Available from September 15th on myCANAL, Tokyo Vice brings you 8 50-minute episodes into the daily life of Jake, a young American journalist on staff at one of Japan’s most prestigious daily newspapers.
The first non-Japanese to be employed by the newspaper, he discovered a hierarchical and particularly codified working world. Despite his mastery of the language, Jake is ostracized because he is a “gaijin,” an outsider.
At first assigned to various facts and petty theft, he quickly became interested in the practices of Yakuza clans, to the point where he became close to one of the most powerful families in the city, between racketeering, extortion and large-scale intimidation.
And if this story seems incredible, it is very true! Jake Adelstein publishes his book in 2009 Tokyo ViceA long-term investigation of almost 10 years, which has the effect of stone in the pool.
Getting closer to the Yakuza gang than ever before, he accurately describes how the clan operates and outlines its practices. Still an investigative journalist, he serves as executive producer of the series to ensure its authenticity.
If the world of the mafia is regularly staged in movies and TV series, it is rare for works that manage to capture such a level of realism. Whether it’s rituals or the elaborate hierarchy of yakuza clans, Tokyo Vice wants to be as close as possible to the experiences of its protagonists.
Aside from the pilot, directed by none other than Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral), it’s Destine Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings) who gives the series its rhythm and its constant tension, with millimetric writing. And a real achievement.
Jake, a bit hot-headed, doesn’t hesitate to put himself in danger to uncover scoops and defies the calculated coldness of the Yakuza gangsters. Stunning, 8 episodes are sublimated by the musical atmosphere signed by Danny Bens and Sonder Jurijans, composers for the Ozark series or even Fear the Walking Dead.
Beyond the mafia world depicted in the series, it is a true immersion in the Japanese capital and its many cultures that are offered to the audience. The series chose to shoot on location, with most of the dialogue in Japanese, a more real-than-life immersion into the daily life of 90s Tokyo.
Nightclubs, restaurants, luxurious lounges of the underworld or the streets of Tokyo, illuminated by countless neon lights: each environment visited by the heroes is completely successful. A special mention in the credits of the series, a mix of genres that immediately puts you in the mood.
Ansel Elgort, known for Baby Driver and West Side Story, learned Japanese especially for the occasion and plays Jake Adelstein on screen. Perfectly in his element, he leads the series brilliantly in this unexpected role.
To answer, Ken Watanabe, the Japanese movie star that we can see in Inception or The Last Samurai, portrays Inspector Hiroto and Sho Kasamatsu, interprets the Yakuza apprentice with a terrifying look. Ella Rumpf (Gravy), Rachel Keller (Fargo) and Hideaki Ito (The Doorman) round out this 5-star cast perfectly.
Tokyo Vice, two new episodes every Thursday starting September 15, only on CANAL+ and myCANAL.
Source: allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
