Product: Brother [VHS]
Rating: 5.0
A paradigm of Kitano's unique, compelling storytelling.
Though it lacks the subtle emotional resonance of Fireworks (Hana-Bi), Brother is nevertheless one of Takeshi Kitano's best films. It is certainly the most briskly paced, one of the best acted, and one of the most violent films in this master's oeuvre.Kitano's brilliance lies in showing you things in unexpected ways, often by means of excluding parts of the action that would be considered essential in conventional editing. But the boldness of his choices, the stunning photography, and the sure-handed editing all combine so that his unusual shot selection seems perfectly natural, a result of economy and artistic conviction, rather than unnecessary quirk or a desire to show off. His is one of the most distinctive narrative voices in cinema today.Kitano remains the perfect actor for his own directing and scripting. In Brother, as in Boiling Point, Kitano often takes the story away from his own character to explore supporting characters. But unlike in Boiling Point, here we have a supporting cast (headed by Omar Epps, who adapts into the Kitano style of comedy fluidly) thoroughly capable of holding our gaze, honororary mention going to Kuroudo Maki for his doggedly persistent portrayal of Yamamoto's younger half-brother Ken, Susumu Terajima as loyal (but also very funny) lieutenant Kato, and Masaya Kato as psychotic henchman Shirase.The title Brother has a broader application in this film. The Epps-Kitano chemistry is enormous, surprising because it usually consists of only a couple of small gestures and a few lines of deadpan dialogue. Given its meaning in both Japanese gangster-speak ("aniki") and American vernacular, it's a brilliant choice for a title. And Kitano shows that he can make a film with American actors without sacrificing any of his distinctive style. A must-see for Kitano fans, to be sure, but also crucial viewing for all cinema lovers who relish seeing a master at his peak.