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Boiling Point
３－４Ｘ１０月
1990 96 min Japan 18+
★7.2
Crime, Comedy, Drama
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Trailers
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Description
Masaki, a baseball player and gas-station attendant, gets into trouble with the local Yakuza and goes to Okinawa to get a gun to defend himself. There he meets Uehara, a tough gangster, who is in serious debt to the yakuza and planning revenge.
US Gross:
$1,471
Starring
Takeshi Kitano
Actor
Yûrei Yanagi
Actor
Yuriko Ishida
Actor
Awards
1 win & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
Boiling Point serves as an early, formative entry in Takeshi Kitano's filmography, establishing his signature minimalist style and de-mythologized approach to the yakuza genre. While the film is praised for its atmospheric visuals and compelling character dynamics, opinions are divided on the coherence of its fragmented narrative structure.
| Direction | Kitano's direction establishes his signature style through the use of long, static takes and a deliberate avoidance of traditional action spectacle. | |
| Acting | Takeshi Kitano delivers an unforgettable, commanding performance as the unpredictable and odious gangster leader. | |
| Theme | The film effectively deconstructs yakuza archetypes, presenting them as mundane or primitive rather than romanticizing them as mythic figures. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure is disjointed, leading to a polarizing experience where visual focus successfully holds interest for some, while others feel the plot lacks necessary clarity. |