The Movies That Moved Me: Ridley Scott’s BLACK RAIN

Ridley Scott’s 1989 crime thriller, Black Rain, may have been a mixed bag for some critics at the time of its release. Nevertheless, the Michael Douglas-starring action flick is a guaranteeable hit with its own loyal following, backed by a cast of venerated screen talents, a pulsating police procedural, and a soulful theme song that rules.

Bearing timeless themes of revenge and redemption, and a mot juste that culminates the generational and cultural impact stemming from wartime history, Black Rain introduces Nick (Douglas), New York vice detective on the hook with Internal Affairs over missing drug money. A chance to redeem himself arises after nabbing elusive gangster, Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), tasked with escorting the wanted Yakuza to justice in Osaka along with partner, Charlie (Andy Garcia).

The job takes a harrowing turn after losing Sato in the exchange, pigeonholing Nick and Charlie into an uneasy collaboration with the stringent officials of Osaka police. Ambushed one evening and forced to watch Charlie’s murder at the hands of Sato and his men, Nick and prefectural police officer Masahiro (Ken Takakura) join forces in a make-or-break effort to find Sato and bring the yakuza down once and for all.

Skimming some of the review quotes about how there was no character development on this film had me perplexed a little bit before writing this. There’s no question that there is plenty of depth and evolution that occurs throughout the story, and no doubt that the raised stakes certainly lay a compelling precursor to cheer Nick on.

Invariably, Nick is the kind of seasoned, uncouth badge you wouldn’t be rooting for in the current timeline, but his transformation works just fine here. You get why he is who he is, and it’s totally fine to not approve, so long as the the film conveys a character worth sympathizing, which it does.

Screen legend Takakura delivers in fine support as the straight-laced Masahiro who takes after his Western cohorts in some ways, ultimately learning a thing or two as a cop himself who realizes he can no longer count on by-the-book strategy. Takakura and Douglas are a sight to see as our two leads, both bringing their own grade of gravitas to the screen, matched only by the velocity and intensity of the late Matsuda’s role as the menacing Sato.

Kate Capshaw has the most minimal screentime in the role of Joyce, a nightclub hostess and transplant out of Chicago who gets to chew it up some in a few cool scenes with Douglas. The most notable credit among supporting cast members goes to venerated screen star Tomisaburo Wakayama (Lone Wolf and Cub franchise), who plays Sato’s yakuza rival, Sugar, and earns the most gripping message-moment of the film in a key scene with Douglas. Other notable faces include memorable Japan screen talents like Rikiya Yasuoka (Tampopo), and even Jun Kunimura (Kate, Kill Bill: Vol. 1) who briefly appears as one of Sato’s gunmen in the second half of the film.

I was mesmerised by Black Rain the first time I saw it, which was on commercial television many years ago. I forget when, but by then I’d already seen Douglas in memorable thrillers like Wall Street, Falling Down, and The Ghost And The Darkness among a few others. I was in my teens and never heard of Takakura or any of these notable stars of the Far East, making Black Rain one of the more discernible blind viewings of my upbringing.

The cast is pure electric and the action heats up every step of the way, making this action classic a film that, in some ways, refuses to get age, even with Old New York in the backdrop. To add, Gregg Allman’s title track still rings hard after a while, like a true earworm.

Lead image: Paramount Pictures