| Sonatine | 4.5  |
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| Ghost Dog | 4 | |
| Ordell Robbie | 3 | Less inspired than Tanpopo |
The Tales of a Golden Geisha is funny enough to be a good comedy. Itami's desire to destroy the yakuza mythology and criticize their power on Japanese society is even touching. And even more moving if we think that Itami would kill himself five years later because of the yakuzas' pressures on him. But the movie is lightyears away from Tanpopo, seeming to look like doping more than sushi. Closeups and overstylization of the frame are often used to give the characters a cartoon-like dimension. But it is used so much often that it becomes a tiring trick. Moreover, the story is too predictable, following the problem/solution pattern. But good editing, good actors and funny gags are the movie's saving grace.
