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Violent Cop
その男、凶暴につき
1989 103 min Japan 18+
★7.3
Crime, Thriller, Action, Drama
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Trailers
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Description
A detective breaks all rules of ethical conduct while investigating a colleague’s involvement in drug pushing and Yakuza activities.
US Gross:
$1,960
Starring
Takeshi Kitano
Actor
Maiko Kawakami
Actor
Makoto Ashikawa
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
Violent Cop serves as a seminal, raw directorial debut that established Takeshi Kitano's signature aesthetic of cold, nihilistic violence and silent, stoic archetypes. While critics acknowledge its technical imperfections and thin narrative, it remains widely respected as a pivotal work that successfully subverted conventional police procedural tropes.
| Acting | Takeshi Kitano delivers a defining performance as the protagonist, embodying a silent, charismatic, and ruthlessly violent cop who operates outside conventional morality. | |
| Theme | The film utilizes extreme, graphic violence as a stylistic tool to depict a nihilistic world where law enforcement and criminals are equally immersed in brutality. | |
| Direction | The directorial style stands out for its deliberate, contemplative long takes and sudden, jarring shifts into intense aggression. | |
| Score | The minimalist, sparse use of sound and music divides viewers: some find it uniquely atmospheric and sharp, while others miss a more traditional, impactful score. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are split: supporters praise its subversion of genre expectations and raw focus on character, while detractors dismiss it as a thin, banal police story with incoherent plot points. |