OUTRAGE BEYOND (Autoreiji: Biyondo) (2012)

Genre: Crime/Drama
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Cast: Beat Takeshi, Toshiyuki Nishida, Tomokazu Miura, Ryo Kase, Hideo Nakano, Yutaka Matsushige, Fumiyo Kohinata
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence and Coarse Language)
Released By: Lighthouse Pictures & Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website: http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/outrage2/

Opening Day: 14 March 2013

Synopsis: The huge Sanno crime family has grown into a huge organization, expanding its power into politics and legitimate big business. The Sanno’s upper ranks are now dominated by young executives who promote black-marketeering rather than the traditional underground income sources. The old-guard members are penting up resentment as they see themselves being pushed to the sidelines.

This vulnerable spot in the Sanno hierachy is exactly what anti-gang detective Kataoka has been looking for, as the police force prepares a full-scale crackdown. With secret plots and dirty tricks, the ambitious Kataoko will open up a whole new game of yakuza power struggle.

Detective Kataoka intends to instigate conflict between the Sanno and the Hanabishi, their long-time neighboring ally, in the hopes that they ultimately destroy each other. To help weaken the Sanno, the underhanded cop also provokes their grumbling old-guard executives to consider usurping Chairman Kato from top position. And Kataoka’s trump card is the arranged release from prison of Otomo, the rumored-dead boss of a family once crushed by the Sanno.

The news of Otomo’s release creates tension in the Sanno family. Especially nervous is underboss Ishihara, whose betrayal put Otomo in jail. Fear drives Ishihara to start up a frenzied manhunt to shoot Otomo on sight. But Otomo has no plans on seeking revenge nor does he even intend to be yakuza anymore. Crafty cop Kataoka, however, insists and pushes Otomo to help the police bring down the Sanno family. He forges an unlikely pact between Otomo and Kimura, a former underboss of another family now defunct due to Sanno reign. Kimura also happens to be the guy who stabbed Otomo in prison, making their eventual “sake pact” all the more delicate to maneuver.

With the sense of approaching yakuza warfare, deception and betrayal smolder among the families as everyone watches out for the other’s next move. It’s impossible to guess who will come out on top in this fierce power game. It’s not over until it’s over.

Movie Review:

After a two year long wait, Takeshi Kitano (also known as Beat Kitano) is finally back with the sequel of Outrage. Outrage Beyond is a continuation of the narrative from Outrage, with a slightly different focus this time. Fret not! Even if you are not acquainted with the first movie, the first half of the movie goes at lengths to explore the relationship and tensions between the Yakuza families as well as the joint evil ‘business’ with the police. It would be a good introductory and refresher to all the crucial characters.

Outrage Beyond sustains the mood from Outrage, having a very bleak and dark undertone from the very beginning. At times, it serves to poke fun and ridicule at the bureaucracy’s plain ignorance which led to how blatant and extensive the Yakuza power simply grew. All these worked together to bring focus on the main theme of the movie, which is about achieving selfish ambitions. Just like how it was asked in the movie trailer, ‘Who is the most evil of the lot?’

The movie could be potentially confusing to some, as the main power struggle was a three-way one: Police vs. Kansai Yakuza Family (Hanabishi) vs. Kanto Yakuza Family (Sanno). And as Otomo (leader of a fallen Yakuza family) gets into the picture, he makes the relationship web an even more complicated one. But to dissect and to understand it simply, all we have to know is that everyone is self-serving and are acting the way they are to outwit the rest. Be it betraying, making alliances or even subordinating to others, it was part and parcel of building towards the conclusion.

The sophistication of the movie comes in here, where there is a lot more brewing beneath the surface of the relationships and power struggles. Needless to say, the mind-playing was intelligent and more engaging than Outrage. Apart from having an interesting narrative, the actors are equally important to bring out the best of the film. In this aspect, Fumiyo Kohinata stood out in his role of the corrupted police. Kitano himself also hit the spot by controlling his character very well throughout. In comparison, Kase Ryo was not as outstanding as he was in Outrage.

Making more comparisons to its predecessor Outrage, Outrage Beyond is a lot tamer and mild, with respect to the violence and torture. Sure, Kitano does not lack any creativity in those torture methods, but many of those were brought off-screen. The sound effect was fantastic though. You get to hear it raw and although it was not explicitly showed onscreen, you have those images stuck in your mind already. Also to mention, the sound track may sound a little outlandish at first, but were definitely crucial in creating the characteristically Yakuza mood.

If you were to view this movie as a chess game, it started out slow but the checkmate was a definitive one. The pacing of the movie is as it is to bring up the game and intensify the power struggles, which eventually led to the final showdown. The movie did live up to what it promised: 完結(a perfect finish). Again, ‘Who is the most evil of the lot?’ You can only watch to find that out.

Movie Rating:

(It takes some acquired taste to appreciate this film. "Outrage Beyond" is a little more contained than "Outrage", but it will still leave you with a tingling sensation wanting for more)

Review by Tho Shu Ling