Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) is a big time television & movie star, so
much so that he doesn't only has his own limo, driver & entourage, but
naturally he also has his own stalker, a young woman who thanks him for
his work. But somehow, Takeshi's world seems empty ...
One day, Takeshi meets a clown in the studio he works in, later, the
clown, without make-up, introduces himself as Kitano (& is also played
by Takeshi Kitano) & requests his autograph.
Kitano is a small time supermarket clerk, who tries to make it as an
actor. but due to his clumsiness, he is hopeless at auditions ... if he is
asked to even perform at all. & to top it all of, his
next-door-neighbour & the neighbour's girlfriend clonstantly make fun
of him.
But then one day, a wounded Yakuza hides in the toilet of his
supermarket, & when Kitano looks for him, the Yakuza collapses. &
with him, Kitano finds a bag full of weapons. So Kitano hides the Yakuza's
body in the trashbin, & when he realizes he is not quite dead yet, he
first hits him over the head with a brick, & finally gets one of his
guns to shoot him, just to be on the safe side.
Armed & dangerous, Kitano sets out to avenge himself on all who
have wronged him, including a malign noodle cook (resembling somewhat the
soup Nazi from tv's Seinfeld), & of course his
next-door-neighbour. the neighbour's girlfriend however seems to be not in
the least shocked fwhen he is killed, instead suddenly discovers a soft
spot for Kitano. Together the two soon rob a bank.
Making their getaway, they eventually end up at ... an audition of all
things, & ultimately they meet Takeshi himself.
But ... was it all just one of Takeshi's films ? Or big celebrity
Takeshi dreaming of a simpler life as a super market clerk ? Or super
market clerk Kitano's dream of the limelight ? Or all at once ?
We'll never know.
With this film, director Takeshi Kitano boldly neglects traditions of
storytelling, & what might sound from the synopsis as a bizarre
version of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Warum läuft Herr R. Amok
becomes a surreal comedy in Kitano's hands that ever so often takes its
time to parody his earlier masterpieces.
The outcome is not one of Takeshi Kitano's best films ...
but it's a nonsensical fun ride nevertheless.
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