Bayside Shakedown: The Movie (1998) [Film Review]

Bayside Shakedown: The Movie; or, Three Tough Cases

     I've got this far, but our promise... I wanted to give the investigations to the local teams, but I couldn't do it. I can't practise what I preach.

     You can. You of all people. You can do it, Muroi. I believe in you. I'll wait for it. Let's stick with it, until we get things our way.

After the drama and the TV specials, the time came for Odoru Daisousasen to hit the big screen. As a result, the first theatrical film dominated the Japanese box office in 1998 (over 10 billion yen), and today it occupies the 30th place on the list of the highest grossing films in Japan [see here]. Let’s talk about Odoru Daisousasen: Zu Mubi.

Release Info

Directed by: Katsuyuki Motohiro Starring: Yuji Oda, Toshiro Yanagiba, Eri Fukatsu

Original Title: 踊る大捜査線　THE MOVIE Language: Japanese Runtime: 119 min

 

Synopsis

It’s been five months since the events presented in the drama. Wangan detectives got used to solving petty crimes and the problem arises when a floating body appears near Bayside. What is more, officers’ private things mysteriously disappear at the station. On top of that, the Assistant Commissioner has been kidnapped. HQ’s investigative unit steps in to handle the kidnap, but it is up to Aoshima and his friends to discover that three cases are strangely connected.

Already the drama and the specials preceding the theatrical movie were great, but this film only perfected the formula of Odoru Daisousasen. Sure, at the beginning, it feels like an extra, super-special episode, but big budget and clever scripting enhance the cinematic feel of the movie. The music score was mainly retained from the original show, with occasional rearrangements from the composer Akihiko Matsumoto, but I don’t see the issue about it since I can listen to this soundtrack all the time.

With regard to performances, Odoru cast does as magnificently as in the drama. Even though it’s the movie, it remains continuous with the show’s timeline and carriers on the issues which originated there. Yuji Oda and Toshiro Yanagiba are brilliant as Aoshima and Muroi respectively. The dynamic relationship between these characters is just amazing, though they do not share a lot of screen time in this film. Chosuke Ikariya deserves another praise as Inspector Waku. I dare to think that he gets more stuff to do in the film than in the drama (by the way, there is a hilarious reference to Kurosawa's High and Low!). Allegedly, when receiving a Japan Academy Award for his performance, Ikariya claimed feeling guilty for it, because he had never taken his role seriously.

 

In addition, a veteran actor of samurai movies from the 60s, the late Shigeru Koyama plays the kidnapped Commissioner. It is quite a minor role, but he reprises it in the following sequel: Bayside Shakedown 2: Close the Rainbow Bridge. Actress Kyoko Koizumi deserves an honourable mention as the psychopathic killer who terrorises Yukino and later busts into the Wangan Station with a gun. Her character later returns, and is the focal point, of Bayside Shakedown 3: Set the Guys Loose.

 

All things considered, Odoru Daisousasen: Zu Mubi is the same as Odoru Daisousasen the drama in terms of criticising bureaucracy and internal hierarchy which governs Japanese institutions. Nevertheless, the movie strays into a new territory when exploring the topical problems of internet abuse and growing incitement to commit crime among Japanese youngsters. The heartbreaking ending of the picture shows that bureaucratic stubbornness can be overcome by the sacrifice and goodwill of individuals. While Aoshima recovers, Muroi’s promise remains yet to be fulfilled...

 

Recommendations

Safely recommended to anyone who saw and enjoyed the original drama and the specials. However, if you want to see the movie without seeing the drama, then please at least read some background info about the characters, because they are not introduced in any way in the motion picture. Apart from this issue, you’re in for lots of great stuff!

Overall score: 9/10