film review | The Last Movie Guy

Yakuza Graveyard (1976): The Tragedy of a Modern Ronin

Long before gaining recognition in the West for his film Battle Royale (2000), Kinji Fukasaku had already left his mark on Japanese cinema. Yakuza Graveyard (1976) is one of his most important films, and his unique style helped revolutionize Japanese crime cinema. The way he portrayed violence and the gangster underworld established him as a major reference within the genre. Watching the films of Michael Mann, William Friedkin, or Quentin Tarantino after experiencing Fukasaku’s work gives them a different perspective. The influence is undeniable, and it is likely that the frenetic rhythm, bordering on chaos, had a much greater impact on the crime films that emerged from Hollywood during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

Crime 101 (2026): An Old School Caper

Posted on February 24 by Hugo Pagan Soto

It is easy for audiences to connect with films built around crime stories. That binary contrast between good and evil, embodied by police officers and criminals respectively, places the viewer in a comfort zone. The brain only has to choose between two options and let our ideas and assumptions do the rest. In the case of Crime 101 (2026), the film adheres closely to the established rules of the crime-thriller genre. We are presented with the classic cops-versus-robbers story.

A House of Dynamite (2025): Nuclear Tension in Modern Times

Posted on November 3 by Hugo Pagan Soto

Perhaps we are all already on the verge of paranoia, and it only takes the slightest push to set it off. A House of Dynamite (2025), directed by Kathryn Bigelow, works with the anxiety of nuclear annihilation to construct a story that feels lifted from the Cold War era, yet unfolds unmistakably in our present. Noah Oppenheim’s script confronts us with the reality that the possibility of nuclear conflict is stronger today than ever, even as the public’s attention is scattered by economic crises, climate change, and the noise of social media.

The Perfect Neighbor (2025): America’s Fractured Mirror

Posted on October 24 by Hugo Pagan Soto

In 2005, the state of Florida passed the “Stand Your Ground” law — legislation now in effect in several U.S. states — which allows a person to use force (even lethal force) in self-defense without any obligation to retreat first if they believe their life or physical integrity is in danger. Unlike other self-defense laws, this one does not require the threatened individual to attempt to flee or avoid confrontation before using force.

The Smashing Machine (2025): The Rise and Fall of an MMA Legend

Posted on October 8 by Hugo Pagan Soto

There is a striking contrast between the Mark Kerr we see crushing opponents inside the ring and the smiling, distracted Mark Kerr riding a carousel like a child. That powerful juxtaposition reveals the complexity of the inner battle Kerr fights. The Smashing Machine (2025), directed by Benny Safdie, explores a fragment of the life of one of the pioneers of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — his meteoric rise and brutal downfall. With an almost documentary tone, Safdie exposes the humanity of a figure who is both sweet and bitter, inspiring and tragic.