©Courtesy of Japan Cuts 

In Takeshi Kitano’s gangster movies, a lot of fingers get chopped. For this samurai historical epic, he steps up to head-chopping. To be fair, Kitano’s yakuza probably lopped off a few heads of their own, but during Japan’s Sengoku Era, collecting severed heads was the preferred method of proving the death of enemy clan leaders. Some of these historical figures might ring a bell for American audiences, especially if they watch FX’s Shogun, because novelist James Clavell based many of his characters on the real-life samurai from the period (changing their names and fictionalizing them slightly, in a Law & Order kind of way). Inevitably, several will lose their heads in Kitano’s Kubi (the Japanese word for “neck” that might also refer to the satchel carrying a head), which had its New York premiere at the 2024 Japan Cuts.

Oda Nobunaga is considered the first great “unifier” of Japan. He demanded obedience and inspired fear, but his sadistic bullying sometimes pushed his retainers passed their breaking points. When Araki Mirashige rebels, Nobunaga swiftly crushes his clan, but the formerly loyal retainer escapes. As an incentive, Nobunaga strongly implies the member of his war council who captures the turncoat will be designated his successor, instead of his underwhelming son.

 

To Hideyoshi Toyotomi, that sounds like an opportunity worth killing for. Akechi Mitsuhide does not necessarily disagree, but he is more conflicted, due to his scandalous sexual relationship with Mirashige. (You will not find this plot wrinkle in Clavell’s novel.) Reluctantly, Mitsuhide shelters Mirashige, while laying false trails to misdirect his pursuers.

©Courtesy of Japan Cuts 

However, Toyotomi has a real blood hound hunting for the fugitive lord: Sorori Shinzaemon, a former ninja, who seeks acclaim as a humorous storyteller, sort of like Sengoku stand-up comic. Toyotomi appreciates Shinzaemon because he also enjoys a good joke, like when he promises to execute friend and foe alike for minor offenses, with perfect deadpan delivery. Ha ha, what a kidder, but is he really, though?

Screenwriter-director Kitano (using his own novel as a blueprint) has the perfect steely, sour-faced badness to play Toyotomi. He portrays plays the lord similarly to Otomo, the sly old school underboss protagonist in his Outrage duology. However, there is an element of class-resentment that distinguishes Toyotomi, who was born to the peasant class, but rose through the ranks of Nobunaga’s army, to reach the highest offices of his era.

Hidetoshi Nishijima helps ground the chaos as Mitsuhide, but all the ruthless and flamboyant villainy surrounding him often overshadows his dignified reserve. Indeed, Kenichi Endo definitely looks twitchy and rather slippery in comparison, as his pseudo-love (or lust) interest, Murashige. However, the unhinged ferocity of Ryo Kase as the cruel and perverse Nobunaga stands in a league of his own.

©Courtesy of Japan Cuts 

Indeed, Kitano plays with themes of sexuality throughout Kubi, but he does so in ways that enhance the drama rather than make social statements. Frankly, it is creepy and extremely uncomfortable to watch the violent and humiliating ways Nobunaga satisfies his lecherous urges. While other intimate relationships are more gently depicted, they ultimately add more sting to eventual betrayals.

Regardless, fans will always know they are watching a Takeshi Kitano film, for all the reasons they associate with the master. There are spectacular battle scenes and graphically bloody killings. However, the intrigue, nefarious schemes, and double-crosses drive the complex narrative rather than the action—despite the quality of their stunt work and choreography.

 

Of course, fans of the chanbara and jidaigeki genres should appreciate the devious cunning and the hack-and-slash combat Kitano serves up (but maybe take his version of history with a tiny grain of salt). In fact, this is exactly the kind of samurai drama that regular Japan Cuts patrons look forward to each year. In this case, Kitano adds unexpected subversive and transgressive elements. Regardless, his name continues to be an iron-clad guarantee the audience will never be bored. Highly recommended for the swordplay and Kitano attitude, Kubi provided some jolly good mayhem at this year’s Japan Cuts.

©Courtesy of Japan Cuts 

Grade: A-

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Here’s the trailer of the film.