Sukiyaki Western Django (DVD)

There is no shortage of Takashi Miike fans, especially in the horror genre (he's famous for shockers such as Ichi the Killer, and Audition). However, I'm not one of them. I always seem to find the Japanese autuer's movies tolerable, then tedious: his formula never fails to give me initial hope, then leave me in blank-eyed boredom by the time it's all over. His movies lack a certain verve… they're all empty machination and no emotional manipulation.

Sukiyaki Western Django was one Miike movie I thought I'd like, because it's a play on a favorite subgenre of mine: the classic late 60s spaghetti western. But when it comes to spoofing, he's no Edgar Wright. And when it comes to the not-so-subtle homage, he's no Quentin Tarantino. (Actually, Tarantino enjoys a cameo in the film, and he's well-cast. His costar is a nasty rattler, delightfully invoking memories of Kill Bill 2.)

There are many tail-chasing connections, such as the fact that Sergio Leone's seminal A Fistful of Dollars was originally inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo — so Sukiyaki Western Django uses shotguns and samurai swords to kill and maim with equal aplomb (not to mention the occasional Gatling and wooden cross). There's a little Shakespeare in there as well, with the War of the Roses much-mentioned… and shown, using a vivid red and white color scheme (and a heavy dose of black, ala "The White Stripes"), plus a shipload of bombastic Eastern symbolism.

The purposely complex and carefully constructed story follows two rival gangs (the Heike's colors being scarlet like blood; the Genji's blanched white) in their pursuit of some elusive gold nuggets hidden somewhere in a mountain town that's not unlike the one in "Deadwood". All the characters are there: saloon girls, gunslingers, barkeeps, prospectors… but I just didn't care. I could not relate to, or root for (or even against) anyone.

While Sukiyaki Western Django is easy on the eyes, it's hard on the nerves and is definitely one for the diehard Miike devotees only.

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