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      Taboo

      Released Sep 30, 2000 1h 41m Drama List
      71% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 71% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score In 1865 Japan a military commander and captain (Takeshi Kitano) suspect that an androgynous samurai (Ryuhei Matsuda) has homosexual tendencies. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (192) audience reviews
      S R 1001 movies to see before you die. It was well made, just something I wasn't very interested in. It was on Daily Motion. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/13/23 Full Review William L So. Many. Wipe transitions. Feels like I'm watching a Star Wars prequel. Despite introducing a completely original premise that explores content that may have been considered subversive upon release - homosexuality in notoriously conservative Japanese society, particularly within the masculine warrior class in the pre-Meiji era (before Western influence was widespread, when Japanese society maintained some form of 'domestic purity' in the eyes of some who put Japanese culture on an infallible pedestal - Gohatto is surprisingly tame, rather plodding, and lacking in nuance. Essentially everyone in this film experiences some form of homosexual attraction to Matsuda's androgynous warrior Kanō Sōzaburō given the opportunity, resulting in a combination of subdued comedic and subtly competitive moments intended to subvert the image of unblemished masculinity that the culture ostensibly valued. The residual plot - a rivalry between the domestic police force and warrior clans, is pretty poorly integrated and not all that compelling. But the most difficult part to come to terms with is the editing - some well-conceived cinematography is often put to waste by clumsy title cards, poor timing, and extraordinarily jarring wipe cuts. Certainly an innovative idea on paper and with good elements in the mix, but poor execution really ties the film down as a whole. (2.5/5) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/21 Full Review Audience Member The most realistic-yet-satisfying katana fights in any samurai movie I've seen. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member It's a weird movie and almost funny in a way- but also compelling. The presence of Kano that delivered perfectly by Ryuhei Matsuda must be enough to make this film interesting. Damn, though maybe in the end we realized that this film is only about him wants some flings, like all those horny men I definitely root for him too~! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member It has a sense of underlying tension, drama and betrayal, very well-made. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Full of striking beautiful images, haunting music, and sexual undertones, Taboo is about dark ambition. The homosexuality is not what is taboo here, its one man's willingness to pit another's jealousy when they are in a position of force/violence in the militia. There is a lot of subtext just lying right underneath the surface, for a subtle drama with some good swordplay. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Photos

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      Taboo

      Kano (Ryuhei Matsuda) shows his commander the head of a man he has just decapitated. Tashiro (Tadanobu Asano) expresses his desire for Kano (Ryuhei Matsuda). Kano (Ryuhei Matsuda) fending off an advance by Tashiro (Tadanobu Asano). Hijikata (Takeshi Kitano) cuts down a cherry tree. Kano (Ryuhei Matsuda) lies injured after a fight. Kano (Ryuhei Matsuda) is propositioned by Yuzawa (Tomorowo Taguchi). Director Nagisa Oshima with Ryuhei Matsuda and Takeshi Kitano on the set. Kano (Ryuhei Matsuda). View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (21) Critics Reviews
      Richard Brody New Yorker A spare and cruel drama about sex and violence within the ranks of the samurai. May 8, 2017 Full Review Neil Smith BBC.com Rated: 2/5 Mar 25, 2003 Full Review Marrit Ingman Austin Chronicle Rated: 3/5 Mar 10, 2003 Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com A film that provocatively entwines the violent world of samurai with forbidden eroticism ends up so bloodless (in a figurative sense). Rated: 2/4 Nov 9, 2009 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In 1865 Japan a military commander and captain (Takeshi Kitano) suspect that an androgynous samurai (Ryuhei Matsuda) has homosexual tendencies.
      Director
      Nagisa Ôshima
      Producer
      Shigehiro Nakagawa, Eiko Oshima, Kazuo Shimizu
      Screenwriter
      Nagisa Ôshima, Ryotaro Shiba
      Distributor
      New Yorker Films
      Production Co
      Le Studio Canal +, Eisai Gekijo, Oshima Productions, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Bac Films, Recorded Pictures Company, BS Asahi, Imagica Corp., Shochiku Films
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      Japanese
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 30, 2000, Original
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $133.9K
      Runtime
      1h 41m
      Sound Mix
      Dolby SR, Dolby A, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)