If you like '60s era gangster films, you'll like this. Afraid to Die has the great '60s visual style. The wardrobes are cool and the soundtrack is fantastic. It's a different Yakuza-type flick.
I have to admit that I only rented this to watch Yukio Mishima, a writer/actor/director/warrior, who had a very interesting history. And he doesn't disappoint. He's a very cool cat with a knack for overacting. However, his overacting skills don't ruin but rather enhance his campy character, "Takeo". A reluctant, and cowardly, Yakuza underboss/playboy. To which Mishima adds a certain James Dean-flair.
The biography section on the disc explains that Mishima, after turning down various scripts, stated that he would only play a character who wears a black leather jacket, and is a gangster. Need I say more? |