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Might be Mifune's best performance. This is my personal favorite Kurosawa.

Yet another in Kurosawa's impressive pile of Really Fucking Good Movies. Masterfully constructed, perfectly performed, and gripping from start to finish.

The scenes with the addicts in the alleyways are the best thing Kurosawa has ever done.

the best ransom/kidnapping movie i've ever seen, light years ahead of it's time. extremely few dull moments, and some great depiction of detective work.

Very dry and weird pacing that tries to pass as suspenseful. A good movie, and this may be a result with me not quite used to this time period and/or culture of filmmaking, but the pacing seems very slow, and more importantly, dull. First half drags on a little too long, and the second half seems distant and dry. However, it's almost worth it for the final scene, which is incredible.

Only Kurosawa could make a film about Shoe Company execs as compelling as this.

I was afraid the whole film was going to take place in one room (that's just the first hour), but the film switches gears between suspense, drama and the investigation perfectly. It's impeccably crafted, well acted and written. Although I love Mifune as the ill-mannered samurai, he finally shows his versatility in "High and Low". He's amazing as the wealthy executive who's faced with a perplexing dilemma. Kurosawa, you'll never cease to amaze me. Recommended !!!

Not a bad story, and provides good insight to the Japanese culture. However it does suffer from a pacing problem--you might find yourself checking your watch or letting your mind wander during several slow-moving interludes between plot advancements.

My favorite of Kurosawa's movies. The camera work in the first half is brilliant. Fascinating and suspenseful (though it does fall apart a bit in the second half as others have noted), and Mifune is as mesmerizing as always.

A procedural thriller set against the backdrop of an increasingly industrialized nation struggling to find its identity. As the title suggests, the structure and themes of High and Low are as if opposite sides of the same coin, where the affluent and nether regions of society conflict only to ultimately arrive in the same place (as the riveting final scene suggests). Kurosawa's use of the widescreen lens is masterful, featuring intricate choreography and meaningful use of space.

Many of these "catch the crook" films are structured such that when they finally catch the guy it's a great moment of triumph. High and Low is kind of like that, but the triumph has a bitter aftertaste, and you won't be left feeling particularly satisfied. As awesome as Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Yojimbo, etc. are, I really feel like Kurosawa is at his best when he works in contemporary settings. The way he films the city is second to none.

Incredible from start to finish, never skips a beat.

The scene where the kidnapper dances is pure cinematic gold. Genius!

"...fascinating in the way it is structured into three acts, each of which shifts focus to a different character and creates a unique form of tension and suspense."

A great premise with knockout execution. Mifune shines as a businessman faced with an incredibly difficult choice, and the procedural second-half gives the film an intriguing turn leading to a satisfying showdown in the conclusion. A tense and fascinating film demonstrating Kurosawa's strong noir sensibilities.

Essentially two films in one. First you have Mifune as the executive dealing with the kidnapping ransom then Nakadai attempting to apprehend the kidnapper. Both have their own distinct pacing and style that perfectly reflect the story they tell. The overnight ransom story is fast paced while the prolonged investigation is much slower. Brilliant film making and social examination.

Kurosawa may be well known for his great samurai films, but this drama is just as good if not better. The first half is a gripping tale of a man forced to decide between everything he's ever worked for and the life of a little boy. The second half is a look at the kidnapper who forced this decision. The movie is wonderfully acted and, except for a few moments in the second half, wonderfully plotted.

Another plot I've seen a hundred times -- another plot created by Kurosawa. My only complaint with his movies is how long they drag through certain parts of the story, but the telling overall is masterfully done.

Somewhat slow and dry, but a rock-solid film on the whole. The first half is highly engaging, a cat-and-mouse psychological battle between an executive and the man who has kidnapped his employee's son. Towards the middle, it switches gears to more of a police procedural, which I found less satisfying, but it ends on a very strong note. Definitely a worthy Kurosawa.

This tense crime drama takes the viewer through many viewpoints, all of which brilliantly emphasize the emotion and complexity of the situation of the film. Really good!