Rating of
3.5/4
Gohatto (Nagisa Oshima, Japan)
PunkGeisha - wrote on 08/28/10
Something of a realization of a dream casting for me, in a totally surprising plot. It's Zatoichi and Kakihara in a film tackling the homosexuality issue within the totally strict and rigid confines of the Samurai life.
A Beat Takeshi movie with Tadanobu Asano in it? Heaven. But then again, the movie is quite a controversial one since these two Japanese greats are usually typecasted as slick tough cop if not a slasher and a pycho killer.
Gohatto or Taboo is set in Feudal Japan . The shinsen-gumi just formed recently, is in the process of selecting talented new recruits. With Asano's character taking a fancy on a young pretty boy from an upper class family, played so effectively by Ryuhei Matsuda who can give Takeshi a run for his money in the stoic-face department.
His pretty boy samurai of course caused quite a stir among the samurais themselves, who after a while, found themselves competing for his attention. Especially after the rumor that Asano's Chara slept with the younger Samurai.
Asano's role proves he's worthy of Japan's accolade to him as one of its greatest actors of all time. Though his role is quite short here, he nevertheless tackled it with sensitivity that you cant help but think sometime, if its the same actor who had played so many roles as a pyscho killer, a deranged and mental case.
The movie is quite slow, but definitely not a ho-hum. Its the drama and the eventual pacing towards the climax that gets you interested. Does matsuda's,character fall for Asano? Who will he sleep next with. Its the whole plot really that keeps it tight. The subject of gay sex and homosexuality within a macho and all male environment, whose gauge for honor and respect is their bravery in battle.
