Wie eine Kugel im Lauf (1996)

Wie eine Kugel im Lauf: Directed by SABU. With Tomorô Taguchi, Diamond Yukai, Shin’ichi Tsutsumi, Akaji Maro. A salaryman, a drug addict and a yakuza go on a breathless three man chase through the streets of Tokyo, each for a different reason and fighting demons.

“This director makes films which never cease to amuse, entertain, or make me think long after first viewing. Dangan Runner (Non-Stop) is where it all started.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is simple. Sabuu0026#39;s characters are interesting in the fact that they are far from perfect and deal with everyday problems which lead to events of grand proportion. Tomorowo Taguchi (Yasuda) is great as our main character (I wouldnu0026#39;t go so far as to call him a hero which is great in this case) who totally puts a spin on the term packing heat (I never caught this till watching this a 2nd time; an ode to Sabuu0026#39;s subtle humor). Rather than relying on long dialogue, the story is a blast to watch as they reveal the charactersu0026#39; situations and how they get caught up in this dilemma. Diamond Yukai is good as the rocking, hazed out Aizawa. The music plays a great role in Dangan Runner as it establishes moods at a breakneck pace. Shinu0026#39;ichi Tsutsumi makes his Sabu debut and itu0026#39;s apparent why the director chose to work with him in later films. Tsutsumi has this screen presence where he successfully conveys what his character is going through without saying much dialogue. Plus, the image of him sprinting with a blade in hand carries quite an impact. Right from the get go, you can tell Takeda means business even if heu0026#39;s going through yakuza troubles of his own. Ren Osugi is great in his brief, yet vital role as he gives Takeda some helpful insight. Look for Sabu himself (itu0026#39;s very tough not to miss him!). Oh, the actress who plays Midori is a dead ringer for Maggie Cheung, isnu0026#39;t she??u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cinematography in Dangan Runner is fantastic. There are really great shots of modern city life ranging from busy streets, narrow alleyways, construction zones, and pachinko parlors. One awesome shot is on the bridge just right after sunset resulting literally in a purple hazed sky. I noticed one theme in the film is looking into oneu0026#39;s self and reaching that point of self realization, coming to realize where you are now, how you got there, and deciding what to do next. The characters here are furiously looking for the answer for each of them and itu0026#39;s through the journey that they find it. Being an avid runner, I can relate with the benefits of running, how it helps with forgetting everyday problems, reflecting on whatu0026#39;s on your mind, and at the end, I come out with a great clear headed feeling. Like I mentioned, Sabu makes very thought provoking films.”