Insight A violent, engrossinging film with a strong message. At times very confronting and certainly controversial "Brother" has a mystical charm about it. Director Takeshi Kitano has produced a film which mirrors a way of life that many would find hard to accept and even deny its existence, but exist it does in every nation, just more so in some than others. Strong direction by Kitano has produced a film that fits in the sometimes violent and mostly misinterpreted genre. The strength of Kitano's "Brother" is its sense of loyalty and the strong bond Yamamoto is able to create between himself and those he comes in contact with. The ongoing bonding between Yamamoto and Denny adds an intriguing aspect to the film. Surprisingly, for all its violence, there is a wry sense of humour in parts of "Brother"."Brother" is capped off with an excellent performance by Omar Epps [as Denny] and a haunting soundtrack. The Story Tough guy and yakuza gang member Yamamoto [Takeshi Kitano] lives in a world of violence, danger and intense loyalty. He knows nothing else. When two gangs merge, he is suddenly a liability and one that must be eliminated. But loyalty runs deep and he is given the opportunity to flee and flee he does, to the United States. Yamamoto has a brother Ken [Claude Maki], a small time crook who with his buddies is dealing drugs in LA. It isn't long before Yamamoto is using his innate, violent nature and yakuza experience to move Ken's small time operation into the big time. That brings the ire of local leaders in the Chicano gangs. They don't understand Yamamoto's ambition or ruthlessness or just how dangerous he really is. They soon find out as the "jap" they take for a fool wipes them out in one foul swoop. Under Yamamoto's strong direction the gang flourishes and eventually combines with another local japanese gang. It's a fatal move. Their rapid expansion earns the wrath of the mafia. Can the gang survive against the huge odds and the dark forces moving to wipe them out. More importantly, who will survive to live another day. The Verdict "Takeshi Kitano has produced a film which is stunningly violent and very confrontational. It will un-nerve many viewers, intrigue many viewers, leave many viewers feeling uneasy & confused but will definately entertain." Please note this film is rated - R18+ The Critics "It’s a romantic fantasy of the gangster brotherhood and their doomed lives, executed with Takeshi’s unique mix of stoic ruthlessness and giddy energy."
Sean Axmaker SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
"Sure to satisfy fans of the laconic auteur."
Mark Rahner SEATTLE TIMES
"Delivers some powerful emotional wallops alongside the chopsticks-up-the-nose violence."
Maitland McDonagh TV GUIDE'S MOVIE GUIDE
"It's rougher stuff than most would expect, though not unrewarding in its own horrific way."
Marc Savlov AUSTIN CHRONICLE
"Riveting, if erratic."
Gene Seymour NEWSDAY
"Though this is territory that Mr. Kitano has covered before, he underlines the differences between Japan and the United States to make dramatic points and give his solemn toughness a context."
Elvis Mitchell NEW YORK TIMES
"As an actor and writer-director, Mr. Kitano projects an amused irony that makes his films worth seeing."
Andrew Sarris NEW YORK OBSERVER
"Kitano keeps things moving with an effective blend of style, comedy, violence and, thankfully, no time-consuming love story."
Jon Popick PLANET SICK-BOY
"Kitano has a gift for framing and staying with a scene, and his editing choices are impeccable."
Steve Rhodes STEVE RHODES' INTERNET REVIEWS
"Kitano's most enjoyable, flat-out fun movie, provided you can stomach the violence."
Rene Rodriguez MIAMI HERALD The Cast

	Takeshi Kitano Omar Epps Kuroudo Maki Masaya Kato Susumu Terajima Royale Watkins Lombardo Boyar Ren Osugi Ryo Ishibashi James Shigeta Tatyana Ali Makolo Ohtake Kouen Okumura Naomasa Musaka Tetsuya Watari Rino Katase	... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...		Yamamoto Denny Ken Shirase Kato Jay Mo Harada Ishihara Sugimoto Latifa Chief of Police Hanaoka Hisamatsu Jinseikai Boss Night Club Madame

Directed by Takeshi Kitano ©2001 - New Vision Films - All Rights Reserved