Crying Freeman (1995)

Director:

Christophe Gans

Writers:

Kazuo Koike (comic) and
Ryoichi Ikegami (comic) ...

Release Date:

13 January 1996 (South Korea)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Once in a lifetime comes the perfect killer.

Plot:

A lethal assassin for a secret Chinese organisation, who sheds tears of regret each time he kills, is...

Plot Keywords:

Manga | USA | Based On Comic | Male Nudity | Female Nudity

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Mark Dacascos	...	Yo Hinomura / Freeman
Julie Condra	...	Emu O'Hara
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Det. Forge
Byron Mann	...	Koh
Masaya Katô	...	Ryuji Hanada
Yôko Shimada	...	Lady Hanada
Mako	...	Shido Shimazaki
Tchéky Karyo	...	Det. Netah
Kevan Ohtsji	...	Takeshi Shimazaki
Debbie Podowski	...	Customs Agent
Murray Lowry	...	Head Customs Agent
Mikal Tang	...	Koh's Driver
Jerry Wasserman	...	Chief Randall
Tong Lung	...	Shimazaki's Bodyguard
Kiyoto Matsumoto	...	Shimazaki's Bodyguard

Also Known As:

Crying Freeman (France)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Canada | France | Japan | USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:R-18 | Belgium:KNT | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) (cut) | France:-12 | Germany:18 (video premiere) | Italy:T | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video premiere) | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

August Entertainment

Trivia:

Jason Scott Lee was originally wanted for the role but he had a three-picture obligation for Universal Pictures and could not commit to the project. Mark Dacascos lobbied for the part and eventually went on to became Christophe Gan's actor of choice for future and upcoming films.

Quotes:

Shido Shimazaki: "The Sons of the Dragon" exist! And so does the Freeman!

Movie Connections:

Version of Kuraingu furîman (1988)

Extremely stylish

I think this movie captures the essence of the original comic book series.

Although Mark Dacascos and Julie Condra are competent in their lead roles, I think the other couple, Masaya Kato and Yoko Shimada playing Ryuji Hanada and Lady Hanada respectively, deserves some mention. The scene where they are locked in an embrace and a kiss while she pulls out the dagger stuck to his back sticks in mind.

Beautifully photographed and surprisingly not so much gore amid the violence is shown on screen. However, this is not a movie everyone will enjoy -- those with no knowledge of the series and clueless as to the atmospheric approach taken by the original creators of the series would find this movie empty.