KILLING FOR THE PROSECUTION (検察側の罪人) (2018)

Genre: Mystery
Director: Harada Masato
Cast: Takuya Kimura, Kazunari Ninomiya, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Yutaka Matsushige, Takehiro Hira, Koji Okura, Yoshi Sakou
RunTime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Encore Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 27 September 2018

Synopsis: A murder occurs in metropolitan Tokyo―the perpetrator unknown. Assigned to the case are Mogami (Takuya Kimura), the ace prosecutor at the Public Prosecutors Office, and Okino (Kazunari Ninomiya), a newcomer in the Criminal Investigation Department. Mogami sets his sights on one man among many suspects and pursues him tenaciously. The man Matsukura (Yoshi Sakou) is also the prime suspect of another unsolved murder for which the statute of limitations has expired. Okino, who considers Mogami his mentor, tries hard in interviews to get a confession out of the suspect, but the man continues to deny involvement and maintains his innocence. Eventually, Okino begins to doubt Mogami’s direction, and wonders if he is setting up Matsukura to be the perpetrator. The two prosecutors end up in confrontation, each fronting their own brand of justice. What outcome awaits their showdown?

Movie Review:

The law is a system that regulates and ensures that individuals or a community adhere to the rules of a state. Often, the enforcement of law also carries the notion of administering justice. But ‘justice’ has its root in philosophical theories, and differs in every culture, and debatably differs between individuals. This becomes an even more sticky situation when the people involved are prosecutors, who have the authority to have their influence in the law enforcement. That forms the premise of this movie.

Killing for the Prosecution is adapted from a novel written by Shusuke Shizukui. It is highly acclaimed by local Japanese publishers, ranking within Top 10 for the best selling mystery titles in 2013 and 2014. There was much research done while writing the novel, including having interviews and learning the perspectives from the prosecution side from ex-prosecutors. Currently, the movie is also well received in Japan, bagging a record of US$20.5 million at the Japanese box offices. To date, it is the 10th highest grossing Japanese film this year.

The story revolves around a young prosecutor, Okino (Ninomiya Kazunari) who clashes with a seasoned colleague, Mogami (played by Kimura Takuya) over a murder case where the suspect, Matsukura (played by Sakou Yoshi) insists on his innocence. In their investigations, Mogami realises that the suspect is also the same prime suspect in another unresolved murder, but the statute of limitations expired. Mogami then assigns Okino to interrogate Matsukuru to get to the truth, but Mogami’s own motives begin to get in the way. Despite having more evidence which will set the investigation in another direction, Mogami seems convinced that Matsukura is guilty.

One thing that stood out the most in the film would be the performance from both Kimura and Ninomiya. Ninomiya’s natural talent in acting is obvious. In one of the most intense scenes in the interrogation room with Matsukura and Tachibana (played by Yoshitaka Yuriko), almost half the lines from the character Okino was ad-libbed by Ninomiya. The best lines that were said in that scene was actually unscripted! On the other hand, Kimura value adds in a different way. In the opening scene, he discussed with the director to speak in a loud voice without telling the rest of the cast and the result was superb - the natural reactions from the actors were captured. His role as Mogami was also not an easy one as the character carries a lot of baggage from his past and struggles with his personal beliefs on justice, marriage, etc. Yet, Kimura was able to maneuver his way in the role, expressing and showing so much depth to his character.

Overall the story was quite interesting, and gave a lot of aspects from the prosecution side and its take on justice. Like any other human beings, the people working in the line of prosecution also have their own biases and view of justice. That in itself is a ridicule towards juridical systems and laws since the conception and establishment of it is by humans, for humans. So how could we then expect and ensure it to be completely rid of ‘humanness’, and to be objectively fair? While that remains unresolved, the acting, music editing and plotting is on point for this movie.

Movie Rating:

(The extravagant lineup of cast coupled with the interesting plot keeps you at the edge of your seat and leaves you wanting more!)

Review by Tho Shu Ling