Samurai Cowboys

Sukiyaki Western Django

I know, I know, Takahashi Miike is a talented, well-respected genre filmmaker with a large following, and he directs a ridiculous number of movies every year. But I have to confess, most of the films I’ve seen from him just haven’t clicked with me. And yes, that does include Audition.

However, Sukiyaki Western Django I enjoyed, and it’s obvious from the start that Mr. Miike had a good time with the kitschy, oddball weirdness of it. Hell, what else would you expect from a movie called Sukiyaki Western Django?

The story begins when a mysterious gunfighter with-no-name shows up in a town ruled by two different gangs, the Reds and the Whites, both of whom are competing for the riches of a nearby gold mine. And the gangs are so evenly matched, the power balance tips in favor of whoever can bring the gunfighter into their group. But rather than choose option A or B, the gunfighter becomes involved with the Romeo and Juliet subplot, and defends a young boy whose parents belonged to rival sides. While the plot is typical for a Western, Takahashi Miike uses it to create a series of over-the-top scenes of action-violence that would never have occurred to Sergio Leone.

Ultimately though, the appeal of the film lies in the mash-up of Western and Eastern movie elements, plus Miike’s own filmmaking style. And there’s something great about a director having an almost all-Japanese cast speak their lines in English, just because he can. Though I would recommend keeping the subtitles on while you watch. There are several moments when it’s clear that English is not the native language of the actors.

One last thing, you can’t talk about Sukiyaki Western Django without talking about Quentin Tarantino’s role as a veteran gunfighter. He’s the only Caucasian member of the cast, he plays up his part for all it’s worth, and delivers most of his lines in a strange, asian-esque accent that is at times impenetrable. Again, this is a movie where subtitles are your friend.

But if you’re ever in the mood for something different and you don’t mind the dialogue issues, then give Sukiyaki Western Django a shot. It’s worth your time.

- Nate