This movie is a slow starter, which is not really always a bad thing. But unfortunately it does not really go anywhere seriously. A lot of plot points are started but not really explored or dealt with in any meaningful way.
To add that there is very little character development in the 2 of the 3 main characters. No real purpose of the 2 of the characters. Shintarô Katsu carries the movie, but even his talent cannot replace a story.
Ken Takakura has a role that even his charisma cannot make interesting. Being completely uninterested in everything is rarely interesting.
The ending made me feel like I had just wasted 1½ hour of my life. I could see why it could end this way but why try to tell a story and end it that way. So even though a lot of screen time for 3 actors I cherish I cannot recommend it to other people than those that like to make up their own story.
