Tags
1990's, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Crime, Harvey Keitel, Kevin Anderson, Philip Kaufman, Ray Wise, Rising Sun, Sean Connery, Thriller, Tia Carrere, Wesley Snipes
Film Title
Rising Sun
Director
Philip Kaufman
Starring
- Sean Connery as Captain John Connor
- Wesley Snipes as Lt. Web Smith
- Harvey Keitel as Lt. Tom Graham
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Eddie Sakamura
- Tia Carrere as Jingo Asakuma
- Kevin Anderson as Bob Richmond
- Ray Wise as Senator John Morton
A compelling but provocative thriller, Rising Sun functions as something of a commentary on the corruption of big business and less than warm relations between East and West. It gets pretty confounding and confusing in stretches, but it retains interest thanks to visuals and good playing from leads Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes.
The setting is Los Angeles, primarily a large, sprawling building that is the place of business for a largely Japanese conglomerate. A party is underway as the company attempts to get a lucrative deal to go through, yet unexpected things will soon take precedence. A blonde escort by the name of Cheryl Austin is found strangled to death in the boardroom, which threatens to cause a scandal for the company. Assigned to the murder case is police detective Web Smith, who is a good enough guy with a few flaws in his past. Also assigned to assist is retired Captain John Connor, whose knowledge of all things Japanese will be beneficial when dealing with suspects within the company. Overseeing things is Smith’s former police partner Tom Graham, who has a vendetta against the Japanese and makes sure everyone knows it. Evidence seems to point towards Eddie Sakamura, a tempestuous playboy who Connor knows the businessman father of. But wise, old Connor suspects that there is a lot more complexity to the case than anyone expected and with his sharp and scrupulous mind, it’s not hard to see why. He is proven right as this turns out to be no open shut case. Both Connor and Smith, though completely opposite in approach, discover it may reach very high up the business ladder and threaten to expose people at the top. Yet just when they think they know what’s going on, something new puts a dangerous spin on things. Chief among these is a tape that could implicate the guilty party, if it wasn’t for tampering with the visuals that are discovered to be altered. The mismatched duo learns to work with each other and used their respective smarts to crack a most bewildering and twisting case.
Philip Kaufman, always a director with a keen eye for visuals, displays that here with stylish atmosphere apparent from the very beginning. He paints a world tinged with noir that is insidious and corrupt from almost every angle( complete with almost constant rain and darkness) One of the biggest criticisms aimed at both the film and the book on which it is based is that it bashes Japan and paints a harsh portrait of business. I can’t vouch for either of those accusations as my knowledge of both is pretty limited. But people who say that the Japanese are portrayed badly here, should look at some of the American characters too. Plenty of them are corrupt and nasty as some of those in the company so I can’t see much of a basis for negative slander here. I can see some parts that could be deemed offensive, but I think Kaufman manages to keep most of these at bay. There is a technological side to Rising Sun that looks a bit dated now, but is nonetheless quite intriguing to watch and observe. In this edgy take, images can be distorted and the blame game soon follows, much like old-fashioned movies with a contemporary twist. An atmospheric score provides the strange backdrop for the murder investigation that proves anything but straightforward due to the sense of culture clash at the heart of the matter. It is the attention to details, much like the character of Connor, that impressed me the most in Rising Sun. It does have moments of action, but like a good thriller the investigative parts are what holds the interest as layer upon layer of complexity builds higher. Now after some time Rising Sun does get just a little bit convoluted and confusing to follow, yet it doesn’t bore you as it keeps you watching despite the often overly complex plot. The relationship of Connor and Smith keeps you rooted in the film and is one of the best parts, thanks to the respect and level footing each find eventually with the other.
Sean Connery is one of Rising Sun’s biggest draws. Exuding an almost stately manner through the character’s knowledge of Japanese customs and a twinkling grin that suggest a wily personality, Connery imprints his stamp on the part of an intelligent man whose attention to detail is what drives the shocking case in front of him. He exudes an avuncular tendency towards his younger charge, close to that of master and apprentice. Connery shares a good working relationship with Wesley Snipes, with the two bouncing off each other with their differing approaches to the murder case. Wesley Snipes more than holds his own against the illustrious Connery; generating dedication and wise ass responses as he becomes more bewildered by the shifting investigation in front of him. Harvey Keitel is reliably on hand to play the vicious and intolerant detective who is more than willing to prosecute the wrong man purely out of hatred. A standout part comes courtesy of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Playing the dissolute playboy who may have been taken for a ride and framed, he shows off both a charisma and fear that grows as the case tangles. As one of the only women in the movie, Tia Carrere provides sexiness and smarts as the computer expert who deduces that the tape that could reveal the criminal has been tampered with. Slimy tactics are the name of the game for both Kevin Anderson and Ray Wise as two men caught up in the corruption.
It may boggle the mind on occasion and some of it can become rather in your face, yet due to the good direction of Kaufman and acting from the lead, Rising Sun has its values as a serpentine thriller that is pretty slick.
Bluebird4UDaily said:
Thanks for the memories… I really loved this movie and your review on it is A+.. Take care my friend…Laura 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I try my best to transfer the essence of the movie into the review. I had a good time with this film.
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exoticnita54 said:
Nothing like getting lost in a good movie
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vinnieh said:
So very true.
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Bluebird4UDaily said:
vinnieh, you did such a lovely job with the review for this film. It was such a pleasure to read through it… Take care, Laura
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vinnieh said:
Thank you so much Laura. It is comments like this that really make blogging a delight.
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keepsmealive said:
Yes! Is this the one where one of the bad guys ends up in the concrete for a building’s foundation? Sank in to suffocate? That scene always horrified me. What a way to go.
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vinnieh said:
Yep, that’s the movie alright. A pretty nasty way to go.
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beetleypete said:
This is a very watchable detective thriller, with Connery at his tongue-in-cheek best acting everyone else off the screen. It made me think what a good idea it might have been to have let James Bond grow old with Connery, and to have let him run with it.
Cheers mate, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
Gotta love Connery. He has that wink to the camera style that is hard to resist.
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exoticnita54 said:
Everytime
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vinnieh said:
What’s not to love about the guy?
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exoticnita54 said:
Totally agreed… He was really the best of the “BONDS “
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fragglerocking said:
Have seen this one V~man and agree with your review 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I love to hear when people agree with my reviews. Don’t get me wrong, I find debating good too. But it’s always nice to talk with someone who shares an interest.
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ninvoid99 said:
Ah, I do like this film. I like the stuff with Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes as well as the fact that it has boobies including one in a Playboy Playmate whose tits are sucked on by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa whose name I don’t remember. Good times.
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vinnieh said:
It was a pretty good film. Didn’t know that was a Playboy Playmate.
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ninvoid99 said:
It’s Tylyn John, Playmate of the Month March 1992. The blond laying down is Shelley Michelle, a softcore actress.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for that info. I guess you learn something new everyday.
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vinnieh said:
I must say, you really have an eye for the sexy parts of movies and recalling them.
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ninvoid99 said:
Well, when it comes to loving nudity in cinema. You have to know these things. Playboy was once interesting but that was a long time ago. And I never read it for the articles because the articles are boring as fuck.
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vinnieh said:
Best to be well versed in these subjects.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Nicely written Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
Thank you Kim, have you seen this movie?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I thought it was a decent adaptation of Crichton’s novel.☺️
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t read the novel, but through research saw how button-pushing it was.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
If you ever have the time you should definitely read it. I think you’d like it Vinnie!🙋🏻
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vinnieh said:
Will add to my reading list Kim.
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vinnieh said:
My reading list is growing as big as my movies to watch list.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This is a good thing!
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vinnieh said:
It is, but I’ve got so many things I need to watch and read. Oh well, I’m still young.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Haha! True enough. Supernatural next?
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vinnieh said:
I’ll see what I can do sister.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Woo Hoo! Yippee! I’m doing cartwheels!☺️☺️☺️
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vinnieh said:
I can’t promise anything, but sometime in the future I will view that show.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Near future?! You’re killin’ me here Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
Sorry about that, Supernatural will feature in my plans.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
You know, it’s almost October, so it would be the perfect time. Okay. Stopping now.
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vinnieh said:
Definitely could work for spooky viewing.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
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vinnieh said:
I do plan on watching quite a bit of horror in October.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m telling you. It would be the perfect time to acquaint yourself with the Winchester brothers!
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vinnieh said:
When I watch, would it be fine if I spoke to you about it but didn’t review the show?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Oh. Sure. Is there any particular reason why you don’t want to review it? I know there’s at least a few of your followers like me that are pretty rabid about it. I hope I’m not being too pushy. I just figured it’s the perfect match for you as you’re a fan of Charmed, Buffy and the X-Files.
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vinnieh said:
No you are not being too pushy Kim. No need to worry about that. I just watch that much stuff and can’t review everything. Come to think of it, if I watch and enjoy the show, I might as well blog about it a and give my take on it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yay!
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vinnieh said:
I’ll see what I can do Kim. You are a great person at recommending things.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I just get a little carried away sometimes.😕
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vinnieh said:
Never apologise Kim. Your enthusiasm is marvellous.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hugs for you!
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vinnieh said:
And big hugs for you too.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😊😊😊
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vinnieh said:
Smiley faces are what I like to see.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😄😄😀😀😄😄
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vinnieh said:
I did a music post today if you are interested.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Sorry Vinnie. I just finished my third post of the day, but I’ll head over and check it out shortly!🙋🏻
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vinnieh said:
No need to apologise Kim, just thought I’d tell you.
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Rincewind said:
Weird one. I hated this one when I saw it in the cinema when it was released but after watching it again I liked it. Not sure why my younger self hated it but there you go 😆
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vinnieh said:
Maybe your tastes changed over time. On another note, another follower told me that a Playboy Playmate makes an appearance in the film.
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Rincewind said:
Oki time to re watch it u guess. But yes yr taste does change and as a 15 or something at the time of this movie u probably didn’t appreciate it but now, yes definitely a good movie and deserving the scorn I gave it then.
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vinnieh said:
I like it when a movie changes in my opinions over a period of time. I find being in the right frame of mind helps enjoy a film.
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vinnieh said:
And I believe the name of the playmate who appears is Tylyn John.
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ruth said:
Love Connery & Snipes here, one of my fave cinematic duos.
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vinnieh said:
They do work tremendously well together. The whole master/apprentice vibe is very well played.
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