Brother Movie Review

Brother (2000)

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Written by: Takeshi Kitano
Directed by: Takeshi Kitano
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Claude Maki, Omar Epps, Tatyana Ali
Rated: NR [R]
Watch the trailer

Plot
A Japanese gangster is exiled to Los Angeles where his brother lives with a small but respectable multi-racial gang, who he inspires to expand their influence.

Verdict
I've seen a few of Takeshi's movies, and they feel disjointed. This movie doesn't give you much information. This is little more than hollow gang violence. It doesn't develop relationships well. A gangster comes to LA and causes a lot of violence. There's not much more to the movie than that.
Skip it.

Review
This was Takeshi's first American film, meant to broaden his audience but this movie wasn't well received. I find Takeshi's movies obtuse. I think he's trying to create a mood, but it more often feels like we're missing something. It doesn't help that this doesn't have much of a story past an up and coming gang taking over turf.

Aniki (Takeshi Kitano) had to leave Japan and now seeks his brother in America. It's clear Aniki is no stranger to criminal activity. He's a gangster and he's ready to take over in America, pushing his brothers low level gang to step up and take turf. We're shown Aniki is stone cold, but we don't see the low level gang's rise in power. They're barely meeting ends meet and then they're wearing fancy suits. This movie is preoccupied with violence over story.

Takeshi Kitano plays Aniki

Aniki's contribution to the gang is a Yakuza approach. They're discipline and methodical. They quickly rise in notoriety as they become legitimate.

Kitano's movies don't care to explain everything, at least not like Western movies. This movie is little more than hollow gang violence. I like the relationship between Aniki and Denny (Omar Epps), but even that feels like it needs something more. I wondered how Aniki's brother Ken (Claude Maki) felt about that. The brothers are estranged, but the movie doesn't develop that relationship at all. Ken exists just so Aniki has a reason to come to America. Otherwise Aniki wouldn't have a person to find and stumble into the role of gang leader.