LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Matt Kracht Maybe I'm a bit of an oddball, because I thought this was better than Battle Royale, which is probably the director's most beloved (and famous) movie (at least, among Americans). Battle Royale was actually paced too slowly for my liking, and too much of it depended on you being surprised or amazed by the concept, whereas Blackmail Is My Life relies more on offbeat characters and the charismatic acting by the lead. I suppose I agree with other reviewers that this is something of a transitional piece, straddling the dopey 60s comedies and gritty 70s dramas. Again, I might be a bit of an oddball here, but I thought that it worked very well; for me, Battle Royale was the interesting-yet-ultimately-failed stylistic exercise! If I had one complaint, it'd be that the pacing does slow down a bit in the second half, as the story starts to become a bit more burdened with increasing plot elements, rather than the carefree first half.The basic plot revolves around a modern day Yakuza who, as you might expect, is a blackmailer. Initially, things are pretty easy (and the movie is quirky and upbeat), because he's both skilled and lucky. When things start taking a turn for the worse, our protagonist slowly comes to realize what he's got himself into, and what kind of life he's made for himself. This is when the movie starts becoming gritty, turning into more of a revenge movie. The beauty of this movie is how the quirky first half effortlessly segues to the gritty second half, without you really ever thinking to yourself that either part doesn't belong.If you're into stylistic or quirky Yakuza movies, this is certainly highly recommended. Even if you don't ordinarily watch Japanese movies, I'd still suggest you check this out, because it's a really great example of how you can break out of genre limitations to appeal to a wider demographic. I wouldn't oppose an American remake of this movie -- it deserves to be more well known.

secondtake Blackmail Is My Life (1968)Well, the bad guys (four men and one woman, all young and good looking) have a lot of fun, and carry a lot of poise. As rank amateurs they are lucky and, between racing around in their car, show a lot of cool style. It's 1968 in Japan, and it feels like maybe 1964 in the U.S., with people still wearing suits and looking good doing it.Eventually, they get in over their heads, but we don't really worry at first. They often say vague things like, "We'll go ahead with out plan," but they never say what they are planning. And then the plan happens, and it's fast and jazzy, in a kind of extended television way. The plot is kind of interesting, digging into the underworld of Japan in this sideways fashion. And visually it's fun, very nice wide screen compositions in a wide range of gritty Japanese locations. There is even a dramatic, spare electric guitar score, perfect for the period.The more serious and deadly this movie gets, the more it loses it's lighthearted flaws. There is clearly (to me) an influence from Bonnie and Clyde (the previous year) with romanticizing bad guys and extended violence. There is some real poignancy built in, as well. There are lots of night scenes and dramatic lighting, and this has a late film noir kind of quality, somehow, dark and brooding between action scenes. If you don't mind some Japanese camp aspects, this might really make your night. And just a heads up: the second half is easier to like in a conventional way, even if the first half is more original and excessive.

t-d-t-m82 A great film of the simplicity of black mail in all its glory. The Fukasaku trademark is in its essence of discovery. The film is a revenge flick yet keeps the story to a modern Yakuza tale. He shows the destructive lifestyle of an individual which is a great viewing and demonstration of his later 70's yakuza films ala Graveyard Of Honour and the Yakuza Papers. Fukasaku experiments with the same shaky camera work as used on the Black Lizard concept films and demonstrates some mastery camera work with awesome close ups and long pauses right in the thick of the action. The camera work is varied and dynamic. The pauses are longer than the style used for the Yakuza films of the 70's so this is a period of discovery for the master director. The imprint of his work later in life. The film is about a renegade bunch whom see money as a way of escaping the social corruption of Japan. They resort to petit blackmailing with yakuza habits. There is a Yakuza; a Bartender, an ex boxer and a girl whose lives are turned into stories of black mail and revenge. Story wise this film is quite simple. The group decide early on to form a blackmail way of life. They issue attacks on people with money and use force for success. Their antics are increased along the way to a state of alcohol firebombs and gasoline bassment stakes. They seek to revenge a sad circumstance and go all out war on a big politician. The four get rich quick schemes become an obsession which they end the end can not handle even though ignoring good advice from others. This concludes to a dramatic finale and a great suspense build up of the individuals whose character build up is first rate. The score is a little synthesized and no way near up to the competence of the awesome Battles Without Honour soundtrack. The direction is superb. Cinematography of the city is awesome. Fantastic aerial shots of a bustling city. There are closes ups of superb measure and also shaky low budget action a plenty. I recommend this film as a film for people into vengeance and yakuza films. Or just a pure great epic 60's thriller. I find this film a great watch and really should be seen before the Yakuza films he made later. An awesome display of cinematic wonder to boot despite the storyline being a bit dated in places. Then again it has aged incredibly well for a picture from 1968. This film is a must.

amerh How can a movie about low-lives using blackmail to get out of their scummy life be so much fun, and still carry a message about social corruption and racism? First, by being restlessly energetic. All the new wave film techniques are used here, jump cuts, flashbacks, moving whirling hand-held cameras, sharp angles.. The movie never slows down except for a few delicious very physical love scenes, the complex story is told through the action. A movie that seems made in a rush and is much better for it.The stylish 60s fashions, amoral but sexy protagonists, pop art photography and snappy music make this movie fun. It also makes it easier to take the extremely cynical message underlying the whole film. The antiheroes on display are like rats in a sewer (a dead rat is a recurring image). They hang on to the memory of the few happy moments they had, and keep reliving it. They think they blackmail for money, but they are really acting to get back at the Big guys, to prove that even scum can rise above their station. Their friendship and bond comes out of necessity and common experience. But their chance at the big lights is fleeting: going out with a famous actress for a moment may be thrilling, but our heroes do not belong in that world .The film portrays a Japan ruled by corruption, where mavericks and half-breeds have to scrape to survive. Nobody is good, starting with all of the seedy blackmail "victims". The film has very dark and cynical outlook, but don't let that description phase you, this is also an incredibly fun film to watch, with action, humor and overabundant style. Most critics rank this movie as one of the director's lesser films. I think it deserves much better. Definitely recommended to those who love 60s gangster movies.