Branded to Kill (1967)

Let me start off by saying that I am not a big fan of gangster films; I've seen all of the Godfather movies, but couldn't make it through even half of "Scarface." However, I picked up a copy of "Branded to Kill" a few years ago on Criterion, and it blew me away. The movie was made in 1967 by famed director, Seijun Suzuki and starred Joe Shishido, an actor noted for his prominent work in yakuza films of the time. Yakuza films were similar to the Roger Corman films of the 60's and 70's in that they were made quickly and on low budgets in hopes that the bulk turnaround would be profitable if the films were not highly successful.
"Branded to Kill" was unlike other films of it's time, in that Suzuki put a tremendous amount of creative effort into the film to give it artistic appeal (i.e. a sniper inside of a moving billboard and the infamous sink murder scene). Though color was available in the late 60's, Branded was shot in black and white. Suzuki's mastery of shadows and transitioning of color to this medium is astounding. I have yet to see another film that uses jump cuts to the extent and perfection as does Branded. Suzuki trims down the transitions well in the film and the plot is very freeflowing, but does not take away so much as to make it awkward or disjointed.
Branded is a story about number 3 hitman (all hitmen are known by their ranks), Goro Hanada (Shishido) who is working his way up the hitman ladder. Goro's only weakness is the smell of boiling rice, for which he has an odd fetish. Hanada is gainfully employed by the yakuza, until during a mission, a butterfly lands on the barrel of his gun and he misses his intended target. Subsequently, Goro is marked for death and must fight his way through crime bosses and numbers (literally) of hitmen. Furious with his script and inability to make profitable films, the production company fired Suzuki after the completion of Branded.
Today Suzuki's films are credited as a great influence by directors: Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino, and John Woo. I have seen other Suzuki films, but stylistically, "Branded to Kill" is by far my favorite.

4 out of 4