Directed by Takeshi Kitano
Starring Beat Takeshi, Ren Osugi, Tetsu Watanabe, Susumu Terajima

A classic!!!  Gangsters take a holiday at the beach, what could be more fun?!  Actually, it's more of a self-imposed exile when the group of gangsters led by Murakawa (Takeshi) are set up by their boss.  Sent to Okinawa to supposedly help a local yakuza deal with a rival clan, the group soon comes under attack themselves.  They flee the city and hide away at an Okinawan beach where idleness breeds mischief.  They shoot empty beer cans off eachother's heads, wrestle, bury a few bodies and generally have a great time until a hit man arrives to finish them off.  Once found, Murakawa seeks out his old nemesis, Takahashi, who he knows is behind the set up.  Sonatine is a brilliant film.  The interaction between the gangsters in the group is genuine and exciting; all of the actors performed wonderfully.  Also, the action sequences (if you can call them that) are very refreshing...only Takeshi Kitano could stage a gunfight in an elevator!  Another bright spot is Aya Kikumai as Miyuki, a local woman who Murakawa rescues from a rapist (great scene!).  She then hangs around the gangsters and falls for Murakawa.  The only disappointing part, for me, is the end.  I don't want to tell you what happens but I just didn't understand why Kitano chose to end it like he did.  This is a minor complaint however and I can't recommend this film highly enough...see it immediately.

Tim