6.5/10
The first of two Takashi Miike movies at Fantasia this year, this one being the festival opener. It's a big budget police thriller that also played in competition at Cannes. The premise is simple: the grandfather of a murdered 7-year old offers an incredible cash sum to the person who kills the killer (and will even pay millions just for a worthy attempt). The killer turns himself in to the local police station, and a team of 5 police officers have to escort him to Tokyo safely. It's something of a 2013 update of previous perilous journey movies - The Wages of Fear, 3:10 to Yuma and The Warriors all sprang to mind.
Of course, the premise may not be entirely logical (especially some of the decisions made by the police force) but it allows for plenty of hazards and set pieces for Miike to work with, as they travel by bus, train, car and foot. If you don't let the logic get to you it's an enjoyable enough action/thriller with some obvious social commentary, although I found myself wishing Miike directed it 10 years ago when he could have done something really out-there with the premise. As the film stands now it's decent if undistinguished, and I could easily see it getting an entirely forgettable U.S. remake at some point.
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