58. Sonatine

This is the second film featured on the list from Japanese auteur Takeshi Kitano -- and the fact that the man has not one, but two films on the list should indicate that not only is his work criminally overlooked by American audiences, he’s also quite the talented filmmaker. Sonatine is the lesser of the two films on the list, although not by much. It continues the writer/director/actor’s fascination with the Yakuza subculture, but it’s far more playful than either Boiling Point (the director’s first foray into Yakuza cinema) or Hana-bi (a.k.a. Fireworks -- a film featured on this list).

When Kitano and his merry band of gangsters are sent to mediate a turf war between rival gang factions, the stone-faced leader smells a rat. It seems some of his superiors want him and his crew out of the picture in order to take over his lucrative turf. When the hit on Kitano and his men doesn’t go as planned, the gangsters hide out at an isolated beach house. Removed from the city and their life of crime, the hardened criminals go on vacation -- enjoying the sun, surf, and sand around them in a child-like fashion. However, like all vacations, this one soon ends -- and since this is a Kitano film, one can probably guess that it ends violently.

While not as powerful as Kitano’s masterwork, Hana-bi, Sonatine is still an interesting film in the director’s oeuvre because it’s lighthearted. Kitano started his career as a comedian and is still recognized as such in his native Japan. His penchant for broad-based comedy shines through in this film, providing a stark contrast to his dour gangster demeanor in the city. In this regard, Sonatine may well be a hybrid film -- first Yakuza beach movie ever created. It blends elements of both genres quite well (including a musical set-piece) and never seems awkward in the process. The film is marked by the typical Kitano production staples -- static long shots that go on for quite some time, performances from Kitano himself and regular co-stars Ren Osugi and Susumu Terrajima, as well as a mesmerizing Joe Hisaishi score.

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a region 1 DVD release for this classic -- but those intrigued enough to check it out can pick up a VHS copy (or the hard to find laserdisc), released through Quentin Tarantino’s Rolling Thunder label. (Mike Bracken)