Boiling Point

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Taiga B @Taiga Apr 6, 2026 This is a cinematic masterpiece. Kitano was not only a great actor in this, but also a great director. He allows for scenes to breath, whether it's takes with no music or scenes with limited dialogue. The baseball scene is brilliant at the start, showing Japan's favourite pastime and it's culture. The film has a thriller and comedy combined, yet unlike a lot of Hollywood films, it still feels extremely real and lived in. It doesn't rely on corny jokes or low hanging fruit, which allows for a more serious tone. See more DanTheMan 2 @DanTheMan2150AD Aug 27, 2024 What Boiling Point may lack in contemplativeness, playing the material not for action or thrills but with comedy so dark and deadpan that its intent can be easily lost on many. Tranquillity explodes into violence, which recedes to its original serenity. A tale unfolding sedately against a backdrop of calm sunny stillness punctuated by shocking moments of unpalatable violence that points to the behind-the-scenes mundanity of the perceived glamour of organised crime in Japan as presented in yakuza films. As his first scripted effort, that narrative almost dissolves into abstractions and digressions, but Kitano largely stays the course with a compellingly warped look at the uniquely Japanese culture of violence. Kitano himself turns up very late in the film's runtime, his presence as welcomed as ever, leading both protagonists and viewers alike on a guided tour of the bleaker recesses of the human psyche with the lack of a musical score heightening the tone and storytelling power behind his magnificent direction. Boiling Point may not be as refined as Kitano's later works, but it more than establishes Kitano as an artist with a clear vision and distinctive style. See more David M @RT30868034 Aug 28, 2020 I came to this knowing very little about it - and found it a gripping, taut drama with a delightfully cutting comedic tone. Indignity, humiliation and shame are heaped and heaped again and again until those on the receiving end of it all seemingly have no choice but to risk dangerous violent action. If at times the script and other aspects of the film feel a little too on the nose, it's still an excellent watch. It seemed to me to raise deeper issues about the dangers of putting societal convention above truthfulness - but that may be more a reflection of what's going on in my life as I watch it; I don't really understand Japenese culture acutely enough to really dig below the surface in that regard. But it's true that much about the plot - especially the repeated abuse of women and the rape of a man (though it may be attempted rape - the film does not make it clear if the act was followed through), along with the climax's reliance on hiddenness all suggest that there is something here about what goes on beneath the surface of societal formality and adherence to codes of politeness. See more Mar 10, 2017 I am re-watching the films of Takeshi kitano whom I always enjoy. he's a solid director and a compelling actor. His films are often quite violent, and full of dark humour. "Boiling Point" fits the bill and is another entry into the Japanese gangster genre for him. This isn't one of Kitano's best films, but worth a watch for fans of his. See more camille l @RT76374992 May 25, 2016 Boiling Point ne fait jamais réellement sens et parfois traîne franchement en longueur, surtout dans une première partie d'un calme trompeur avant la tempête incarnée par le personnage de Kitano. Celui-ci déchaîne les enfers avec un ensemble d'insultes, d'agressions et de massacres qui détonne totalement avec le reste du film et des autres personnages (l'excellent Dankan en tête). De ce fait, Boiling Point parvient à être divertissant, drôle et extrêmement grinçant pendant une heure et demie malgré un twist final qui en laissera plusieurs sur le bas-côté. Kitano et Dankan sont particulièrement excellents, dans des rôles complexes, mais les seconds rôles ne sont pas en reste. Un bon deuxième acte après Violent Cop. See more Jan 31, 2014 The extremely deadpan humour is enjoyable for the first act, but when Takeshi's surprisingly annoying and unamusingly unpleasent character shows up and totally dominates the middle section it kind of goes off the rails a bit. I kept wondering what this guy had to do with the rest of the movie. See more Read all reviews

Boiling Point

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