IMDb > Brother (2000)
Brother
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Brother (2000) -- Open-ended Trailer from Sony Pictures Classics
Brother (2000) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   9,991 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Takeshi Kitano (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Brother on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 November 2000 (Italy) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The one guy you trust to get your back when a whole city's trying to put a bullet in it. more
Plot:
A Japanese Yakuza gangster is exiled to the United States. Takeshi settles in Los Angeles where his younger... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
User Comments:
Kitano invades LA - almost succeeds more (123 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Takeshi Kitano ... Aniki Yamamoto (as 'Beat' Takeshi)

Omar Epps ... Denny
Kurôdo Maki ... Ken (as Claude Maki)
Masaya Katô ... Shirase
Susumu Terajima ... Kato
Royale Watkins ... Jay

Lombardo Boyar ... Mo
Ren Ôsugi ... Harada

Ryo Ishibashi ... Ishihara
James Shigeta ... Sugimoto

Tatyana Ali ... Latifa
Makoto Ôtake ... Chief of Police
Kouen Okumura ... Hanaoka
Naomasa Musaka ... Hisamatsu
Rino Katase ... Night Club Madame
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for pervasive strong violence, language and brief nudity.
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Kitano reputedly had problems working with Masaya Katô. Kato had his own ideas, and Kitano would get so upset that he would yell at him. In the scene where Aniki tells Shirase to put out the cigars, it is really Kitano yelling at Kato. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The car that explodes is a Lexus. When the gang see the flaming wreck, it's a different car. more
Quotes:
Mo: What are you guys gonna do?
Ken: Cut his finger off.
Mo: What happens when you cut his finger off?
Kato: Ummm... he can't sing straight anymore.
[smiles]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) more
Soundtrack:
Casta Diva che inargenti more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Kitano invades LA - almost succeeds, 30 November 2003
8/10
Author: gray4 from Somerset, England

This is the 4th Kitano film I've seen recently. It has most of the characteristics of the other films - the sudden, shocking violence, the impassive silences, the same supporting actors, the obligatory seaside scene. But the shift to an American location weakens it, despite the excellent contributions of the US actors, especially Omar Epps.

But the core, unmissable qualities of a Kitano film remain. Takeshi Kitano must be the natural successor to Clint Eastwood as an anti-hero. Most of the stylised violence takes place off-screen, with a flash of humour, then the after-effects vividly on display. The sound-track from Joe Hisaishi matches the screen action perfectly, at times an aggressive supplement to the violence, at other times hauntingly peaceful.

The ending is the film's weakest part, as though Kitano pandered to imagined (or real) American requirements. The out-of-town setting and road movie elements fit uncomfortably with the rest of the film. But if this is the compromise needed to get Kitano to make more films out of Japan, it must be worthwhile.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Brother (2000)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
one of the most powerful and moving scenes krackajap
Kitano's worst film Ottilia
Masaya Kato/Shirase largeheartedboy
Aniki and Kato? (Spoilers) wozz13
Italian boss (spoilers) leteo
Why!!! dre8888
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