Product description The breakout success of 2000s fantastic Battle Royale resulted in long-overdue global recognition of the films of Kinji Fukasaku, and Blackmail Is My Life is a perfect example of the director working in his prime. By the time this unconventional crime thriller was released in 1968, post-war Japanese culture was caught in a vice-grip of cynicism and corruption well suited to Fukusakus singular penchant for gritty, stylized action and unhappy endings that could only be attempted under the more liberal-minded aegis of Shochiku studios. Tautly paced and fueled by a trendy soundtrack synthesis of whistled themes and electric rock, Blackmail centers on a quartet of young daredevils whove discovered blackmail as a means to enjoy the booming economy from which theyve been excluded. When they try to squeeze both Yakuza kingpins and government officials by threatening to air their dirty laundry, they quickly confront the lethal consequences of their headstrong bravado. In ad .com The breakout success of 2000's fantastic Battle Royale resulted in long-overdue global recognition of the films of Kinji Fukasaku, and Blackmail Is My Life is a perfect example of the director working in his prime. By the time this unconventional crime thriller was released in 1968, post-war Japanese culture was caught in a vice-grip of cynicism and corruption well suited to Fukusaku's singular penchant for gritty, stylized action and unhappy endings that could only be attempted under the more liberal-minded aegis of Shochiku studios. Tautly paced and fueled by a trendy soundtrack synthesis of whistled themes and electric rock, Blackmail centers on a quartet of young daredevils who've discovered blackmail as a means to enjoy the booming economy from which they've been excluded. When they try to squeeze both Yakuza kingpins and government officials by threatening to air their dirty laundry, they quickly confront the lethal consequences of their headstrong bravado. In addition to giving lead actor Hiroki Matsukata an opportunity to move away from the Yakuza-thriller roles he'd grown famous for, Fukusaku's raw energy incorporates a variety of compelling nihilistic touches, not the least being the use of adrenalized crime as an effective aphrodisiac. Above all, his astonishing finale serves as both moral warning and scathing criticism of public apathy--a bloody wake-up call to Japanese culture and budding criminals everywhere! --Jeff Shannon
J**G
Exposes the crime and political corruption of 1960s Japan
Blackmail Is My Life was another great film produced by Kinji Fukasaku who was known for focusing upon crime and gangs (Yakuza). The movie is about the underbelly of Japan’s economic boom in the 60s.The movie focuses upon four small time swindlers, Shun (Hiroki Matsukata), Seki (Hideo Murota), Neguchi – “Zero” (Akira Jo), and Otoki (Tomomi Sato). Their trade is blackmailing businessmen. Their luck goes bad when they try their trade on a group of powerful politicians and businessmen who work behind the scenes to run the country’s politics. Through a series of flashbacks Shun explains how he started with nothing and became a successful criminal until things went wrong.The movie plays on the 1960s when Japan’s economy took off after the Korean War gave it a huge boost and a post-World War II generation were coming of age. There’s Rock music in the background, club scenes, sports cars, and Shun talks about taking advantage of all the salary men that now populate the country. At the same time, Fukasaku emphasizes how the nation’s politics were corrupt with payoffs, bribes, and other illegal activities to get people elected.The movie ultimately works on many levels. It’s hip, it’s go crime, it’s got corruption. Fukasaku specialized in peeling away the image of Japan and exposing its evils whether that was with the Yakuza in several of his movies or in this case politics.C
D**G
It has a great noir feel to it but be prepared for a ...
This film by the director of Battle Royale deals with a group that decides to make it big by becoming Blackmailers. It has a great noir feel to it but be prepared for a downer ending
T**S
Yakuza by one of the masters
I have seen two of Fukasaku's major works (the first being Battle Royale and Battles without Honor and Humanity the second) prior to this movie. And if I had watch this before one (or both) of these, I would probably gave it a higher score. But, it is a bit light compared to those two. That is not to say there isn't anything to scoff at.It has interesting camera work, biting black humor (with a dash of social commentary), and a passion for youth. It is a wonderful film for someone wanting a bit more in Yakuza films
E**.
Disappointing Even If I Understood Japanese
There are no subtitles in this film--written and spoken language is Japanese!!! I speak and read English and French.The film has the appearance of a badly colorized, old-old-old, badly edited, deteriorating, fuzzy, black-and-white film.This was an unappealing lost of $3.99 and a jolting deflation of my expectations.
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