“Tokyo Vice”, the new series by Michael Mann, the creator of “Miami Division” and “History of Crime”

The story of Tokyo Vice takes place in the late nineties. An American journalist, Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort ), has been preparing for years to work for the most important newspaper in Tokyo. Against all prejudices and the high level of demand of the editorial staff, Adelstein has everything it takes to be the only Western journalist to be part of the police team. It is not an easy job, not only because of the obvious cultural differences, but also because his idea of journalism does not resemble the one his peers have. Soon he crosses paths with a crime linked to the world of the yacuza, that is, the Japanese mafia, and his own life will be in danger.

But Adelstein finds an ally, Detective Hiroto Katagiri (played by Ken Watanabe, remembered for his role in The Last Samurai), who works for the organized crime squad. Katagiri will be a protective figure for the journalist who will help him navigate the difficult and ambiguous world of criminals and policemen in the city of Tokyo.

The first episode of the series clearly shows that the aesthetic ambition it possesses is above average. Tokyo is a visually spectacular city, but here you take full advantage of its entire climate, beyond the obvious postcards we all know. There is no mystery, the director of the first episode is none other than Michael Mann, a veteran filmmaker who has shined both in film and on television. Not only does Michael direct the spectacular opening episode, but he is also listed as an executive producer. Although the series is an effort of many talented people, its presence is a seal of quality that is more than fulfilled.

Mann, for those who don't identify him by name, is the creator of several series, in particular two classics. One of them is Miami Division (Miami Vice, 1984-1989) starring Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas and Edward James Olmos. The adventures of Crockett and Tubbs were a before and after in the way the series were performed. Nothing was ever the same after Miami Division. But Michael Mann also created another great series: Crime Story (Crime Story, 1986-1989), in which Dennis Farina played Lieutenant Mike Torello, and Tony Denison the villain Ray Luca. Crime Story had a sequence of titles with the song Runaway, performed again by Del Shannon for the series. But Mann also excelled in filmmaking. Suffice it to remember that he directed Fire against Fire (1995), The Informant (1999), Collateral (2004) and Public Enemies (2009), to mention just a few of his great films.

In Tokyo Vice there are other figures that give the series its shape and style. It is important to note that all ten episodes are based on a book of the same name, written by the real Jake Adelstein. Beyond poetic licenses, what we are seeing is a true story of a journalist who managed to enter the closed world of crime in Tokyo and who is still working at risk today. The adaptation of the story was given by J.T. Rogers, producer and screenwriter of the series. The fact that it is based on a true story helps to make the main character more credible, whose status as a Western hero he often calls mistrust in a series that takes place in Japan. Another credible element is that much of the plot is spoken in Japanese, obviously including the protagonist.

But this great series that is Tokyo Vice, one of the best of the year, not only has the brand of Michael Mann, it also reminds, on several levels, of a film from the eighties, Black Rain (Black Rain, 1989), directed by Ridley Scott and starring Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia and Ken Takakura. The fact that Tokyo Vice takes place a few years later makes it visually something similar in many details. Beyond all similarity, Tokyo Vice is fully recommended.

KEEP READING