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Sympathy for the Underdog

Play trailer Poster for Sympathy for the Underdog 1971 1h 33m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A gangster (Kôji Tsuruta) makes powerful enemies after taking over the liquor trade.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Derek Smith Slant Magazine Standing at the crossroads of the yakuza genre as it began to incorporate ripped-from-the-headlines stories, Sympathy for the Underdog has lost none of its raw, kinetic power. Jun 21, 2024 Full Review Anton Bitel Little White Lies this may be a yakuza film, but it plays more like noir, not least thanks to Takeo Yamashita’s hard jazz score, the flashbacks told in stylised photomontages, and the brooding fatalism that pervades everything Jun 20, 2024 Full Review Emilie Black Cinema Crazed These leads are perfect in their parts, showing just the right amount of emotion and going into their characters knowing they are complex being, making them more human by letting them be themselves through their performances. Rated: 4/5 Jun 26, 2024 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews I'd rather be eating sushi than watching such an undercooked flick. Rated: C Feb 8, 2007 Full Review Matt Bailey Not Coming to a Theater Near You Sympathy for the Underdog is something of a transitional, minor work, but it is every bit as accomplished in style and technique as Fukasaku's later films. Feb 3, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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acsdoug D I enjoy the gangster genre, but this one is pretty weak. I just didn't buy the characters - they seemed phony tough and contrived. Or maybe the film is just dated. Either way it's not worthy of your time. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/26/24 Full Review Audience Member Definitely one of the greatest older gangster movies I've ever seen, some pretty great camera slides and action sequences for a movie that's as Slow burn is this one. Just an all-around great plot! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Puro filme de yakuza não preciso de muito mais que um protótipo de história de ambição e vingança para demonstrar que, em 1969, Kinji Fukasaku estaria já muito à frente na fórmula do filme de acção violento que viria inspirar Tarantino e outros que tais. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting depiction of post-WWII underworld. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member just ok slow cooking actioner Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Gunji returns from prison to find his old mob broken up.. he picks up the pieces of his old gang and plans to take over Okinawa. .. will he succeed? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sympathy for the Underdog

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Sympathy for the Underdog

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Movie Info

Synopsis A gangster (Kôji Tsuruta) makes powerful enemies after taking over the liquor trade.
Director
Kinji Fukasaku
Screenwriter
Kinji Fukasaku, Fumio Kônami, Hirô Matsuda
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 33m