Our take
It won’t be a surprise that a movie titled Violent Cop would have a police officer smacking people left and right. But upon its release, Violent Cop surprised viewers when comedian Beat Takeshi took it upon himself to direct a moody, serious neo-noir where blood splatters come sparingly, knives are drawn on occasion, and the camera is much more interested in lingering between the men inflicting violence rather than flashy choreography– and somehow end up with a pretty solid effort. The film does have a somewhat familiar plot, but its bleak, depressing portrayal of how mundane violence has become makes Violent Cop such a brutal debut to watch.
Synopsis
A detective breaks all rules of ethical conduct while investigating a colleague’s involvement in drug pushing and Yakuza activities.
Storyline
After trying to take on a crime syndicate, rogue homicide detective Azuma instead finds himself caught in a web of betrayal that leaves him no choice but to wreak vengeance on those who wronged him.
TLDR
That being said, Akari deserved better.
What stands out
The score. Most of the film limits the sound to dialogue and background noise, so when Takeshi Kitano walks on the bridge with the jazzy piano score, after illegally beating up some thugs for an investigation, it makes for a palpable mood change.