Great Yakuza Film
"Great movie with nice packaging and a stellar booklet. I loved Noboru Ando's performance here, exuding a stoicism with heavy eyes that creates a tension that you never really know what he's going to do."
Details
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
After making his name in the samurai genre, master filmmaker Hideo Gosha (THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI, SAMURAI WOLF) turned his camera to the world of the yakuza, and the violent streets they control. Legendary gangster-turned-actor Noboru Ando plays Egawa, a retired yakuza underboss, now nightclub owner, who gets pulled back into the life when his old comrades demand control of his club. Meanwhile, a gang war quietly roiling behind the scenes erupts into open violence in response to a high-profile kidnapping, lending unimaginably high stakes to Egawa's reemergence onto the yakuza scene. The result is a kinetic and stylish explosion of deception, mayhem, and death that leaves no one safe - and a masterpiece of 1970's yakuza cinema.
directed by: Hideo Gosha
starring: Noboru Andô, Akira Kobayashi, Isao Natsuyagi, Bunta Sugawara, Tetsurô Tanba
1974 / 96 min / 2.35:1 / Japanese Mono
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Tattooed Director: Hideo Gosha featurette with Tomoe Gosha
- A Street That Can’t Be Beat video essay by TokyoScope author Patrick Macias
- 16-page booklet with a new essay by Japanese film expert Mark Schilling
- English subtitles
Overall rating: 4.7714286 / 5 from 35 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Violent Streets, a 1974 Japanese film, has received acclaim for its stylish and kinetic portrayal of the yakuza world. Customers appreciate the film's excellent transfer quality and the new release by Film Movement Classics. The film is considered a masterpiece of 1970's yakuza cinema, featuring a stellar cast and high-stakes drama.
Summary topics
- Visual Quality: 25%
- Film Transfer Quality: 35%
- Film Quality: 35%
- New Release: 30%
Review topics: ["shipping","looks","packaging","film","sound","release","transfer","performances","extras","cinematography","movie","genre","flick","gosha","collection","blu-ray","story","features","edition"].
Review highlights
- "Transfer looked fantastic." —
- "The transfer looks great and there is a lot going on." —
- "Really cool genre film with a great transfer" —
Reviews
Violent Streets
"Great Asian crime film. Highly enjoyed and recommend highly. Nice packaging from Film Movement and great restoration."
Hideo Gosha Classic
"As a fan of Hideo Gosha, Violent Streets is probably my favorite out of what I've seen from him. It's a great example of the changing times with Yakuza films. Gone were the days of the chivalrous Yaluza; replacing it: the paradox that is the Yakuza code of honor."
More Japanese Crime Film Goodness
"An entertaining and well made Yakuza film. The film has some great performances and action set pieces. Definitely a great looking film."
gritty Asian cinema
"Bought this blind just to complete my collection with the label and what a bloody masterpiece. Hideo Gosha's action level is insane, getting straight to the point with gritty shootouts, raw fights, and a 70s atmosphere that hooks you from minute one. No messing around. On a technical level, the restoration is spectacular. The colors look vibrant yet natural, the grain is right there, and there's no sign of that digital scrubbed look that ruins old movies. Plus, the slipcover presentation looks great on the shelf."
Wild in the Streets
"At first it seemed like a standard crime film affair. . . then it went in some surprising and strange directions and it knocked me out."
Great release!
"Looks great, sounds great, and surprisingly quality film! Recommend!"
Great Yakuza Flick
"Great yakuza flick from Hideo Gosha."
Another Gosha Crime Classic
"Gosha gets some amazing performances out of the cast. Amazing crime genre film. Slipcover is not as nice as the other Gosha films I've picked up from VS, but I'm still happy to have it in my collection. Gosha is a master of film and I'm glad I was able to pick this one up while the slip was still in print."
Very Mean Streets
"Violent Streets, directed by Hideo Gosha, is a fierce yakuza thriller that dives into betrayal, loyalty, and the inevitability of violence. The story centers on a former gangster trying to stay out of trouble, only to be dragged back into a web of rival factions and escalating conflict. Gosha’s direction gives the film a raw, almost fatalistic tone, where sudden bursts of brutality and shifting allegiances create a constant sense of tension and unpredictability. The Blu-ray release from Film Movement as part of the Film Movement Classics line presents the film with a strong high-definition transfer that highlights its gritty cinematography and dynamic staging. The image retains a natural film grain and solid detail, staying faithful to its 1970s look. Extras are typically modest but worthwhile, often including contextual material or essays that help frame the film within Gosha’s career and the yakuza genre. Overall, it’s a respectful and well-crafted release that gives this intense crime film the presentation it deserves for modern audiences and collectors."