Rising Sun (1993)

Director:

Philip Kaufman

Writers (WGA):

Michael Crichton (novel)
Philip Kaufman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 July 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller | Action

Plot:

At the offices of a Japanese corporation, during a party, a woman, who's evidently a professional mistress...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Japanese | Detective | Business | Hara Kiri

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sean Connery	...	Capt. John Connor
Wesley Snipes	...	Lt. Webster Smith
Harvey Keitel	...	Lt. Tom Graham
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa	...	Eddie Sakamura
Kevin Anderson	...	Bob Richmond
Mako	...	Yoshida-san
Ray Wise	...	Senator John Morton
Stan Egi	...	Ishihara
Stan Shaw	...	Phillips
Tia Carrere	...	Jingo Asakuma
Steve Buscemi	...	Willy 'the Weasel' Wilhelm
Tatjana Patitz	...	Cheryl Lynn Austin
Peter Crombie	...	Greg
Sam Lloyd	...	Rick
Alexandra Powers	...	Julia

Runtime:

125 min | USA:129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Japanese Garden, Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The murderer's identity was changed from the book for reasons not explained by the director.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Web and Connor drive in the rain and only Web is shown, the passenger side windscreen wiper reaches the area that is wiped by the other blade. When both Web and Connor are shown, the wiper's travel is shorter and it does not reach the area wiped by the other blade.

Quotes:

John Connor: Is that your theory?
Tom Graham: My theory? My theory is that these guys are known world class perversion freaks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Assembling the League (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

TSUNAMI

A solid, enjoyable film whose pace covers it despite plot holes – the heavy cast also make it worth seeing

During a high level executive meeting between a Japanese corporation and an US weapons contractor a young woman is found murdered. Due to his connections Captain John Connor is sent to lead the investigation with Lt Web Smith. The investigation is immediately hindered by the Japanese culture, the shadowy business figures and political pressures, however before long Connor and Smith are presented with a cctv disk that shows the murder being carried out by a known suspect. When the suspect dies in a chase the investigation seems over but a closer investigation of the evidence shows that the case is far from closed.

Not being a real big fan of Michael Crichton, I wasn't sure how I'd like this film – I'm not a big traveler and don't buy my books in the airport when I do travel! It was apt then, that I wasn't overly taken by the plot here and felt that its pace was more responsible for it being an enjoyable thriller than any great skill in the writing. In its essence the glossy story takes in technology, big business, Japanese cool and political goings-on – all these and other things combining to mean that it moves well and is consistently busy. This is not to suggest that it all fits together because it doesn't; the plot has holes and lose strands within it that distract if you think too much about it – happily its pace and revelations did not give me too long to linger over these and I managed to enjoy it, the problems being forgotten in all the gloss.

On top of this gloss is piled a cast that is worth seeing no matter what they are doing together, and their presence and ability further cover for a plot that doesn't always serve its many characters as well as they deserve. Connery has fun in the sort of role he seems to greatly favour now – distinguished, wise men of age who can still dish it out if need be. He is easy to watch and only at times does he feel like he's forcing it (like when he suddenly shouts). Snipes does not look as confident but that may be because his 'look' has dated here and changed since 1993. However he is still good and has his moments despite being given a rather secondary role to Connery's. It the support cast that surprised me though – so many well known faces in supporting or minor roles. Keitel is very good, playing an interesting character that goes nowhere but is still interesting and well delivered; Tagawa is gifted a fuller role than he often gets and does well with it. Wise is OK but he forces it and didn't convince me as much as I would have liked – still did the job asked of him though. People like Mako, Carrere, von Bargen and Buscemi all add depth and make the film feel fuller than it is even with some small (and perhaps unnecessary?) characters.

Overall this is a slick and enjoyable film even if it is as much style and pace as it is substance. The plot doesn't totally fit together but its mix of techno-conspiracy, political plotting, sex and intrigue all keep it moving along enjoyably enough and the impressive and rather charismatic cast only help to make it feel all the slicker. Worth a watch even if some may find it a little inconsequential in regards some bits of plotting.