The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Filmsf

Yakuza films, with their""endless variations on the theme of revenge,"" have influenced American directors from Francis Ford Coppola to Quentin Tarantino. These Japanese gangster genre pics are a""great guilty pleasure,"" says Japan Times film reviewer Schilling, and though they had their""Golden Age"" in the 1960s and 1970s, they're now enjoying renewed popularity in the West. Schilling has compiled profiles of and interviews with directors and actors, along with 100 reviews of yakuza movies, to present what the publisher calls the first book in English devoted entirely to this genre. Schilling charts yakuza's development, explains the origin of Japanese gangs, the various styles and qualities of the films, and the ways in which fans--in Japan and elsewhere--have responded to these movies. Each film review lists the director and cast members and offers a plot summary and Schilling's own critique; 60 black-and-white photos complement the text. It's a comprehensive package, sure to be of value to fans of yakuza and other gangster movies.