- Release year: 2000
- Director: Takeshi Kitano.
- Producers: Masayuki Mori and Jeremy Thomas.
- Screenplay by: Takeshi Kitano.
- Cinematography by: Katsumi Yanagijima.
- Music by: Joe Hisaishi.
Synopsis: a member of the yakuza flees from Japan to the US to escape certain death. He arrives at LA, where he builds his own gang.
Shotgun Commentary: straightforward gangster film with a compelling story and charming characters.
Review
Brother follows Aniki Yamamoto (Takeshi Kitano), a very rough guy who hides behind a suit and sunglasses. You guessed it, he is essentially the Karl Lagerfeld of the yakuza, minus the ponytail, sadly. This Japanese Lagerfeld is as ruthless and calculating as the designer, only he sets his mind on creating his own mob in LA instead of designing fashion. A pity, if one is to go by the costume design of his lackeys, but we’ll get to that later.
Straight to the point
When Aniki’s boss is taken out by another yakuza family, his position as the most loyal member of his family becomes a liability. Luckily, when one of his brothers is ordered to eliminate him, he gives him some money and safe passage to Los Angeles instead. Thus, Aniki’s empire begins.
The film focuses on the whole existence of said empire or mob, from its creation until its very end. Still, this film follows the saying “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey” to a T. Making it great entertainment even if you know the ending or have seen it some years back.
Kitano both stars and directs this film, a double presence that is worth a close look. As a director, Kitano is in this critic’s favourite breed: the directors that don’t waste their audience’s time. Now, this doesn’t mean that one can’t appreciate the artistry of a film past its message, but there is a line between adding value and being obnoxious. You know, the one that separates films like Conclave (2024) from movies like Dune: Part 2 (2024).
Thanks to BFI’s release, featuring tons of BTS content, we know that apparently, the director is as efficient shooting as he is story telling. Not only does Brother not waste your time with pointless situations, but the project also didn’t waste the cast or crew’s time thanks to being directed by a man completely sure of his vision and practical about shooting. This and a lot more facts can be found in the aforementioned BFI release, details below.
A man and a team
As for Kitano’s input in the film as an actor… that is where things get tricky. His approach to acting is as minimalistic and practical as his take of directing, which makes the character of Anaki quite unique. Anaki is exactly what you expect when you think “tough guy”. He doesn’t talk much, he knows more than he lets on, and he is completely unafraid to get messy. In fact, he is borderline bloodthirsty, but with the ability to control himself and strategise too.
He is a man easy to like, whose biggest crime, aside from murdering other criminals, is being too loyal. Because of Aniki’s personality, Kitano’s approach works quite well, falling a bit short at times but compensating it perfectly with just the right amount of charm.
Of course, that charm wouldn’t work as great as it does without his crew, a band of misfits that does nothing but grow until it stops, disappearing altogether. The different personalities of each of the characters help you remember and easily identify them at all times. A small detail that is incredibly helpful for people who have trouble remembering a bunch of new faces and names all at once, like yours truly. This is as much the success of the writing as it is of the acting. In the immortal words of Ron Popeil, “but wait, there’s more!”.
Mafia runway
Aniki’s minions not only tell a story, they also show a story through their clothes. It’s time to delve into the aforementioned costume design. While Aniki remains pretty consistent with his suit, his lackeys do go through a psychological evolution that is reflected not only in their behaviour but in their clothes. At first, each of the gang members wears their own clothes.
Cheap-looking pieces through which they shout their social status and low-level criminal profession. However, as the film progresses, and they learn how to truly be in organised crime, they begin to dress exactly like Aniki, black suits with white shirts. This shows not only their devotion for the man, but also their wish to be more like him.
Finally, closer to the end, there is another significant change of clothes, this time more subtle. While they still wear suits, proof of their loyalty, they each wear a different colour shirt. This change shows that the hive mind has disappeared in favour of a more chaotic organisation where everyone thinks they know better.
All in all, Brother is a fascinating film. Obviously great for crime-film fans, but also great enough to be interesting for both people who love to overanalyse and people who love to not think while watching a movie. It is a film that unifies and, if given the chance, delivers a great experience for its audience.
BFI’s release of Brother can be ordered now on their website. Details and links below!
Special features
- High-definition transfer
- The Green Flash (1988, 23 mins): Adam Davis’s short film about an encounter between a homeless orphan and an injured gangster, featuring a young Omar Epps in his first screen role
- Scenes by the Sea: The Life and Cinema of ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano (2000, 48 mins): documentary profile of the Japanese actor and director, Takeshi Kitano. Featuring interviews with many of his regular contributors and colleagues
- Featurette (2000, 2 mins): behind the scenes footage and on-set interviews
- Cast and crew interviews (2000, 15 mins): with director/actor Takeshi Kitano, producers Masayuki Mori and Jeremy Thomas, and actor Omar Epps
- Behind the scenes footage (2000, 4 mins): on-set footage of Kitano at work with his crew
- First pressing only: Illustrated booklet featuring new essays by Jennifer Coates, Adam Bingham and James-Masaki Ryan, an archival interview with Takeshi Kitano by Tony Rayns and writing on The Green Flash by its director Adam Davis
Where to buy
Pre-order from the BFI Shop
Advice to take from this movie:
- Don’t underestimate people just because you don’t understand their language.
- A suit is always a good wardrobe choice.
- Starting a new life in a different country is always fun. But not always a good idea…
What’s your take? Have you watched Brother? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀