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Black Rain
1989 125 min United States of America R 18+
★6.7
Drama, Action, Thriller
Director: Ridley Scott
Trailers
Description
Two New York cops get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him back to Japan. However, in Japan he manages to escape, and as they try to track him down, they get deeper and deeper into the Japanese Mafia scene and they have to learn that they can only win by playing the game—the Japanese way.
Budget:
$30M
US Gross:
$46.21M
Worldwide:
$134.21M
Starring
Michael Douglas
Actor
Andy Garcia
Actor
Ken Takakura
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Sound Editing
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Sound
Key opinion
Black Rain is a stylish, neon-drenched neo-noir that succeeds as a visual spectacle and a nostalgic 80s action throwback. While critics often find the plot derivative and the writing simplistic, the film is consistently praised for its atmospheric world-building and strong performances.
| Production | Ridley Scott excels at creating an immersive, neon-lit atmosphere that renders 1980s Osaka as a striking, industrial, and alien setting. | |
| Acting | Michael Douglas delivers a compelling and charismatic performance as the quintessential tough, rule-breaking American cop. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay relies on familiar buddy-cop tropes and a simplistic narrative structure, leading to accusations of a lack of originality. | |
| Screenplay | The supporting female character is severely underdeveloped, feeling like an unnecessary addition to the narrative. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the pacing are divided; some find the deliberate, contemplative tempo rewarding, while others view it as a detriment to the film's excitement. | |
| Ending | The ending is viewed inconsistently, with some finding the final character interactions powerful and others feeling it diminishes the stakes of the conflict. |