I revisited Black Rain for the third time recently and it went from being a very good movie to being inside my top ten. Some could see it as cheesy or corny but this film does everything right for me. It might be the best non sci fi Scott film for me.
Black Rain tells the story of two New York cops, Douglas and Garcia, investigating Sato a member of the Yakuza in Japan after their escort of him went south. The Less said about the story the better, because it does unravel in a pleasing fashion and leads to a satisfying conclusion. One of those movies that could only have been made in the 1980's and it adds to the overall atmosphere of the film.
Ridley Scott knows how to make a movie feel atmospheric and Black Rain is no exception, New York feels dirty to be in and when we get to Japan you feel like you are with Douglas and Garcia experiencing a foreign land and how they operate differently. The film feels like Blade Runner without the Sci-fi, Blade Runner being my favourite film its easy to understand why i like Black Rain so much.
Now the performances are okay nothing that is going to win awards but very serviceable for the story and are in no way bad. Douglas does portray this American cowboy asshole really well and Garcia is good as the lovable sidekick to Douglas. Its a very good mix and Ken Takakura has the best performance in the film as Masahiro a Tokyo police officer who is at first reluctant to help Douglas and Garcia but ends up forming a bond with them. When the film slows down its a real joy to see these characters interact. Friendship is key in this film, its really nice to see how all three characters grow over the film.
Cinematography is perfect everything is cinematic about this film, dramatic lighting, sweeping shots and glorious landscapes. It truly does feel like Blade Runner which is arguably the most beautifully shot movie ever made. The action in this film is also top notch its a good case for why Ridley Scott is a good filmmaker.
Hans Zimmer helms the score for Black Rain and it is one of the best scores for the time period, perfectly encapsulating a Japanese sound blended with other contemporary action scores, very bombastic and really creates depth to the film.
Overall Black Rain is one of the most underrated films of the 1980's and needs to be seen again by many people, it does stand the test of time and it is one of the best police action films ever made. I implore you to revisit this film, crank the sound up and enjoy Black Rain.
10/10
Written By
Ashley Harvey
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