This movie pretty much seals the deal I’ve been working on with National Shoes consisting of Akira Kurosawa being my favorite director ever. I don’t know why I’ve been putting off this film for so long, especially with having high expectations for it, but they were definitely met. The very first thing that won me over was the unbelievable lineup of actors: Toshirō Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai on the same screen? Then I saw a woman descending the stairs and I just knew it was gonna be Kyōko Kagawa. I also couldn’t keep my eyes off of Nobuo Nakamura, the guy who plays the mayor in Ikiru… he looked self conscious in his acting, but I kinda enjoy this overacting, and I liked to imagine the entire crew was grateful to Kurosawa for hiring them when I look in their eyes.

The first half on Gondo’s high house was engaging and suspenseful enough that I couldn’t see how the second half could top it. But it topped it alright with the hunt for the kidnapper, the ‘low’ side of the film. The dance sequence where the kidnapper and drug dealer get down and exchange goods with that music has got to be the rawest "in your face’’ scene ever, plus the black dude was entertaining to watch. Same with everything else, I don’t think there’s a single fault within this film now that I think about it, I even remember being willing to rewatch it the next day cause it’s just so clean and you feel home with all the familiar characters. Also, Mifune showering ftw.