Takashi Miike's Sukiyaki Western Django

Just got a call from a friend of mine that I used to work with who gave me the heads up about a press screening tomorrow for the new Takashi Miike film, Sukiyaki Western Django featuring Quentin Tarantino.

My friend actually has the exact same job that I used to have and one of the duties is to run private screenings for the members of the local press so that the movies get reviewed before opening day, which in this case is not anytime soon that I know of. Luckily for me she knows how much I love Miike and has offered to sneak me in, pretty excited actually.

From what I understand, and I've avoided reading too much about it, is that it's either a samurai influenced spaghetti western or a spaghetti western influenced samurai film, which may or may not (I've heard both) be influenced by both Django and Django's own inspiration Yojimbo.

I just have a few thoughts before watching it and then I'll write more after I see the film tomorrow...

Firstly, Takashi Miike is,without a doubt, the busiest filmmaker in the world. He has directed upwards of five films a year for the last 5 years, and averaged around 3 a year for more than a decade prior to that. Production of that volume is unheard of, and for it to come out not only watchable but captivating and original each time is nothing short of amazing. If you're unfamiliar with his work you should check him out. I mentioned him in an earlier post Takashi Miike and the best trailer ever? Audition is probably his most well known film in the states.

The Spaghetti Western is an interesting genre that doesn't get as much respect from most as I feel it should. Loosely, a Spaghetti Western is a western film shot by an Italian Studio / Production Team in Italy with sets, themes, and influences, all mimicking the America Southwest western films made during the American Studio system.

The qualities that separate Spaghetti Westerns and their mostly American counterparts, were however, quite significant. Probably the most defining characteristics of the Spaghetti Western are the fact that they often replaced the typical American Hero with a more 'modernized' almost existentialist anti-hero.
When we think of typical western films we think of films like Rio Bravo, High Noon, or the masterpieces of John Ford. Each of these films, as per standard of the genres had a hero who was 'good at heart.' Usually ranchers or otherwise 'common folk' who, through no fault of their own, are forced to take matters into their own hands in often extreme circumstances. Icon of the genre, John Wayne obviously.

Alternately, when we think about or discuss the biggest names of the Spaghetti Western genre we realize those same things aren't always the case. Using the "Man with no name" trilogy as an example, the "heroes" of the new style of western were far more jaded and conflicted than the simple men of the past. Eastwood's man with no name character, or "Blondie" as he's sometimes referred to is the ultimate example of the movement. Blondie is not here to rescue a helpless village from thieves or to attempt to save the yearly crop for the townspeople. Blondie is out for money, he's a bounty hunter, a gunman for hire, and a man very obviously struggling with some sort of personal demons and angst not present in the more classical westerns.
In some circles ALL Spaghetti's would be considered "B-Films," according to others only the Sergio Leone films, (Fistful of Dollars, The Good the bad and the Ugly) were worthy of being referred to as anything other than cheap imitations. To others still, and I count myself in this group, the Spaghetti was the true precursor to the postmodern gangster film.

In the same way that the classical films of John Ford influenced the classical gangster films of The Godfather series, or even to a lesser degree, The Untouchables. The films of Leone and Sergio Corbucci ushered in and influenced everything we take for granted in gangster film today, most importantly Hong Kong action films which would probably be considered the biggest influence to the action and gangster films of today....

Ok, I'm rambling so going to stop now. I'll write more tomorrow.