Film Review: "Black Rain" (1989)Here comes one of the ultimate action thrillers of the 1980s in crystal-clear, punch-lining 120-Minute-Final-Cut by editor Tom Rolf (1931-2014), who had received moody, stark to neo-film-noir visuals by one-and-only collaboration between director Ridley Scott and Jan De Bont, making his reputation shine as fully-competent as classic-to-innovative cinematographer, when R. Scott fights out of the corner in his cranking director's chair of the mid-1980s after two mixed-received features with fantasy spectacle "Legend" (1985) starring Tom Cruise and romantic thriller "Someone To Watch Over Me" (1987) starring Tom Berenger; coming out in this motion picture produced Sherry Lansing & Stanley R. Jaffe, known for another Michael Douglas film success "Fatal Attraction" (1987) directed by Adrian Lyne, when Ridely Scott plays his cards with high-focus directing as well as ancient to world-war-II-beating Japan in researched post-war developing underworld to an one of a kind thriller event movie from Fall 1989.In "Black Rain" is every film department in place with leading actor Michael Douglas as originally-written, down-on-his-luck New York City Cop detective Nick Conklin, who gets found by his new assignment by transferring Yakuza-uprising-criminal Sato, performed by late menacing as brilliantly-authentic actor Yusako Matsuda (1949-1989) to suspense accelerations of live-action-splendors with motorcycles chasing New York streets, Tokyo back alleys, handling on-ride samurai swords to mud-sprinkling cross trails of rural Japan to continuous twisting plot points and further supporting character conflicts, including deeply-atmospheric Japanese night club encounters between Michael Douglas and actress Kate Capshaw as Joyce, an American woman of 35 in exile; to cultural difference-battling new-partners with Tokyo cop Masahiro, performed by honors-indulging Ken Takakura (1931-2014) and Andy Garcia as reckless as lively New York buddy cop Charlie Vincent, all in favor for a well-written story-arc of Micheal Douglas' tight-gripping interpretations of Nick Conklin, making this standing-out action thriller an tremendous success for the matured hard-boiled-loving audiences with regards to the neighing 30th anniversary of "Black Rain" directed by Ridley Scott at age 51. © 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

**NO SPOILER REVIEW** I really liked this movie. This movie has some AMAZING cinematography, and does a fairly good job of portraying the culture shock that an American would experience during a first time visit to Japan, even though it's somewhat simplified and is also trying to be a buddy cop movie where there's also a good cop/bad cop dynamic. Bottom line is, it's a movie, some themes will have to simplified otherwise it'd be a 3 hour slog.The concepts of "GAIJIN" and Japanese police culture aren't fully explained so if you take some time to learn about these two things beforehand it makes the movie much more cohesive and ... well, just helps things make more sense. The movie 'Freakonomics' details a fascinating aspect of Japanese police culture which is on full display in this film, I highly recommend you watch a segment in the movie 'Freakonomics' on Japanese policing (probably 20-30 minutes long) I'd also suggest you briefly read up on Japanese people's disdain for a "Gaijin" prior to watching this movie if you aren't familiar with either concept. It will greatly enhance your viewing experience. Also keep in mind that in Japanese culture, saving face and maintaining honor (in all aspects of life, not just policing) is of the utmost importance, this will help explain why the Japanese seemed to do some of the things they did in the movie. It wasn't that unrealistic or far-fetched if you ask me.FYI: I served overseas as a military service-member in Tokyo (so I WAS the Gaijin), this is partially why I enjoyed the film so much. If you lived in Japan like I did you probably don't need to read up on "Gaijin" or research too deeply into Japanese culture since you're already familiar. I'm rating this 10 stars because some other people rated the movie way too low IMO, the cinematography alone is 5 star quality, the plot is somewhat predictable at times but there are a few surprising twists so I wasn't disappointed. If you ever traveled to Japan (which would help you understand and enjoy the film's setting easier) or if you enjoy Asian themed cop flicks (i.e. Police Story, Supercop, etc.) then you'll like this movie. I was lucky to come across it on Amazon Prime so if you see it on your streaming service definitely give it a watch!

Despite owning the video for a number of years,I always found myself pushing it to the side,due to the film appearing to be rather dry.With a poll taking place on IMDb's Classic Film board for the best titles of 1989,I was happily caught by surprise,when a very kind IMDb'er gave me the chance to at last take a look at the movie,which led to me getting set to see the black rain pour.The plot:Sitting in a bar with a rookie cop called Charlie Vincent, police officer Nick Conklin begins celebrating the fact that he's been officially cleared from an internal investigation related to missing cash from a criminal case.Putting a stop to Nick and Charlie's planned night of partying,2 separate gangs of Japanese men enter the bar and begin getting into a fight.Showing signs that he clearly disagrees with what the rival gang leader says, a gangster called Sato kills his rival as Sato's gang starts to tear the bar apart.Grabbing a small box that the rival gang had brought with them,Sato and his gang start to run away from the scene.Quickly gathering their wits,Vincent and Conklin chase after Sato,so that they can hit him with 'the book'.Catching Sato, (who has made the box disappear)Charlie and Nick are ordered by their boss to escort Sato to Japan,in order for him to be taken by Japanese authorities.Originally expecting this to be a simple handover,Vincent and Conkiln soon discover that they have inadvertently entered the middle of a gang war,where they will soon learn the meaning behind the word 'Yakuza'.View on the film:Teaming up with the cinematography who had given Die Hard its crystal clear appearance, (who would end up working with this titles originally chosen directed,when he crossed legs with lead actor Michael Douglas on the Erotic Thriller Basic Instinct) director Ridley Scott and Jan De Bont give the movie a strong futuristic appearance,thanks to Scott and De Bont's making Black Rain's US look like a burning industrial zone,whose colour patterns are emphasised by De Bont and Scott brilliantly covering Japan in flashing,face meltingly bright,neon lights.Cut by over 30 minutes,the screenplay by Craig Bolotin and Warren Lewis never quite gel the 2 excellent strips of the title into one whole entity.For the US set part of the ,movie,and also the beginning of Vincent and Conklin adventure in Japan,the writers decide to take a fish out of water approach with the plot,which despite allowing some charming 'buddy cop' moments to rise to the surface,leads to the potentially interested new Japan based characters to be rather 2D,thanks to all of their relationships with Vincent and Conklin being shown as disconnected.Taking the movie in a wonderful Neo-Noir direction for the second half,the writers peel the buddy cop side away and instead introduce a burnt out cop,who despite having been used as a punch line for the first half,is successfully used to pull Charlie and Nick into the vicious underground of the Yakuza.Made just 5 weeks before he was to tragically pass away from cancer,Yusaku Matsuda gives a terrific sharp performance as Sato,with Matsuda keeping Sato away from becoming a simple boo-hiss villain,thanks to showing that Sato has a real skill in making others drop their guard,in order for he and his gang to strike at their hardest.Taking on Sato,Andy Garcia gives a delightfully playful performance as Charlie Vincent,with Garcia showing Vincent to be a quick-witted cop,who will also never turn down a chance to party.Entering the movie on a stylish motorbike,Michael Douglas gives an excellent performance as Nick Conklin,thanks to Douglas balancing Conklin's laid-back attitude that he has with Vincent with a wonderful tough'n'gruff Neo-Noir edge,which Douglas brings to the front of the title,as Nick Conklin starts to see black rain fall from the sky.

"Black Rain" is a good crime picture, no more and no less. None of the characters are all that complex or interesting, but there's still plenty of atmosphere that's inherent to the setting. It's got a familiar culture clash / fish out of water story, and the fact that the extremely capable director Ridley Scott is at the helm ensures that it will be visually striking and never boring.Michael Douglas stars as Nick Conklin, a streetwise NYC cop who's being investigated by Internal Affairs on charges of corruption. Nick and his fun loving, brash young partner Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) happen to arrest a bold killer named Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), who butchers two associates in a restaurant full of people. Nick and Charlie are saddled with the duty of escorting Sato back to the authorities in Japan, and unknowingly deliver Sato to his own people, who masquerade as detectives. The two Americans get caught in the middle of a war among members of the Yakuza while the Japanese police assign a well meaning cop named Masahiro (Ken Takakura) to work with them.We've seen hard headed, reckless cops like Nick in countless other action movies, and as good as Douglas is, we kind of know what to expect from his character, and know that he isn't all that bad and will be looking to regain his honour. Ultimately, having or regaining that sense of honour is the theme of the movie. It's as slick as all get out, with Jan de Bont doing a bang-up job of capturing the colourful locales of Japan on film. The movie does go on for quite a bit, but it does end things on a high note with a solid action climax and a touching scene between Nick and Masahiro (or Mas, as Nick and Charlie start nicknaming him). Kate Capshaw doesn't make much of an impact as Joyce, an American living in Japan and working as a club hostess. Familiar character players among the supporting cast include John Spencer, Luis Guzman, John Costelloe, Stephen Root, Richard Riehle, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and in "blink and you'll miss them" parts, Professor Toru Tanaka and Al Leong. Garcia is quite likable as Charlie, Tomisaburo Wakayama has a great screen presence as mob boss Sugai, but the man who really makes "Black Rain" worth seeing is Takakura, who's endearing as the kind of character who's by-the-book to begin with, but who will eventually start following the maverick leads' example.Action fans should enjoy this, as well as Ridley Scott and Michael Douglas completists. It may not be terribly innovative (at least script wise), but it's good filmmaking and efficient storytelling that does entertain.Seven out of 10.