kubi

Japan Cuts XVII Review: In Takeshi Kitano’s KUBI, A Feral Feature Of Feudal Follies

6 min. read I’ve only seen a little over a handful of Takeshi Kitano’s films in my lifetime. That includes a palpable mix of roles in a career that’s lasted more than half a century; If you told me that that guy I saw in Johnny Mnemonic when I was thirteen would have an impact on my interest in film over the years, I would’ve looked at you peculiarly. At any rate, the films I have seen have been ample at helping me gauge Kitano’s approach to violence, drama, and black comedy, even when at the service of other directors. His latest directing effort, adding to a career at the helm that has lasted more than thirty years, now comes in the form of Kubi, an adaptation of his own novel published by Kadokawa, and with decades of development dating back as far as 1993. Beginning in 1579, Kitano’s Kubi […]

KUBI Gets An Explosive New Trailer For Takeshi Kitano’s Latest Violent Satirical Period Drama

Lee B. Golden III

The newest official trailer has arrived for Kubi, actor “Beat” Takeshi Kitano’s final bow in the director’s chair which opens in Japan cinemas on November 23. Kubi is inspired by Kitano’s own novel and takes a satirical look into multi-angular lens exploring the last several years leading up to the deadly Honno-ji incident that presumably took the life of 16th century warlord, Oda Nobunaga. Kitano is joined by Ryo Kase, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Shido Nakamura, Tadanobu Asano and Nao Omori among the cast also featured on the brand new official poster which you can find just beneath the player.

KUBI: Takeshi Kitano Returns With A Hefty Headcount In The Violent, Explosive Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Three decades in the making with years of research and a book in toe comes the long-awaited pièce de résistance that is Kubi (or Neck), from director and star Takeshi Kitano in his final feature. The official trailer is now online as well, with the film now subject to reviews fresh out of Cannes where the film screen for the 76th edition. Set in the 16th century, as rival warlords battled to control Japan. Lord Oda Nobunaga, intent on controlling Japan, is waging war against several clans when one of his vassals, Araki Murashige stages a rebellion and promptly disappears. Nobunaga assembles his other vassals including Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi, and orders them to capture the fugitive Murashige, warning “I’ll choose whoever works hardest as my successor.” With various thoughts, schemes, and traps they carry out, they’re soon brought to a crossroads in a complicated situation. All roads lead to Honno-ji […]

KUBI: Takeshi Kitano’s Final Film Teases Violent Retribution In The First Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Five years after stepping down from his position at Office Kitano and with a new novel in his sights, celebrated actor and filmmaker Takeshi Kitano is now ripe for the upcoming ceremony with what looks to be his final bow with the new period action epic, Kubi. The film, based on Kitano’s 2019 novel, was announced a few weeks ago with a poster introduced ahead of the film’s premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, with Kitano directing from his own script and Kadokawa handling the film’s international sales, as well as its local Japan release this Fall. Kitano devoted 30 years to what became his lifework, researching and writing both an original novel and screenplay depicting his outrageous theory about the ambush at Honno-ji Temple, one of the great unsolved mysteries in samurai history. Focusing equally on ninja and foot soldiers, missing from traditional samurai narratives, and on the […]