‘Play It Cool’ Blu-ray Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: Mari Atsumi, Akemi Negishi, Yusuke Kawazu, Kô Nishimura, Ryoichi Tamagawa, Sanae Nakahara | Written by Yoshihiro Ishimatsu, Yasuzô Masumura | Directed by Yasuzō Masumura
Film fans have been treated to many yakuza films in the last few years. We have witnessed such physical media releases as Yakuza Wives, Big Time Gambling Boss, Jakoman and Tetsu and A Certain Killer / A Killer’s Key. Well, it is time for another yakuza film to take the physical media centre stage… 1970s Play It Cool.
Yasuzō Masumura, the director behind such Japanese classics as Blind Beast and Irezumi, both of which have already received Blu-ray releases. Now his film Play It Cool, also known as Electric Jellyfish, or as it was originally titled Denki Kurage, is receiving the deluxe treatment from Arrow Video.
Yumi (Mari Atsumi) is a pretty fashion student who shares a cramped home with her mother Tomi (Akemi Negishi, The Saga of Anatahan) and good-for-nothing stepfather Ryoichi. Tomi works at a local hostess bar and hopes for a better fate for Yumi. When Ryoichi violently forces himself upon her blossoming daughter, Tomi is not afraid to take action to protect her, an act which lands her in jail. Left to fend for herself, Yumi is taken in by her mother’s former place of employment, where she finds herself fighting off the unwanted attentions of the men who swarm around her. Then one day, a rescue by handsome former lawyer Nozawa (Yusuke Kawazu, Cruel Story of Youth) from a vicious gangster seems to offer an escape into an altogether glitzier world, albeit one that turns out fraught with similar dangers.
Yasuzō Masumura has a wonderful eye for making cinematic experiences, and Play it Cool is no different. Yasuzō takes a familiar storyline and brings it to life in his unique style. Play It Cool is not one of his greatest films, but it should be on film fans’ watch list, especially if you enjoy exploitation films.
Arrow Video has transferred Play It Cool to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an LPCM Audio Japanese language track. The film is also subtitled in English! In all honesty, though, I do wish there were an English-dubbed track.
Arrow Video, as always, does a nice job giving these Japanese films HD Blu-ray transfers. The picture looks sharp and clean for the most part, and the film pleasure to watch in high definition. But a great looking transfer is not all this Blu-ray release has going for it. Arrow Video added some cool bonus features to this release. Take a look at what is included:
Bonus Materials
- Brand new audio commentary with critic and Japanese cinema specialist Jasper Sharp and professor and Japanese literature specialist Anne McKnight
- Too Cool for School, brand new video essay on Play it Cool and the career of writer-director Yasuzō Masumura by Japanese film scholar Mark Roberts
- Original theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Earl Jackson
Jasper Sharp and Anne McKnight provide a commentary that is definitely worth a listen. The new essay Too Cool for School is a nice introduction to the film as well. And as always, additional artwork is a welcome bonus to these releases.
Play It Cool has never been offered on home video outside of Japan until now. So, if you love yakuza films and/or Eastern exploitation cinema, this Blu-ray release of Play it Cool is a must-buy.
***½ 3.5/5
Play It Cool is out now on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
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