequence that includes gun play, face-offs and a tandem flip over a banister. Masuda deftly sets a moody tone, peppering the requisite melodrama of the script with terse action. Masuda's craftsmanship is exemplified by kinetic camera work and vibrant staging, as he delivers a serious action flick that retains a sense of humor. While the nature of the genre might seem a little cheesy today, this one still boasts its fair share of cool, playing up the tropes without degenerating into self-parody. It's about a bad-ass coming to terms with his tender side. Watari's Goro character is like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz - he's got a rough exterior but doesn't realize just what a softie he is and that he really does have a heart after all. The ending follows the noir paradigm but allows room for sequels. In fact this was the first of the Burai series. View the trailer here.
The night before I saw another film in the Lin Zheng Sheng series at Anthology (see below) called Robinson's Crusoe. It was not as interesting as the other one, I have to say. Still, it's great to be able to see Taiwanese films, let alone have the director present for a q & a.
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