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It’s not a bad life.
WATCHED IN CINEMAS 2026/11/06, 19:30.
Ryuji 俺二 is an unexpected yet compelling yakuza film. Even having seen the trailer, I did not anticipate the overall tone of the film, which differs to other yakuza-centred films and dramas I have seen. It is potentially worthy of note that I did not watch the original film, so do not have a frame of reference for comparison, so I will review this like any other standalone film.
As the title might suggest, the core of this film is the title character, Ryuji. It is about how he navigates life, how he is swayed by those around him, and the consequences of decisions he makes. This isn’t a film about some grand scheme connived out of dire circumstances, nor is it mostly about action. This film has moments of intense action, but chooses to emphasise those moments in between, in an almost slice-of-life kind of way.
I found myself falling into the trap of expectation about what might happen towards the end of the film, yet all of those expectations were shattered and I think in a deeply fitting way that makes this film more realistic than many would anticipate. There is no clean resolution, but in many ways this is true of life, constantly evolving, never truly static.
Performance wise, the main cast truly did a great job, and the music was always bang-on for bringing the right feel to the scenes. Hagiwara Riku truly stood out in his performance, with a solid range where he commits to roles. Junon also has improved since I last saw him in Wind Breaker, although didn’t knock it out of the park for me. Yagira Yuya did very well too, albeit I felt at times he could have given a little more nuance in some scenes, although that’s very much a nitpick.
I can’t really say the film blew me away, but I can’t say it ever lost my interest. If you want a realistic film about a man in the yakuza as he searches for his own right answer in life, then this is absolutely the film for you. If, however, you want some grand scheme, blockbuster action, or a nice, tidy resolution, then this may not be the film for you. Personally I found this film gave me much food for thought and that is something I enjoyed about it.
Ryuji 俺二 is an unexpected yet compelling yakuza film. Even having seen the trailer, I did not anticipate the overall tone of the film, which differs to other yakuza-centred films and dramas I have seen. It is potentially worthy of note that I did not watch the original film, so do not have a frame of reference for comparison, so I will review this like any other standalone film.
As the title might suggest, the core of this film is the title character, Ryuji. It is about how he navigates life, how he is swayed by those around him, and the consequences of decisions he makes. This isn’t a film about some grand scheme connived out of dire circumstances, nor is it mostly about action. This film has moments of intense action, but chooses to emphasise those moments in between, in an almost slice-of-life kind of way.
I found myself falling into the trap of expectation about what might happen towards the end of the film, yet all of those expectations were shattered and I think in a deeply fitting way that makes this film more realistic than many would anticipate. There is no clean resolution, but in many ways this is true of life, constantly evolving, never truly static.
Performance wise, the main cast truly did a great job, and the music was always bang-on for bringing the right feel to the scenes. Hagiwara Riku truly stood out in his performance, with a solid range where he commits to roles. Junon also has improved since I last saw him in Wind Breaker, although didn’t knock it out of the park for me. Yagira Yuya did very well too, albeit I felt at times he could have given a little more nuance in some scenes, although that’s very much a nitpick.
I can’t really say the film blew me away, but I can’t say it ever lost my interest. If you want a realistic film about a man in the yakuza as he searches for his own right answer in life, then this is absolutely the film for you. If, however, you want some grand scheme, blockbuster action, or a nice, tidy resolution, then this may not be the film for you. Personally I found this film gave me much food for thought and that is something I enjoyed about it.
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