Viewed on Streaming. Cinematography/lighting = eight (8); stars; score = seven (7) stars. Director Masahiro Shinoda demonstrates his complete mastery of all components of the film medium and proceeds to demonstrate the loss of his creative talents (and mastery) in the same movie! He delivers a binary film consisting of two acts. Act One (roughly the first half of the movie) is taunt with fresh, edgy suspense and excitement as well as excellent direction. Act Two becomes perfunctory; surprisingly, it fails to build on the momentum Shinoda has heretofore created. Much of this disappointment is due to diminished "directorial energy," excessive repetition, and repeated telegraphing of how the movie will end. The plot is centered on a high-priced daytime hooker with a death wish she demonstrates by her nocturnal activities (including careless high-stakes gambling in dangerous (all-male) gangster environments, high-speed auto racing on city streets, and a growing interest in narcotics). The day-to-day machinations of low-to-mid level Yakuza gangs provide a backdrop with card gambling activities vividly (and repeatedly) portrayed, prostitution (of course), and the occasional murder of a rival gang member. Line deliveries are riddled with clues (i.e., telegraphing) as to how this story will end. Act Two also includes a dream sequence which only serves to underline what will eventually happen (and seems to have been inserted for audience members who are really, really slow on the uptake!). Talented character actors provide the major element of menace elicited by the film. They do not over act (which makes them truly scary!), and have been cast for their appearance and ability to act tough and intimidating---they really do look like gangsters are "supposed" to look like! (People you would not want to meet in a dark alley at night Da Yo!) Subtitles seem close enough to line deliveries (which are spoken in Kansai-Ben). But the use of off-white (instead of colored) text in a black and white film makes for an unnecessary irritant especially when superimposed over Japanese in the opening credits! Film score initially comes across as an orchestra tuning up prior to a performance. But the music soon becomes an integral component used by the Director to add excitement. Cinematography (wide screen, black and white) and lighting (especially of night scenes) are excellent and amplify the feeling of foreboding the film exudes (which is greatest in Act One). Restoration is fine. Highly recommended. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of Pale Flower
