The Outsider is yet another case of critics and social media ruining a movie before it even premiered. In addition to claims that the casting of Jared Leto was another case of Hollywood whitewashing (which it wasn't), early reviews dropping from critics claiming it was going to be the worst movie on Netflix in 2018 and such kind of tainted the movie before anyone else got to see it. Well, let me tell you not only is the movie not a case of whitewashing, it is actually quite enjoyable.
The premise alone of an American ex-prisoner of war joining one of the most notorious gangs in the world should be enough to interest you. Throw in an Oscar-winner and you should ideally have a recipe for something good. Now, with that said, I will admit that a majority of the movie is a bit slow. Until the last half hour, there isn't a whole lot that happens to make you jump out of your seat. However, you have to remind yourself that The Outsider is a crime-thriller. It is centralized around a Japanese gang and typically movies centralized around gangs tend to have a bit of a slow burn. That is definitely the case with The Outsider. Once you get to the climax of the story, it really picks up. Aside from being a bit slow throughout, I would criticize that the end is a bit abrupt. You don't get much resolution from the climax, but it is still enough to wrap things up.
For those mostly curious about Jared Leto's part in this movie, I must admit that there isn't a whole lot of dialogue from the film's main character, Nick Lowell. He is a bit too mysterious for his own good and his backstory is practically non-existent, but Leto's portrayal of him is spot on. Just because people didn't like Suicide Squad doesn't give a never-ending excuse to trash anything that Jared Leto touches. His acting is just fine and I think any complaints about the character being dry or mysterious should be directed at the screenwriters or the director. Sometimes it's just the way characters are written and as an actor, you have to go with it.
Overall, I would give The Outsider 7/10. It's certainly not the best movie you can find on Netflix or about the Yakuza, but it is far from the worst. The critic reviews are a lot more harsh than was necessary. If you like gangster movies or Japanese culture in general, you'll enjoy this one.
The premise alone of an American ex-prisoner of war joining one of the most notorious gangs in the world should be enough to interest you. Throw in an Oscar-winner and you should ideally have a recipe for something good. Now, with that said, I will admit that a majority of the movie is a bit slow. Until the last half hour, there isn't a whole lot that happens to make you jump out of your seat. However, you have to remind yourself that The Outsider is a crime-thriller. It is centralized around a Japanese gang and typically movies centralized around gangs tend to have a bit of a slow burn. That is definitely the case with The Outsider. Once you get to the climax of the story, it really picks up. Aside from being a bit slow throughout, I would criticize that the end is a bit abrupt. You don't get much resolution from the climax, but it is still enough to wrap things up.
For those mostly curious about Jared Leto's part in this movie, I must admit that there isn't a whole lot of dialogue from the film's main character, Nick Lowell. He is a bit too mysterious for his own good and his backstory is practically non-existent, but Leto's portrayal of him is spot on. Just because people didn't like Suicide Squad doesn't give a never-ending excuse to trash anything that Jared Leto touches. His acting is just fine and I think any complaints about the character being dry or mysterious should be directed at the screenwriters or the director. Sometimes it's just the way characters are written and as an actor, you have to go with it.
Overall, I would give The Outsider 7/10. It's certainly not the best movie you can find on Netflix or about the Yakuza, but it is far from the worst. The critic reviews are a lot more harsh than was necessary. If you like gangster movies or Japanese culture in general, you'll enjoy this one.
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