"The Bad Sleep Well" **** (out of ****)Well, it has only taken a year and a half and nearly 300 reviews but finally I will discuss a film by the Japanese master, Akira Kurosawa.
Since this is my first review for a Kurosawa film on this blog some may wonder why didn't I write about "Rashomon" (1950) or "Seven Samurai" (1954) first, as an introduction into his work? The reason is not as complex as one may think. I simply didn't feel like re-watching those movies. I wanted to spend my time seeing something new. Luckily "The Bad Sleep Well' (1960) turned out to be a masterpiece. Not just one of Kurosawa's best films but perhaps one of the greatest films I have ever seen.
Strangely though, the film doesn't feel like a typical Kurosawa film. It has themes of honor and redemption, which you will find in several of his films, but the strongest influence presented is American noir films. Raymond Chandler and Howard Hawks could have made this. It has even been suggested elements of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" are in the story. Which isn't that odd since Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" (1957) is based on "Macbeth".
This all leads to a larger point. In his homeland Kurosawa was usually criticized as being "too Western". Some of his films were even remade in America. His samurai films just lent themselves to American westerns such as "The Magnificent Seven" (1960) and "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964). But in no other film I can think of has this American influence been so strongly displayed as it is in "The Bad Sleep Well". Maybe his "High & Low" (1963) would come in second.
"The Bad Sleep Well" is like a giant puzzle and slowly but surely Kurosawa puts all the pieces together. Nothing quite seems to add up until the end. Kurosawa even gives us details on the slightest sub-plots. Everything in this film happens for a reason and everything is explained. It is a perfectly constructed film.
In some cases I might complain when a film tries to explain everything too perfectly. But in this film's case it doesn't feel manipulative. Kurosawa isn't giving us a fairy tale ending.
While I prefer someone walk into this movie knowing nothing about it (why do people need to know all the details about a movie before seeing it?). I suppose because of human curiosity I'll give you a brief outline.
The film stars Kurosawa's most frequent collaborator Toshiro Mifune as Nishi, who has recently married Yoshiko (Kyoko Kagawa) the daughter of Iwabuchi (Masayuki Mori) the Vice-President of the Public Corporation. It is rumored the only reason Nishi married the daughter is to advance his career, however, he has been friends with Yoshiko's brother, Tatsuo (Tatsuya Mihashi, probably known to most Woody Allen fans as the lead actor in "What's Up Tiger Lilly?" (1966) which was originally "Key of Keys" (1965).
The Public Corporation is currently in a scandal for doing business with the Dairyu company. Now, five years after their merger suspicious things are starting to happen as police crack down. Ex-employees are suddenly committing suicide after police question them and an anonymous person is sending threats to the company.
Kurosawa is playing with fire here giving us a story about corporate greed (how timely is that?) and vengeance. About the evil which lurks in man's soul.
Even the film's title is thought-provoking. Who are "the bad" in the title? The film's hero isn't such a nice person either. His sins may be greater than the film's villains or equal. Which leads us to wonder is anyone "just" in this film? Is it acceptable for someone to commit evil acts in the name of justice?
As some of my readers may know, Kurosawa was a painter before entering film, his story boards were actual paintings. In "The Bad Sleep Well" you have some interesting visuals. One sequence has newspaper headlines involving the scandal while fading to those involved being taken away by the police. I bet Francis Ford Coppola saw this movie and was inspired when he shot "The Godfather" (1972). I also like the way he plays with lighting, trying to give the film a ghost story appeal.
And then there is the ending. Oh, it's going to bother some, I know. They will complain it isn't satisfactory. Or is just disappointing. But that's what I love about. It is not what you'd expect. As we get closer and closer to the final scene Kurosawa keeps raising the stakes. It is one twist upon another. The film takes us on an emotional journey. Nearly every scene reveals a new revelation. Ultimately we have a very bleak message about the rich and powerful and what they are capable of. You might think it is a bit of a downer but I say it is a work of genius.
It is hard for me to say how this film stacks up against Kurosawa's other films. My personal favorite is probably "Rashomon" but "The Bad Sleep Well" is definitely in my top five. This is really a well orchestrated film with fine performances and a very dark message. That's what makes this one of the masterpieces of cinema.
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