Former private eye Harry Kilmer knows a lot about Japan – and the gangsters who keep an iron grip on its gambling, prostitution and protection rackets. He knows there’s a right way to approach the brutal underworld. And he knows there’s one thing powerful mobsters respect: greater power.

Robert Mitchum is Kilmer in this haunting East-meets-West-head-on thriller powered by a team of heavy Hollywood hitters: writers Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) and Robert Towne (Chinatown) and director Sydney Pollack (The Interpreter). Co-starring Japan’s Takakura Ken and veteran character actor Brian Keith. The Yakuza is a modern film noir in which honor and loyalty become issues of life and death. Violence erupts with the speed of a Tokyo-bound bullet train. And the last thing to die is tradition.

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Video Quality

The Yakuza received a fetching upgrade on Blu-Ray when it was released in 2017 courtesy of Warner Archive with a 1080p master sourced from a 2K scan of the Interpositive. The transfer maintains the beautiful natural film grain free of any compression artifacts or other such digital nuisances. We did not spot any lingering signs of damage such as specks or scratches. Skin tones appear to be natural across the ensemble. The colors of the film are consistently saturated to capture the intended aesthetic. Key hues make an impression within the outfits, production design, and light sources. Black levels are deep and detailed in the shadowy areas of the screen, and highlights never succumb to blooming. The upgrade reveals textures that are easily visible for the first time at home. Warner Archive has provided a classy transfer for this impactful drama.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive brings this Blu-Ray to audiences with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that offers a first-rate presentation. The score from Dave Grusin establishes the vibe of the film, and it sounds strong throughout with unwavering fidelity. Dialogue stays anchored to the center channel without being overshadowed by parallel elements. The action comes in fits and spurts, but the environmental effects always make themselves known. This is a balanced track that executes everything it needs to without issue. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Sydney Pollack provides an archival commentary track in which he broadly speaks about the production of the film rather than scene-specific insights. During this track the filmmaker touches on the efforts to represent elements authentically, collaborating with Paul and Leonard Schrader on the script, the shooting locations, the casting process, and more.

Vintage Featurette – Promises To Keep: A 20-minute look at the production of the film through a unique perspective including many on-set moments with Pollack.

Theatrical Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Yakuza is a somewhat surprising title for a Sydney Pollack film, but once you get into some of the themes and developments, you will recognize his fingerprints all over it. The story is not particularly sprawling, yet the movie maintains a sense of scale that is aided further by shooting in Japan. The script is convoluted and can be difficult to track on early viewings, but it is special enough to keep you coming back to get more from it. We love to see Robert Mitchum continue to dominate the screen even in his older years. When you are churning out a parade of classics like Pollack was, it is easy for something like this to get lost in the mix, but it is worth seeking out if you want to see a greater range of his offerings. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a formidable A/V presentation and a couple of special features. Recommended

The Yakuza can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.