In this film, Brian Keith is an old friend of Robert Mitchum. He tells Mitchum that his daughter was kidnapped by Japanese mobsters and will be killed unless she can be rescued. As Mitchum had lived in Japan many years ago and is a tough character, he agrees to go to Japan to save the girl. However, rescuing the girl isn't really a problem--the problem only just begins once this rescue mission appears to be completed.

When I saw that Robert Mitchum was in a movie called "YAKUZA" I was prepared to hate it. After all, I am a huge fan of Japanese movies and I was expecting the movie to be pure Hollywood in style. However, instead of Mitchum coming to Japan and kicking behinds (like John Wayne in BRANNIGAN), the film was more thoughtful and highly reminiscent of a Zatoichi film (I am not kidding). If you are not familiar with Zatoichi, he's a character is about two dozen films since the early 1960s. Despite being blind, he's a master swordsman and spends his films fighting evil Yakuza (kind of like the Japanese mob). Sure, there's no way a blind guy can be any good with a sword, but the films are thrilling and very entertaining. Here, like Zatoichi, Mitchum is in Japan fighting evil Yakuza, though it's set in modern times. And, like the Zatoichi films, there is a sword fight towards the end that is amazing to watch but pretty much impossible--no one is THAT good with a sword!

If you can suspend disbelief a bit, the film is highly entertaining. It's a very nice introduction to the Yakuza and Japanese culture and traditions for a Western audience. Plus the plot and dialog are both excellent--making for a very entertaining film.

THE YAKUZA is the best film about Japanese gangsters ever made in America – because the filmmakers go above and beyond the call of duty to provide a literate, mature, and realistic depiction of those feared mafia gangs who lurk in the shadowy recesses of Asian life. This is old-fashioned film-making at its best, without a reliance on outlandish special effects or action to move the story along. Of particular interest is Paul Shrader's script, which is undoubtedly of superior quality. It's hard to see how a bad film could have been made out of it, but with veteran director Sydney Pollack calling the shots that was never going to happen.

Robert Mitchum is the big draw, providing a lovable, grizzled lead through whose eyes we witness the dark side of Japanese culture. He's given quite wonderful support by the man he's partnered with – Ken Takakura, the epitome of the Japanese 'stone face'. There's a supporting cast of strong character actors too, including James Shigeta, the guy who played the boss in DIE HARD. I recognised his voice immediately although not his appearance.

Don't go in expecting this to be an action film, because it's not. There are a couple of shoot-outs, yes, but for the most part this is a slow, mannered film exploring themes of honour, redemption, loyalty, and justice, all from the distinct Yakuza perspective. Saying that, there is an extended climax in which our two heroes attack the enemy base – Mitchum wielding a shotgun, Takakura a samurai sword – and proceed to wreak havoc on the bad guys in long, breathtaking, stylised scenes of violence that always keep realism to the fore. It's a great end to what is an assured and developed piece – not a film to get excited about, perhaps, but one to enjoy and feel nonetheless.

I saw this movie several times when I was twenty something then several times when thirty something and just watched again as fifty something.. boy oh boy, it is still a friggin awesome movie. It just doesn't date. The script is thoughtful, respectful to culture and very mature.

If you are looking for a ton of useless violence then move along, it is not about that. In fact, some of the fight scenes are pretty realistic from the point of view that the antagonists appear to be well aware of their mortality and show their hesitation in putting their lives on the line.

There is no riddling nor intricate plot - it is straightforward and easy to follow yet portrays a brilliant story of respect, honour and tradition.

Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura are simply brilliant. Sydney Pollack directs yet another masterpiece. If you have never seen this movie, it just has to be on the bucket list.