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American Yakuza

1993

Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller

13
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 41% · 1 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 41% · 2.5K ratings
IMDb Rating 5.6/10 10 3160 3.2K

martial arts undercover agent yakuza organized crime mafia action hero

Plot summary

When Nick Davis leaves prison after one year in solitairy, he is hired to operate a forklift in a warehouse in the harbor owned by the Japanese Yakuza patriarch Isshin Tendo. The place is assaulted by the Italian Mafia lead by Dino Campanela and Nick rescues and saves the life of Shuji Sawamoto, who is the representative of Yakuza interests in America. Shuji hires Nick to work for Yakuza and becomes his godfather in the family after his oath to join Yakuza. However, Nick is a lonely FBI undercover agent assigned to penetrate the criminal organization. When the FBI discovers that Campanela is organizing a massive attack to destroy the Yakuza, Nick's boss Littman calls off the operation to leave the dirty work to the Italian Mafia. But the connection of Nick with Shuji and his goddaughter Yuko forces him to help his Japanese family.

Director

Frank A. Cappello Photo
Frank A. Cappello

Top cast

Viggo Mortensen Photo
Viggo Mortensen as Nick Davis / David Brandt
Ryo Ishibashi Photo
Ryo Ishibashi as Shuji Sawamoto
Anzu Lawson Photo
Anzu Lawson as Yuko
Robert Forster Photo
Robert Forster as Littman
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
881.81 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds 15
1.6 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds 20
879.9 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds 7
1.6 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds 12

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by tarbosh22000 7 / 10

American Yakuza combines visual flair with an engaging plot.

Reviewed by Uriah43 7 / 10

An F.B.I. Agent Sent to Infiltrate the Yakuza

"Nick Davis" (Viggo Mortensen) is an F.B.I. agent who has been sent on an undercover mission to infiltrate a warehouse owned and operated by the Yakuza. As it so happens, although they have a deal with the Italian Mafia, the boss named "Dino Campanela" (Michael Nouri) decides to double-cross his Japanese partners by sending some hit men to assassinate his main rival by the name of "Isshin Tendo" (John Fujioka) who just happens to be visiting that particular warehouse. Fortunately, Nick just happens to observe the armed gunmen sneaking into the warehouse and manages to thwart their efforts in time for Tendo to escape. However, one of Tendo's key lieutenants by the name of "Shuji Sawamoto" (Ryo Ishibashi) isn't so lucky as he is wounded in the ensuring chaos and is subsequently carried by Nick to a safe place and where he his wounds are treated. Grateful to Nick for saving his life, Shuji offers Nick a job working for him which results in serious repercussions for everyone involved. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an enjoyable crime-drama which had an interesting plot, plenty of action and some good acting as well. I especially enjoyed the performances of both Viggo Mortensen and Ryo Ishibashi who worked very well together. Likewise, having an attractive actress like Anzu Lawson (as Nick's girlfriend "Yuko") certainly didn't hurt either. In any case, I liked this particular movie and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.
Reviewed by JoeytheBrit 6 / 10

Predictable but reasonably entertaining

Half way through watching this film I had the sudden suspicion that I had seen this film before but, after checking, discovered that I hadn't - and I think that signifies its biggest failing. Essentially it's by-the-numbers film-making, making use of every genre cliché which means it has a certain predictability about it.Viggo Mortensen gives a decent performance, although for me his pretty boy looks means he's miscast in the role of an undercover cop who infiltrates the Yakuza, and the story is reasonably entertaining and fast-moving. The characterisation is fairly predictable though: wise older Japanese gangster, hot-headed younger gangster, cold-blooded Italian gangster, etc. The film sometimes looks as if it's heading in some interesting directions (the Italian mobster's verbally abused sidekick for example) but these turn into dead ends. The cinematography is first-class though. Successful on its own low-budget terms, the film will entertain those who watch without high expectations.
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