American jazz........and restless Rebels Without a Clue........
These cultural touchstones collide with a vengeance as a smirking, nihilistic punk named Akira goes on a rape 'n revenge rampage tour, all it set to the nervous rhythms of Japanese imitations of be- bop jazz......yeahhhhh, baby.......the coolest, Daddy-O......
75 minutes of New Wave noirish filmmaking may slightly exceed the amount of time you'd ever want to spend watching this smug cretin steal cars, assault women and live in a jazz-infused state of delirium......
But the film's so propulsive in its pacing and unpredictability of its lead, you hold on for dear life and keep watching......cause there's no telling what this pure-force-of-nature idiot will do next. .
Oblivious to human contact or any real emotion except instant gratification, he barely minds at all when a group of guys he pushed his way through turn around and pound him. But all of this comes across so fast and stylish in black-and-white widescreen, you find yourself taking it in stride....just like Akira......
The combination of the hot jazz and the hot-tempered 'hero' keep this film at a boil until it settles for ending with a lame jokey twist.....as if the movie realized it ran out of gas and stopped cold..
But while it's zippin' along, it's an odd, strangely fun ride.......and a stunning example of cultural cross-pollination........
So if you dig world cinema the most, Daddy-O, try groovin' on this one......3 stars (***).
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