Plain Drunkenness

Grandfather Clock

So it's the end of another year.  That means everyone else on the internet is spooling out their top movies of 2010.  Never one to miss a bandwagon, I'm jumping in too.  Having said that, I'm going about this a little bit differently.  You see, I don't like to keep pace with the modern movie scene.  I like to take my time and watch films when I'm damn well ready.

So without further delay, I present to you my top sixteen movies that I've watched this year in my Netflix play instantly queue.  I'll do my best to keep them fairly recent, but I can't promise anything.

16.  World's Greatest Dad - An asshole high school student dies hilariously and his struggling writer of a dad makes it big by forging his suicide note. Finally a movie starring Robin Williams that made me laugh.  Also, it's directed by Bobcat Golthwait.  How could you not like something by a man who's first name is Bobcat?

15.  Gomorrah - Intertwining tales of the lives of those touched by the Camorra Naples mob.  A beautiful and grotesque reminder of the criminal stranglehold on society.

14.  Mother - A retard is sent up the river for killing a young girl.  The only one out to prove his innocence is his overprotective mother, and she will stop at nothing to crack the case.  Imagine a gritty detective story, only with more downs syndrome.

13.  Black Sun:  The Rape of Nanking - This documentary/shock film shows us what happened to China's capital during the critical battle with Japan during WWII.  While the atrocities committed by the Japanese are horrific, the gore sfx in this movie make them hilarious.

12.  Branded To Kill - The Yakuza's number 3 hitman fucks up an assassination, now he's on the run.  Seijun Suzuki has a penchant for taking a standard storyline and making it bat-shit insane.  This is best example of such.

11.  Overnight - A documentary about the creation of the hit film:  The Boondock Saints.  Get ready to meet Troy Duffy, the world's biggest douche bag.

 
10.  Justice League:  Crisis on Two Earths - The Justice League comes in contact with another dimension where their Justice League is evil.  A wonderfully animated service to everyone who loves DC comics.

9.  Antichrist - Willem Defoe takes his wife to a cabin retreat to work out her mental problems stemming from their recently deceased son.  Very existentialist.  Very Geaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

8.  Big Fan - Patton Oswalt is a loser who loves football, even after he's humiliated by his favorite player.  A comedy that shows us just how far we will go to root for the home team.

7.  The Killing of Chinese Bookie - A smooth strip club owner gets too far in debt to the mob and has to repay through assassination.  I wish I could have just a modicum amount of style shown in every frame of this film.

6.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Jack Nicholson is placed in a nut house to serve out his prison sentence.  I should have watched this sooner.

5.  Moon - The only man on the moon's only mining complex has to discover why he just found himself tooling around the moon.  How could you not like a movie that stars two Sam Rockwells?

4.  Bad Lueitenant:  Port of Call New Orleans - A corrupt cop deals with both his duties and his crippling vices in a post Katrina New Orleans.  Werner Herzog makes an amazing movie without narrating it himself.  Also, Nicolas Cage shows us that Ghost Rider was just an in-between job.

3.  Taxidermia - Three generations of Hungarian men are showcased in stories of lust and isolation.  Never have I been more entertained and nauseated at the same time.

2.  The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia - The Famous "Dancing Outlaw" Jesco White has a family, and they are horrifying.  This documentary will make all your family problems seem like solutions.

1.  Trailer Park Boys:  The Movie - A movie based on the famous Canadian comedy series.  Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles have just been released from jail (again) and they plan on making it big this time.  You owe yourself a favor.... the series this movie was based off of ran for over seven seasons for a reason.  It is, without a doubt, the most hilarious television program ever produced, ever.

By:  Mike Wilson

Skandaal

 

As this year draws to a close, we find ourselves coming down with another case of holiday fever.  Some people like to treat this illness by gathering around the moving picture box and soaking in a nice Christmas classic.  If you’re a Kurosawa fan then you know that nothing says Christmas like a courtroom drama, because nothing goes better with egg nog than a nice ……

Scandal (1950)

Kurosawa’s film combines drama, intrigue, humor, sadness, and tuberculosis to fill you with the holiday spirit.  He even throws in a Christmas tree or two.

  You just got served.........some Christmas cheer! Ho Ho!

 

Toshiro Mifune stars as Ichiro Aoye:  renegade artist.  How do I know he’s a renegade? 

When Christmas is outlawed, only outlaws will celebrate Christmas.
 

Because he rides a fucking motorcycle! 

  These mountains aren't going to paint themselves, you know.

One fateful day while painting landscapes on bum mountain, Ichiro runs into the beautiful and famous singer Miyako Saijo.  Seems Miyako was tooling around the mountain when she inadvertently missed her bus.  Keep in mind that this was back in the day, before it was mandatory for celebrities to travel by Escalade. 

 Welcome to Bum Mountain.  Enjoy our scenic views, distracting vagabonds and occasional lost celebrities.

Turns out Miyako is staying at the same inn as Ichiro, so he agrees to give her a ride back on his motorcycle. 

  She's heading down a road that in most cases ends in pregnancy.

Back at the inn we find a pair of sleazy paparazzi trying to weasel their way into Miyako’s room so they can get a photo for the gossip rags.  Bad news for them:  Miyako fucking hates the paparazzi.  She tells those assholes to go shovel shit coal in the shit train to getthefuckouttamyfaceton.  The paparazzi, being who they are decide to sneak around the inn and get snapshot of the famous singer unawares.

  How come when they do it it's called journalism and when I do it I get arrested?

Meanwhile, a robe clad Ichiro saunters into Miyako’s room to reflect on the day’s events…and totally not bang the fuck out of her. 

 Say there darlin', see anything you like?  Well, that's too fucking bad!

Apparently, the motorcycle ride was all she needed to instill trust in him (Interesting side note:  at that particular time in Japan it was illegal for any woman to refuse Toshiro Mifune access to her bedroom). 

Gee I hope no one misconstrues me pointing for us fucking.
 

Wouldn’t you know it, as they are both yuking it up on the balcony the paparazzi snaps a photo of the two together. 

 No way is this gonna ruin our carrers forever!!!

 Back in the city, the tabloid Amore gets their grubby mitts on the photo running it under the pretext that Ichiro is Miyako’s secret lover.  Amore then proceeds to go ape shit advertising the fuck out of it!

 Fact

Checking

Is

For

PUSSIES!!!!!!
 

You best believe that the public eats that shit up!  Everybody waggles a finger at the not so innocent singer while all the ladies moisten their kimonos at the sight of Ichiro. 

Oh God!  My kimono is so wet right now!  ...And I'm not even wearing it.

You might think this a good thing for our artistic hero, but no.  It’s a fucking lie and he has standards, goddamnit!  So what’s he gonna do?  March down to the tabloids headquarters and punch the editor in the face?  You’re goddamn right he is!  Also, he’s gonna sue them.

  What is this bullshit about me being awesome?  Don't you think I know that already!

Now, people threaten to sue the tabloid all the time… but no one actually goes through with it.  The owners of Amore always frighten them off by throwing out the name:  Dr. Kataoka.  You see, Kataoka is lawyerest lawyer in all of Japan. 

Watch out!  He's a being of pure law!

No one would dare fuck with one of his defendants.  At least, that’s what they thought when they used his name to scare away Ichiro’s law suit.  Ichiro calls their bluff and tells them that Dr. Kataoka can go fuck himself, because he is gonna get an even better lawyer. 

 

Style like that won't help you win a case where you have to prove that you didn't get laid.

At this point, you’d assume that Ichiro would hire some kind of amazing super-lawyer to take the case…. A lawyer that doesn’t have a drinking or gambling problem…. A lawyer that at the very least does not smell like raw sewage.  You’d be wrong. 

Since when did hobbits practice law? .......and were Japanese?
 

Enter Takashi Shimura as the quirky attorney Hiruta.  How do I now he’s quirky? 

  Get used to seeing this sad motherfucker..............AGAIN!!!!

Because he kind of looks like Hitler.

Hiruta is one odd-ball, and Ichiro knows it.  In order to find out if he’s trustworthy, Ichiro pays an unexpected visit to Hiruta’s family.  You see, he’s got a penchant for judging a persons character by first judging those closest to them.  Upon arrival at the Hiruta household, Ichiro meets his bed-ridden daughter.  She’s got a bad case of tuberculosis, and her father left all his TB knowledge back in Drunken Angel. 

Someone left a dying kid in this closet!

Bowled over by her innocence and charm, Ichiro decides that Hiruta is the man for the job.  He rushes off to give him the good news at his office located on the fifth floor……of a four story building. 

  How delightful...or depressing.  How delightfully depressing!

Yep, he works out of a shed on a roof.

 

So after the trial proper gets underway, it’s obvious that something isn’t working out quite right.  Hiruta just can’t seem to keep his shit straight. 

Look at all these wonderful gifts I got, and all I had to do was be a total bastard!

Turns out the publishers at Amore are bribing him to throw the case.  Not only that, they are feeding his gambling habit to put him in their debt.

  Whenever someone has to filp around a picture of their loved ones, you just know theres gonna be a party.

All the while, Ichiro and the singer Miyako form a strong bond with the Hiruta family.  Seeing them so happy sends Hiruta into a whirling torrent of guilt and self-loathing which culminates during Christmas festivities.  Seeing the pain that Hiruta is suffering, Ichiro resolves to straighten his shit out Christmas spirit style. 

  Not that kind of Christmas spirit........

THAT kind of Christmas spirit.

..........Ok, that kind too.

  .....aaaaand DRUNK!

So with a newly emboldened lawyer and whole mess of testimony, our plucky group of protagonists are a shoe-in to win that law suit. 

  Tip:  If your lawyer starts crying in court, you're fucked.

Or are they? 

Amore’s publishers have plenty of tricks left up their sleeve, Hiruta has plenty more quirks, and Hiruta’s daughter is still chocked-full of tuberculosis. 

  I'm sorry dear, it looks like Santa forgot to bring you the cure for TB you asked for.

Scandal is one of those movies that starts out as one thing and ends as another.  That’s not a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I expected while watching it the first time through.  The initial plot descriptions lead you to believe that the story will be a soft stab at the media.  While this is a main point in the plot, the story is more about the redemption of Takashi Shimura’s character.  While it can be funny and light-hearted at times, the story can also become very dark.  This is pretty common in Kurosawa films of the time.  Ikiru, I Live in Fear and Drunken Angel all come with a story that is light-hearted at times, yet very dark as well.  Overall the film holds up well despite its age.  It’s nice to see Shimura break out of the same roll we’ve seen him in recently and play a more animated character, similar to the doctor from the film Drunken Angel.  Of course I could just be saying that because he plays degenerate drunks in both films.  Mifune is good as always, but it doesn’t matter what the fuck his character’s occupation is… artist, police officer, soldier, thief, king, rapist….. he plays them all the same.  At this point you’ll also recognize much of the supporting cast from previous films.  For some reason they always reprise the role of “filthy drunkard”. 

  Rember this guy?  Apparently he hasn't gotten a break since the feudal era.

Scandal delivers what it promises… scandal.  And not just the obvious one. 

Not you too Abe!  I thought you were supposed to be honest!
 

Verdict:  7 out of 10  

by:  Mike Wilson

Culmination 2010

Shit I enjoyed this year:

 

Townes Van Zandt - Nashville Sessions 

BJ Nilsen & Stilluppsteypa - Space Finale

High On Fire - Snakes for The Divine

ANBB - Mimikry

     The Knife - Tomorrow, in a Year

Clutch - Strange Cousins From The West   

Fripp & Eno - Evening Star

Lightnin'  Hopkins - The Texas Bluesman

Supersilent - 9

 Supersilent - 10

                                                             Supersilent - 11

Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate - Ali & Toumani

Toru Takemitsu - Film Music

Pissed jeans - King Of Jeans

Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

Emeralds - Does It Look Like I'm Here?

Rene Hell - Porcelain Opera

Starkweather - This Sheltering Night

Oneohtrix Point Never - Returnal

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

Fantastic Mr. Fox OST

Susumu Yokota - Kaleidoscope

Pan Sonic - Gravitoni

Jethro Tull - Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle of Wight 1970

Grinderman - 2

Arthur Russell - Calling Out Of Context

Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself

Philip Jeck - An Ark For The Listener

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre

Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky

King Midas Sound - Waiting For You

Bonnie Prince Billy & The Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of The World

 

 

 

 

 

by Gary Sullivan

 

 

  

Philip Jeck - An Ark For The Listener

You may not have noticed but, men have an affinity for the sea. It has captivated our minds for centuries. The elements, Moby Dick, sirens, the kraken, and mermaids are all abound. Jeck is a man.

Based on a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, An Ark For The Listener was written in the fucking Abyss. The poem is about some nuns drowning and these nine track follow suite. Jeck uses quite an array of equipment to capture his submersive sound. His shipmate is the turntable and his compass is the poem. but Jeck doesn't take the approach of a DJ. Jeck takes the source of a record and drenches it in effects and bathes it in his infinite wisdom. The first number "Pilot/Dark Blue Night" may be the best shit Jeck has ever produced. It starts out with a low drone and a hum then explodes with pulses and by the time we reach the end, the track starts to sound like a symphony playing 20,000 leagues under the sea(yeah, I just said that). The next diddy, "Ark" is 4 minutes of haunting bells that echo and crack in the hull. "Pilot(Amog Our Shoals)" loops percussion that is almost danceable and dizzying enough to keep you away from the galley. The rest of the album carries a similar weight with washes of bells and field recordings covered in a ringing drone.

Of all the artists out there doing this kind of thing, Jeck shows that he is the Captain. I've heard this shit described as "headphone music" and I can think of no better designation. Iv'e also been told that this isn't music at all. Whatever it is, it carries something profound that most people won't "get". But If you do "get" it then I commend you. Throw your headphones on and get lost in this shit. 

 

 

10/10

by Gary Sullivan

Listen:

01 - Pilot_Dark Blue Night

Arthur Russell - Calling Out Of Context

You never know what your gonna get from an Arthur Russell album. Known for his rhythmic cello compositions and dance cuts and his classical works and his singer/songwriter country songs...well you get the point. This man could do anything. He was infamous for making 40 versions of one track and still not completing the damned thing so, what does that make him? a fucking genius. Enough bullshit...to the task at hand. This lil' slice of heaven is everything one could ask from an album. It's sincere, sassy, and danceable as anything disco or house could offer your sorry ass. This is disco music done by an authentic composer with measureable talents. Arthur's nasally/breathy vocals are catchy as all get out but also have a underpinning of sadness that really makes this album a gem. This is David Byrne and Kate Bush rolled into a neat lil' package. I could suck this albums dick all day but, that's pointless. Go buy the album.

 

 

10/10

by Gary Sullivan

Listen:

06 - Arthur Russell - That's Us-Wild Combination

Salem - King Night

I want to like this shit but God will not allow. Ya see, these people are witches that like horror movies or something. Witches with empty Budweiser cans and bad aesthetics. What does that have to do with the music? Everything and nothing. Here me now! On this album we get a drugged out kid rapping about taking showers in a detuned fashion that would make The Spaceape slap em'. The vocals really kill this album and I mean REALLY! It's sad because the production and heavy use of washed out synths are the shining light in this zoned out couldron of dark absurdity. Oh, the horror. I really don't get this. Uninspired Demdike Stare for the masses. Fuck you!

WARNING: If you do happen to enjoy this album for some insane reason. Go to youtube and check out a live video of this kids. It makes you feel like you just walked into a crack house. Pay special attention to the ghoul with long hair. he tries to do fills on a drum pad and it is hilarious. These people should be burned at the stake.

 

 

2/10

by Gary Sullivan

Listen:

06 - Trapdoor

 

 

King Midas Sound - Waiting For You

This is the latest dubstep project from Kevin Martin and poet Roger Robinson. The production on this is top-notch, full of rumbling bass, haunting beats, and brooding lyrics. You feel the King Tubby influence through out and thats a good thing. This is right up there with Burial in the dubstep department and doesn't really get the recognition it deserves. Kevin Martin comes from a varied musical background (making industrial metal music with Justin Broadrick) and that has helped in seperating him from the pack. The vocals sound like their coming from a long lost LP full of hiss and pops of old Motown albums. The moderate pace of the record gives it a sleepy vibe that is warm and inviting. Here's hopeing Mr. Martin squashes his "The Bug" project and continues down this road. 

 

 

8.5/10

by Gary Sullivan

Listen:

02 - Waiting for You

Supersilent - 9

Supersilent is the worlds leading jazz/improv groups and have been doing this kind of thing for a while. After their last album "8" the drummer quit the band and instead of finding a new one they've moved on as a three piece. All three members play organ on this record but, you wouldn't have the slightest clue they were playing organs by listening to this joint. Four tracks, each clocking in over the ten minute mark. Supersilent truely lives up to their name on this one boys and ghouls. If your looking for some kind of acid jazz freak-out you better go elsewhere because this is headphone music if I ever heard it. If I had to compare this to one of their other albums (and I do!) I would say it's "5". It doesnt sound like that album but is closest in spirit. Supersilent is never afraid to try something new and this fearlessness combined with optimum skill is what separates Supersilent from every other band on the planet. Supersilent owns you.

 

 

8/10

by Gary Sullivan

Listen:

01 - 9.1

anbb - ret marut handshake

These guys! Carsten Nicolai and Bliza Bargeld, Germany's leading experimental musicians team up for this amazing EP that is meant to give us a little taste of things to come. As one would expect, Blixa handles the vocals while Carsten commands the electronics. The first track comes as expected, "ret marut handshake"  fills the room with vocal loops and sine waves. Followed by a pounding rhythm that conjures up Pan Sonic but a little less abrasive.The second cut comes kind of unexpected at first,  The second track is a cover of Harry Nilsson's "One".  I know right? What the fuck right? Wrong! This version doesn't sounds too far off from the original and after a few turns you realize thats it works. I don't know how it works but it does. The next two tracks are more akin to these gents previous work with tons of vocal loops and Carsten Nicolai's cold electronics. The final track is another stunner and the best track on the album. "i wish i was a mole in the ground" is a traditional American folk song. Blixa sings like he doesnt want to be there and Carsten throws down an interesting and glitchy beat to fit the rhythm of the track. These gents have a full length coming out later this year and heres hoping for another spectacular outing.

 

 

9/10 

by Gary Sullivan 

Listen:

05 - i wish i was a mole in the ground

 

Jungle Boogie

Let’s face it, war can be a real pain in the dick.  Especially, when your country gets invaded by a bunch of douche-bags who think they can run things better than you.  Guess what?  In late 40’s Japan, we were those douche-bags.  Get ready for a history lesson….. 

 

You see, after the US forced Japan to surrender by blowing the fucking shit out of them with atomic bombs, they sent in an occupying military force.  They also created an organization called the Civil Information and Education Section or the CIE. The CIE was basically there to censor every fucking thing in Japan.  Needless to say, that pissed off a lot of people.  People like Akira Kurosawa. 

Frustrated by the censorship of the war-time Japanese government, Kurosawa was all too happy to gain the ability to create movies free from outside influence.  That was, of course, until we got there. Turns out, the CIE fucked his shit up worse than the Japs!  In response, Kurosawa gave us this fun little FUCK YOU …….

   

 Drunken Angel (1948) 

Drunken Angel tells the story of Dr. Sanada, a surly doctor living on the edge of a toxic swill pond in the slums with his ex-gangster girlfriend.  Doc S. is the foremost expert in the area of treating cases of tuberculosis… that is of course, when he’s not too busy being an asshole.  You see, ol’ docs got a heart of gold, but a liver of gin.  One day, Sanada’s life gets turned upside down when he meets a young Yakuza named Matsunaga.  

   

This guy is a leading expert in TB.  That's right tequilla AND burbon! 

 

The titular drunken doctor in this film is played by none other than Takashi Shimura.  As you can probably guess Matsunaga is played by an up and coming young actor named Toshiro Mifune.  You see, this is the first Kurosawa movie with Mifune and the first time we get to see the classic pair of Shimura/Mifune fuck shit up old school! 

 

Excuse me stranger. We've never met before, but could you would give me a hand fucking shit up hardcore?

Ladies, beware!  Mifune is one stylish motherfucker!  You better have a towel ready or you’re gonna slide right outta your seat!  That’s right, just try to find a scene where Mifune isn’t zoot suitin’ his way into your minds pussy. 

 

Good thing the censors didn't have a problem with rediculous amounts of STYLE!!

As the drunkard asshole doctor Sanada, we finally get to see Shimura break out of the same old “good guy” character he always plays.  And look!  Those big ass lips actually do come in useful for once!  Even if it is just for sucking up all the booze in Japan! 

Nothing wrong with an eye opener before a long days work in the office, but seven? 

One night the raucous young yakuza Matsunaga wanders into Sanada’s clinic because he closed a door on his hand…….with bullets.  Sanada helps the yakuza, despite the fact that he fucking hates gangsters.  See, Doc’s girl was once the mistress of the yakuza gangster boss Okada.  Okada used to smack that bitch around all day long, till he was sent to the cooler.  Anyway, Sanada knows him some TB and he notices that Matsunaga’s got it in spades.  Feeling pity for the young gangster, doc tries to help.  Of course, the hot-headed Matsunaga believes he is just too damn cool to have TB. 

Unnecessarily brutal hand surgury:  bringing friends together since 1948.

So here is how their relationship basically plays out… Sanada tries to help. Matsunaga is too damn proud to take a drunk’s advice.  Sanada gets fustrated.  Matsunaga tells him he can go fuck himself.  Sanada starts throwing shit.  Then everyone gets drunk.  

Looks like someone's writing their own perscription for a good time!

Before too long, boss Okada shows up fresh from the big house.  He teams up with Matsunaga and encourages him to do all the shit you probably shouldn’t do when you have TB.  Shit like, getting hammered and fucking whores. 

You want a cure for TB?  How about a cure for being sober!

Okada then stops by Doc Sanada’s house to get his woman back, but is instead told to eat shit.  You can basically see where this is going.

I'll bet this guy can see where this is going....and he's probably drunk.

So now we’ve got Okada trying to kill the doc and Matsunaga is stuck in the middle.  He’s not sure if he should listen to his old boss, who doesn’t really give a shit about his TB or help out the drunken asshole who’s trying to save his life. 

 Apparently in the advanced stages of TB, you slowly begin to turn into Edward Scissorhands. 

Drunken Angel is one of those movies that’s better than it actually is (if that makes any sense).  You see…. the acting is good and the story is pretty simple, but what makes it better is the details behind it’s production. 

Kurosawa submitted his script for Drunken Angel to the CIE for review several times before it was finally accepted.  Each time they enforced changes to push the movie toward the following guidelines: 

The movie must show that crime does not pay and that fucking around and not conforming is bad.

The bad guys can’t be likeable.

The hero must to be virtuous.

Don’t portray Americans negatively.

No imagery can be shown that depicts American occupation in Japan, such as signage written in English.

No burned out buildings or damage from wartime fighting can be shown.

The hero must win and the villain must loose.

Pissed off by the fact that his new found freedom from the Japanese censors was not all that free, Kurosawa decided to follow the above guidelines by not following them at all.  Let me illustrate each one: 

All of the criminals are shown having a blast and dancing all the time.  They all look good and wear fancy duds.

 When you're a real tough thug, you don't take your hands out of your pockets FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER!!!

Since he is a criminal, Toshiro Mifune is considered a “bad guy”.  You show me someone who does not like Toshiro Mifune.

 See?  Look at that. He's dying of TB and he still awesome.

The hero is a drunken prick.

 Aw, don't be sad.  You're still a......oh no wait, you're just drunk.  Nevermind.

All of the bad guys wear zoot suits which were popular attire in the US.  Also, there is a dance scene where a crooning Japanese songstress boisterously mocks jazz, which was also popular in the US at the time.

This scene marks one of the earliest uses of hilarious racism in film history.

There are English signs EVERYWHERE!

 I see those English signs back there!  You can fool me you slanty eyed trickster!

The entire movie takes place around a toxic swill pond.  As a matter of fact the toxic swill pond has more screen time than ANY OTHER FUCKING THING IN THE MOVIE!

SO MUCH.............

 FUCKING SWILL!!!!!!!!

 Hey guys!  Get outta the way, you're blocking my view of the swill!

I won’t spoil it for you, but apparently the original ending illustrated the ideals set forth by the CIE.  For whatever reason, the CIE didn’t like it so they made Kurosawa re-shoot it.  The new one basically negated the entire point, but they accepted it.  Go figure.

 You can sleep well knowing that these whores are CIE approved.

Some people may try to argue that Kurosawa had no malicious intent behind the changes in Drunken Angel.  I say the changes are too hilarious to be anything but.  Either way, the reality of the situation was that the CIE was vastly overworked and understaffed to really give a shit anyway.  

Pictured:  The CIE hard at work 

So regardless of any political bullshit, Drunken Angel is still a good movie.  It’s simple and it’s fun.  Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura are a pair of awesome motherfuckers. 

 Wait a minute.......this doesn't seem right?

Verdict:

8 out of 10 

by:  Mike Wilson