Release and reception of Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo

The film ‘Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo’, directed by Takashi Miike, was announced as an international co-production involving Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The project serves as the third installment in the franchise, following a corrupt Tokyo police officer and an FBI agent within the Yakuza underworld.

Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film received mixed reviews. The plot centers on Lieutenant Yabuki, played by Shun Oguri, a disgraced detective struggling with drug addiction, gambling debts, and corruption. The narrative connects a vengeful ex-yakuza, an FBI agent played by Lily James, and the disappearance of a daughter from a powerful American family. The cast also includes Liv Morgan.

Critics noted a stylistic departure from previous versions, observing that Miike utilizes “steady, stylish framing” instead of the “chaotic handheld camerawork” seen in earlier adaptations. While some reviewers described the film as a “stylish but sedate entry” that lacks the extreme intensity of Miike’s previous works, others characterized the narrative as a “confounding mix of ideas.” Shun Oguri’s performance was consistently highlighted for its “feral energy and physical contortions,” with critics noting his ability to anchor the depiction of a man on the edge of collapse.