Akunin

God, I wanted to rave about this film. 'Villain', billed as a gritty thriller from Japan, tells us in its plot synopsis that this is about the murder of a young woman and the search for the killer. I disagree completely. Even the genre in which its advertisers have pigeon holed it is incorrect. This is not a thriller – please don't enter the cinema expecting nerve jangling suspense. What we have here is the potential for a great film – and for the most part, what we are shown is excellent.

So I'll start with the positives, for when 'Villain' is good, it's incredible! 'Villain' does not follow the search for the killer at all – it largely follows the killer himself. There are a lot of characters in this movie, and a myriad of sub plots (which, incidentally, isn't beneficial – but more of that later). It is, as I saw it, a very slow, patient, observant film, which instead of reaching for cheap thrills and jump moments, is actually brave enough to step back and do something which very few films of this kind ever take the time to do: it peers into the misery and loneliness of its central characters, and their disillusionment concerning the immorality of the people around them. There is much cruelty in this film, and sharp prickles of nervousness and fear – but it is not a nasty story.

Undoubtedly the most successful plot line running through the film is, luckily, the one given the most attention: this is the relationship that is formed between Yuichi, our young murderer, and Mitsuyo, a lonely woman who works long hours selling suits and lodges with her sister and her sister's boyfriend. Their first meeting is embarrassing and ends horrifically – Yuichi, still consumed by guilt and anger, makes assumptions about Mitsuyo which he will later regret. Mitsuyo is desperate and understanding, and as the film goes on, we begin to understand just how much these two need each other.

Intercut with this is the storyline following the family of the murdered girl. This also is incredibly successful in the way in which it shows the grief of her parents – how they must come to terms with who their daughter really was, how they fight and turn on each other, and finally come to sad realisations, not only about themselves and their child, but about the people around her and them, and the corrosive cynicism and immorality of a new generation. Fair enough, on paper, that might sound a little pretentious, but unlike the majority of trashy whodunits that Hollywood churn out on an almost weekly basis, this is a film with much to say. It is deeply sad, and in many scenes, you can almost feel the director's sorrow and anger.

Less successful are plots involving Yuichi's grandmother and how she is cruelly scammed by her 'doctor' (this seems like a touch too far on the 'oh look at what a terrible society we live in' front), and the ending, although well meaning, is miscalculated. The way in which the director chooses to bring the relationship between Yuichi and Mitsuyo to a close seems like a strange choice – it might have worked, but nothing we have seen has led us to expect it, and as it comes so out of the blue, it is hard to believe in. It is, quite frankly, a bit of a cheat – a wrong footing that casts a somewhat distorted light on all the searing emotional honesty we have seen previous to that.

The film, however good some of the individual parts that make it up may be, is ultimately flawed. Clocking in at 2 hours and 20 minutes, it's about half an hour too long, and although the cinematography generally is exceptional (there's an inspired shot in which a flashback begins as the camera zooms into the pupil of a fish eye that will take the breath away from any film buff), the editing can sometimes be a little choppy. If only they had stuck with the love story at the movie's centre and the storyline involving the family of the dead girl, keeping the scenes with her father and the immoral young man that his daughter was smitten with, this would undoubtedly be one of the best films of the year. As it stands, 'Villain' is a good film – and despite its flaws, it's definitely worth the watch. I, for one, liked it very much.

Wonderful movie that had me captivated from the beginning, please find this movie! Very good acting for an Asian movie (lets be honest!), great concept, climatic ending and thought provoking. A great range of characters are employed and the handling of their relationships is sublime. Hopefully the messages of the movie won't be lost to those that check this out, if I could hint at some of what it meant to me I'd say life/people aren't as cut and dry or black and white as many would like to think they are. In many ways there are 'villainous' aspects to all of us and the lines between rage/hate/murder/condescension can blur together. Inhumanity, it seems we have to accept, is rather an intrinsic though unwanted/suppressed potentiality of our nature.

This movie perfectly illustrated how the modern world cheapens everything meaningful by making it transactional and soulless. Young women leave their rural communities, their parents and their homes to go live in the city and become consumers and interchangeable cogs in the machine that doesn't care about them. Courtship, relationships and love have been reduced to meeting people on dating sites, like ordering something from Amazon, with infinite replacements instantly available, should there be a small flaw or the temptation of an upgrade. And yet, deep down everyone is yearning for something realer. For the way it used to be. That's why despite the higher living standards of today, people are the most lonely and unhappy.

A very nice film.

There is only a simple message. Not sure about you but I kind of saw earlier on how the title of villain is indistinguishably played on the various characters and their actions in the storyline. Howerver, that being said, it is a well executed movie.

Japanese crime dramas, from books, TV is unlike the Western "Who doneit", but more of the question of How. Greate example is the TV series Ten to Sen (Dots to Line) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067131/ Lately, they go even beyond that from the 'How' to the 'Why'.

And so is Villain. Not over the top, fairly realistic especially on the flash back on the key event. Not shocking, one can relate to most who are involved, even college grad.

A social commentary on various things that can happen to any developed society. This case is kind of sad and to some degree fatalistic real - except the ending.

Acting is fairly good. Maybe a little too much background to the main characters but then again they are the main characters. The alternating amongst the many side of the issue is natural, completed and balanced.

The very first time I had seen this movie was a couple of years ago. Still, it made a strong impression on me as if I were watching it a few days ago.

This love story is doomed from the beginning. A young man who only wants to be loved instead of being a laughing stock and a young woman brave enough to love and accept the true colors of her final choice.

Is one rewarded or punished if after becoming a sinner we meet a saint? If so, is it because we are given the second chance or are we shown what was the right thing to do? To risk everything you have and you have known for and let your destiny to take over? Staying true to yourself is the bravest thing you can do.

This stunning movie is all about mixed emotions. What is your final though - it's up to you.

You won't regret.