Product Details

• Actors: Hiroki Matsukata, Tomomi Sato, Yôko Mihara, Tetsurô Tanba, Bin Amatsu
• Directors: Kinji Fukasaku
• Writers: Shinji Fujiwara
• Producers: Akira Oda
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Homevision
• DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000YEENK
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,795 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Blackmail Is My Life" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The breakout success of 2000's fantastic Battle Royale resulted in long-overdue global recognition of the films of Kinji Fukasaku, and Blackmail Is My Life is a perfect example of the director working in his prime. By the time this unconventional crime thriller was released in 1968, post-war Japanese culture was caught in a vice-grip of cynicism and corruption well suited to Fukusaku's singular penchant for gritty, stylized action and unhappy endings that could only be attempted under the more liberal-minded aegis of Shochiku studios. Tautly paced and fueled by a trendy soundtrack synthesis of whistled themes and electric rock, Blackmail centers on a quartet of young daredevils who've discovered blackmail as a means to enjoy the booming economy from which they've been excluded. When they try to squeeze both Yakuza kingpins and government officials by threatening to air their dirty laundry, they quickly confront the lethal consequences of their headstrong bravado. In addition to giving lead actor Hiroki Matsukata an opportunity to move away from the Yakuza-thriller roles he'd grown famous for, Fukusaku's raw energy incorporates a variety of compelling nihilistic touches, not the least being the use of adrenalized crime as an effective aphrodisiac. Above all, his astonishing finale serves as both moral warning and scathing criticism of public apathy--a bloody wake-up call to Japanese culture and budding criminals everywhere! --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Studio: Image Entertainment Release Date: 01/06/2004 Run time: 89 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant early piece from Battle Royale's Kinji Fukasaku!, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

Blackmail Is My Life is a great example of Fukasaku's trademark Yakuza films. It's visuals are stunning; the performances find a perfect balance between realistic and stylized; the script and structure of the film are quite ingenius. There really isn't an area where this film will leave you wanting. It's chock-full of snap zooms, freeze frames, and voice over, but all of it is handled so well that there is no real element of ceese to speak of.

Blackmail is my life is one of those classic pieces whose brilliance must be seen to be understood. Any fans of old school Japanese yakuza films or film noir in general is likely to be blown away, and only the small-minded, generic-hollywood-style addicted moviegoer will feel anything but unadulterated glee at Fukasaku's yakuza world.

This is a HomeVision dvd, so the quality is great, especially for a film of this age. The colors are vibrant and the transfer is sharper than many of recent Japanese productions. If you've never seen the film, this dvd is more likely the best version available anywhere right now to introduce yourself.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Yakuza by one of the masters, December 11, 2006

By	Travon J. Boykins "magicaspar" (Evans, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have seen two of Fukasaku's major works (the first being Battle Royale and Battles without Honor and Humanity the second) prior to this movie. And if I had watch this before one (or both) of these, I would probably gave it a higher score. But, it is a bit light compared to those two. That is not to say there isn't anything to scoff at.

It has interesting camera work, biting black humor (with a dash of social commentary), and a passion for youth. It is a wonderful film for someone wanting a bit more in Yakuza films