Black Rain (DVD)

Made in 1989, ‘Black Rain’ is not just an excellent police and gang war film, but also touches on some difficult questions about the relationship between America and Japan, and deals with the clashes between two very difficult cultures and the role of the code of honour in Japanese society. However, despite atmospheric direction from Ridley Scott, and excellent performances from Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia, ably supported by a strong Japanese cast, this film never got the credit it deserved. Douglas plays the role of Nick Conklin, a New York cop who is under investigation from the Internal Affairs division due to his suspected involvement in ...

Overlooked, under-rated and sadly all too often forgotten, Black Rain is a hidden masterpiece so well created, so timeless in its execution, that it overshadows so many modern action/thrillers as to remain one of the most explosive films ever made. Ridley Scott provides his trademark bleak and dark tones whilst a cast, fronted by an ever reliable Michael Douglas lifts an already tight script to create a pace and vigour so often lacking in todays releases. The plot centres around two New York police officers (Douglas and a superb Andy Garcia who simply shines) who become embroiled in the affairs of the Japanese mafia who are preparing to develop a perfect ...

This film is set in Osaka in Japan, namely the underground gangsterland that is prevalant in this area. Michael Douglas plays Nick, an American policeman who is sent to Osaka in order to escort a Japanese gangster names Sato, who commited a double murder in New York. Sato is played superbly by Yusaka Matsuda. He oozes evil. Nick is accompanied by his partner Charlie, played by Andy Garcia. Not surprisingly, there are problems when they hand him over to the Japanese police, as there are in fact gangsters in disguise. Determined to save face, they team up with a local policeman played by Ken Takakura, in order to recapture the killer. Nick is a rebel, he ...