this is the voice of re:mote induction.Monday, December 15, 2003
rainy dog - i think it is fair to say that rainy dog is not the best of takashi miike's work, certainly not from the selection of his films that i have seen to date. rainy dog is the second in a trilogy of triad/yakuza films, which might affect the plot, though the DVD box stresses it is a thematic rather than narrative trilogy. however there are definitely parts of the story that don't seem to make sense within the context of this one film alone.
rainy dog is described as being a dark noiry gangster film. dark it certainly is, and that is one of its biggest failings. while a certain atmosphere might be created by a lack of lighting, it can also lead to obscuring all action, creating a sense of confusion, and the idea that the viewer isn't really seeing everything. in rainy dog's case spending a little more on the lighting would have made a big difference.
the film is the story of a yakuza in china, starting with the day he finds that his boss has been killed, meaning he won't be brought back to japan. the same day that an ex-girlfriend turns up on his door to leave him with a mute child that she claims is his. the fact that he barely says anything himself tends to lend some weight to this suggestion.
the yakuza tries to go about business as usual, doing some hits for a local triad leader, so he can get enough money and a passport to go back home. however the fact that he is superstitious and reckons bad things happen on rainy days affects him as much as the fact he suddenly has a child following him about. the fact that it seems to rain all the time obviously hinders his work, as well as providing part of the films title.
hope seems to be offered on two fronts, sheltering from the rain he meets a prostitute with big dreams, and his latest hit just happens to be carrying a load of money. together these look to provide an escape route for the yakuza, his son, and the girl. however with the dead man's brother on his tail, and the triad not really caring what happens to him, things of course can't follow an easy path.
rainy dog is slow and moody, low on lighting and dialogue, which does provide a certain atmosphere. though when you compare it to the likes of city of lost souls by the same director, or even bangkok dangerous (pang brothers) or fallen angels (wong kar wai), then you know that this film could have been a lot better.
rainy dog is described as being a dark noiry gangster film. dark it certainly is, and that is one of its biggest failings. while a certain atmosphere might be created by a lack of lighting, it can also lead to obscuring all action, creating a sense of confusion, and the idea that the viewer isn't really seeing everything. in rainy dog's case spending a little more on the lighting would have made a big difference.
the film is the story of a yakuza in china, starting with the day he finds that his boss has been killed, meaning he won't be brought back to japan. the same day that an ex-girlfriend turns up on his door to leave him with a mute child that she claims is his. the fact that he barely says anything himself tends to lend some weight to this suggestion.
the yakuza tries to go about business as usual, doing some hits for a local triad leader, so he can get enough money and a passport to go back home. however the fact that he is superstitious and reckons bad things happen on rainy days affects him as much as the fact he suddenly has a child following him about. the fact that it seems to rain all the time obviously hinders his work, as well as providing part of the films title.
hope seems to be offered on two fronts, sheltering from the rain he meets a prostitute with big dreams, and his latest hit just happens to be carrying a load of money. together these look to provide an escape route for the yakuza, his son, and the girl. however with the dead man's brother on his tail, and the triad not really caring what happens to him, things of course can't follow an easy path.
rainy dog is slow and moody, low on lighting and dialogue, which does provide a certain atmosphere. though when you compare it to the likes of city of lost souls by the same director, or even bangkok dangerous (pang brothers) or fallen angels (wong kar wai), then you know that this film could have been a lot better.
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