Loved Gun

Kensaku Watanabe's Loved Gun [Rabudo Gan] is one of those films I adored when I first watched it, but it didn't quite stick. I remember it being pretty special, but I couldn't for the life of me recall what specifically made the film stand out. Rewatches like that are always a bit tricky, as they can ruin a good memory and leave you with nothing in return, then again, who wants to live with false memories? And so I revisited Watanebe's film, somewhat expecting the worst. As it turns out I had no reason to be worrying, as I liked Loved Gun even better the second time around.

Watanabe isn't all that known in the West, which is a tad surprising looking at his output. His films (at least, the two I've seen so far) are quite tricky and they're not your everyday cinema, then again that's exactly the type of film that Japan was keen on exporting around that time. Maybe people were too scared about his connection to Seijun Suzuki, a respected filmmaker for sure, but also a commercial kamikaze. There are clear parallels to be found in their work, though it would be unfair to call Watanabe a simple copycat. His signature is just too unique for that.

Loved Gun is a film that could've been part of Suzuki's Pistol Opera universe. The film deals with Yakuza hitmen but does so in an overly stylized and comic-like way. The difference is that Watanabe adds a layer of melancholy. Suzuki's films are a bit weirder and more destabilizing, whereas Watanabe tries to balance the funky premise and the quirky characters with a more solemn and dramatic undercurrent. It's one of those films that tries to blend genre and arthouse sensibilities, and as a result, targets a very tiny and specific niche.

Hayamada is a hitman on a mission. He wants to find and eliminate the people who murdered his parents, but he isn't pleased when he finds out that his foster dad is the one who executed the hit. Things become even more complicated when he meets a young girl who hires him for a side mission. While Hayamada and his new employer try to get the job done, Hayamada's foster dad and his little helper draw ever closer for an inevitable showdown. The two teams aren't pressed for time though, and they won't face each other until the timing is exactly right.

The cinematography is nifty, but it's also an acquired taste. The colors are incredibly muted and there are quite a few darker scenes here. It's not without function though, as the muted color palette helps to balance out the more comical characters and the cartoonish setup. Loved Gun isn't one of those quirky crime comedies, and the visuals are a stark reminder. Watanabe does compensate with neat camera work and sharp editing, so the film never looks too dreary or solemn. It's still a very stylized and polished affair, it's just not as colorful and outspoken compared to many of its peers.

The score is a bit limited, but moody nonetheless. It's certainly not omnipresent, Watanabe picks specific moments and scenes to underline, which gives the music a little extra power. The music itself then is pretty low-key. It's somewhat reminiscent of the trip-hop/shoe-gaze/rock sound that was quite popular back then. It's all mood and atmosphere, never truly dominating or leading, but not without merit either. It reminded me a little of Toshiaki Toyoda's work, though not quite as pointed and refined. But all in all, Watanabe did very well stylistically.

The cast is another highlight. Getting Masatoshi Nagase to play a brooding hitman is perfect, but being able to pair him up with Aoi Miyazaki is like winning the lottery. The two have a powerful but subdued chemistry together. At the start of the film, I did struggle a bit with Ittoku Kishibe, but only because my mind kept seeing him as the bird guy in Survive Style 5+. It's such an iconic role, luckily his character here isn't 100% serious either, yet it's still weird seeing him as a respected hitman. That said, his performance is golden, and with Hirofumi Arai next to him, they make for an excellent counter couple. It's a terrific cast indeed.

Don't be mistaken, the premise may make it sound like a fun and quirky crime flick, and there are definite traces of that scattered throughout. But the overarching mood of the film is a lot more introverted, and the pacing matches that vibe. This is a rather slow and atmosphere-driven film, that purposely drags itself to an inevitable finale. There's a lot of beauty on the way there, and some goofiness too, but this isn't a fun and comfy watch to be enjoyed after a hard day's work. It's best to take your time with Loved Gun, or you're going to end up disappointed.

This particular mix of genre and arthouse may have been the film's commercial downfall, as there's a real chance of alienating both niches, but ultimately, it's what makes this film stand out. Loved Gun is a moody crime flick, built on an excellent cast and enriched with a layer of comedic touches, aptly hidden behind a veil of introspection and subdued stylistic choices. It's a forgotten gem that held its own very well for the past two decades and it's a stark reminder that I should make more of an effort to watch Kensaku Watanabe's remaining films. This was a very fruitful rewatch.