Osaka Yakuza moves into the Hokuriku region to expand their territory which leads to a violent and bloody war.
Written by Kôji Takada, based on a real case, and directed by Kinji Fukasaku, Hokuriku Proxy War is an action crime drama that takes its time in many ways while including plenty into its story, its characters, and its runtime. It’s packed yet doesn’t feel like it, the runtime is decently long but doesn’t feel long. There is a ton in here and is sort of fascinating watch that will work great for fans of the Yakuza genre but may leave may others cold. For those who this is meant for, this is a solid piece of Yakuza historically inspired entertainment with characters that bring the viewer in and keeps the involved with solid plot turns and evolution for these characters.
The cast here is one that will appeal to fans of Japanese cinema, including Hiroki Matsukata, Mikio Narita, Yumiko Nogawa, and Shin’ichi Chiba (the Sonny Chiba). The cast here is beyond solid with great, nuanced performances that are sometimes subtle and sometimes in your face. The work here is grandiose in scale and makes many other Yakuza films pale in comparison. This is a strong ensemble cast and it’s fantastic to watch. Their work is touching, vulnerable at times, strong, giving the right attitude for each part and bringing the film together beautifully.
The cinematography by Tôru Nakajima is beautiful and moody, almost emotional at times. The work here is just right for the subject and not afraid to get into the action while also maintaining a certain mood that works for the film. The scenes in the snow are particularly effective visually. They look cold, they feel strong, and they bring the horrors of the younger Yakuza in action to the screen without flinching. The editing Kôzô Horiike works well with these images, giving the sequences and scenes time to breath, giving them the time to be effective without going overly long.
Hokuriku Proxy War should appeal to fans of Yakuza stories, gangster films, and true crime dramas. There is a lot in here but it’s not difficult to follow with a solid script and direction along with a strong cast shot and edited just right. The film here is one that may feel like it works at a slower pace, but this is most definitely on purpose. The film makes the most of its talented cast and crew and brings its story to the screen beautifully well.
The extras here are high quality as is usually the case with Radiance Films while being lower in number. The best of the bunch will be obvious from a quick look at their listing. Top of the bunch here are the new interviews with Yoko Takahashi and Kôji Takada along with the exploration of the real-life case that inspired the film by Akihiko Ito, a Yakuza film historian. The new art and the booklet are also interesting of course.