Violent Cop

(Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki, Takeshi Kitano, Japan 1989, 103 min., 35mm, Japanese w/subtitles)

Takeshi Kitano. In his first film as a director, the incredibly prolific actor, standup comedian, painter, anchorman, and poet Takeshi Kitano plays a laconic cop Azuma Ryosuke with many, many vices: drinking, womanizing, and an itchy trigger finger. Hot on the trail of a deranged killer and his vengeful overlord, Kitano hits dangerous ground and his opposition gets nasty. “Azuma Ryosuke makes Dirty Harry look like a poster boy for liberalism and forbearance.” – Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times (1999)