Ley Lines
86
9
Story
8
Cast
8
Fun
10
Subs
8
Overall
Joseph Luster
September 2, 2004
Movie poster for Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Country Japan
Genre Drama
Year 1999
Running Time 105
Distributor Artsmagic Ltd
Director Takashi Miike
Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Synopsis

Trying to make a life in the underworld of Japan is hard enough, especially if you're a trio of "half-breeds" just looking for a way to survive. Ryuichi, Chang, and Shunrei find that while getting into the sub-tunnels of society doesn't take too much, getting out is a different story altogether.

Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
Review

Wrapping up the Black Society trilogy, Takashi Miike's "Ley Lines" touches on some similar themes as the former two entries in the series, such as characters of mixed race, which was also dealt with in "Shinjuku Triad Society". The world these characters live in is completely blackened, and murky (and not just because of the picture). However sparingly, Miike shows the speed bumps inherent to the half Chinese, half Japanese leads getting along in society. This ranges from the sun-spotted memories of a shunned childhood to Ryuichi (Kazuki Kitamura) being denied a passport in one of the opening scenes, and beyond to the downtrodden moody streets of Tokyo.

When Miike isn't running a handheld camera through the dodgy nightlife, exploring what happens on the outskirts where pushing Toluene and planning stowaway escapes to Brazil are the only methods of moving on, he's filming gorgeous sunset skies and open country-sides that almost disguise how little hope there is as the timer ticks on the movie. Some of the camerawork is really somber and nice, not unlike the still, calm focus in "Bird People of China" or the scenic latter portion of "City of Lost Souls".

Without being splattered with violence, "Ley Lines" manages to continue scraping the graveled ground of what is gritty and real. Through the perspective of immigrants in Tokyo, Miike explores a melting pot of many of his recurrent themes, albeit in a less blood-splattered and graphic sexual manner. The moments that are blue in the film aren't fetish fantasies but shattered dreams and wayward lifestyles prostituted to the highest bidders.

Kazuki Kitamura mixes tough attitude together with a fresh-fish naivety as Ryuichi. The rest of the cast, including but not limited to the always badass Sho Aikawa, add more flavor to what is already significantly spicy ramen. Most don't make it in the city, most are thrown to the side. The simple and straight-faced exterior of 90% of the city's denizens makes for no bullshit confrontations in the back alleys and boatyards.

Despite the freedom Miike seems to enjoy during the creative process, he's actually restricted by shackles of a different kind, at least as far as the perception of his work is concerned. An interesting dilemma, Miike is one of the few directors that is somewhat pigeon-holed by his fan base into being known as a certain kind of artist. Consistently billed as the "crazy one" (though not entirely unwarranted), there's an entire group of his fan base that seems to reject Miike's other more languid side, and at the same time there are those that write him off because they see him as a one-trick pony. It's not hard to see how this happened. All of Miike's most popular movies, especially those that first graced our side of the ocean, have been an explosion of his darker side. American fans came to know Miike as the man behind the notorious "Audition" finale, the coke-line-snorting-stomach-splitting "Dead or Alive" opening, and the lactating head-chopping moments in "Visitor Q".

There are those that watch select Miike films and are quick to assume he's only out to create controversy. You wouldn't be entirely in the wrong to assume this after watching one or two of his more breakneck films, but refusal to check out the rest of his library because of this generalization would be a gross oversight. Watch "Ley Lines"; a satisfying wrap-up to the thematically related trilogy, as well as one of Miike's most interesting movies.

Scene from the movie Ley Lines - Review | KFCC
86
Story
Cast
Entertainment
Subtitles
Overall
Joseph Luster September 2, 2004
Media Review
Media Review by
Joseph Luster
Distributor
Artsmagic
Media Format
DVD
Region
Region 1
Encoding
NTSC

If there's one complaint I have about Artsmagic's "Ley Lines" DVD, it's that it's a really murky transfer for a movie that's already substantially dark. The picture isn't too rough all the time, and actually looks quite decent in the few bright scenes, not to mention it's anamorphic. With that out of the way, there's also not too much to say about the sound. It gets the job done, but it's nothing special. On the bright side, the subtitles are nice, clear, and grammatically fine, and the disc comes with a few keen extras. There are biographies and filmographies, an informative but Nyquil-like feature length commentary by Tom Mes (Midnight Eye), two interviews with Miike, an interview with Editor Yasushi Shimamura, and a trailer for the film. This DVD is worth picking up to fill your jonesin' for region 1 Miike discs, despite the sometimes dubious picture quality. 

This DVD is also available in a 3 DVD box set limited Edition wich contain the three movies of the Black Society series. 

-Shinjuku Triad Society
-Rainy Dog
-Ley Lines

The DVD included in the box set are the same as the one releases individually.