Survivor: Vinnie Friggin’ Jones in Japan

So what happens when you take a wife that will not stay dead, three sexually confused burglars, a man that thinks he is a chicken, and Vinnie Friggin’ Jones as a hitman and then throw them all together in Japan? Well aside from quite a few laughs, some kick-ass fights, one or two awkward moments, and Vinnie saying, “What is your function in life?”; you get a decent – somewhat insane – film. Survive Style 5+ has parts that are downright hilarious and some parts that are…I completely forgot about the aging ad woman…forgettable. So without further ado, I pay homage to Vinnie Jones by attempting this review while using his quotes from other films. (All of the lines are actually from films that Vinnie has been in, can you name them all?)

“Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Juggernaut, bitch.”

I have to start with Vinnie Friggin’ Jones. I loved his hitman character. I could actually say that of many of the film’s characters. But it is really hit or miss. While Aman (Tadanobu Asano) and his wife (Reika Hashimoto) were amazing in their minimal vocal roles, the burglars (Kanji Tsuda, Yoshiyuki Morishita, Jai West) were not. (Vinnie does save me from these guys eventually.) In a film where action and ensemble casting are the major components, it is hard to really play out the characters, but I go back to Aman. He speaks very little, yet I know him by the end of the film. I understand why he does what he does, and I care.

“Oh right lads, you wanna be nothing, prisoners… numbers… that’s fine But you win out there today and you’ll have something to remember forever, talk about it over and over, because up and down the country there are cons that are pig sick of not being here in your shoes… just to have one crack at those bastards next door!”

Such a long quote for a simple idea. Survive Style 5+ is good because it is so different. I keep coming back to my pandering about Hollywood; but for every American film I like, there are foreign films that top it. Put this on a screen in American and I think people would watch it, perhaps not like it, but at least watch it. I love horror films, but not more Sawing Hills Have Eyes in a Hostel. (Not a real film by the way.)

“You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.”

So the film does tend to drag at times. The viewer is treated to converging story lines that never seem to end. Some of them hold interest on their own, but others are dry. I get that we are examining life and loss, but the Ad Executive Yoko’s (Kyôko Koizumi) storyline is boring. Great, she sees these horrendous ads in her head and because of her we get to see Sonny Chiba; but outside of that I do not care. On the other side is the story of Tatsuya Kobayashi (Ittoku Kishibe) and his transformation from hard working dad to… well… a bird. At least by the end of the film his story plays out to reaffirm life and advance the story.

“It’s been emotional.”

Yes it actually has been emotional, which is somewhat surprising. I did not expect to be feeling anything by the time the film was over, but it touched me.

“Should precipitate your balls into shrinking, along with your presence. Now… Fuck off!”

Not touched me in that way…geez. I think that Gen Sekiguchi accomplishes a level of thoughtfulness by the end of the film, even after a wife has to be killed multiple times.

“Pretty good. Pretty damn good lads!”

Yes it was. Aside from my fawning over Vinnie Friggin’ Jones, Survive Style 5+ gives the viewer eye candy while also providing a deeply though provoking look at what happens when life hands you lemons. You do not exactly make lemonade, but perhaps this film makes a nice lemon tart (if that even exists).

“If his unpleasant wounding has in some way enlightened the rest of you as to the grim finish beneath the glossy veneer of criminal life, then his injuries carry with it an inherent nobility, and a supreme glory. We should all be so fortunate. You say poor Toby? I say poor us.”

Poor us that we are forced to see this film on a small screen. I liked the film because Sekiguchi took chances. Some paid off, others did not. But by taking those chances, he opened the film up to reveal the process. Filmmaking is not always pretty, you have to get your hands dirty. Sekiguchi gets his hands dirty, but in the process we see an evolution. One that I hope continues.