What do assassins do in their downtime when they are not taking contract hits? This is a question that has often perplexed viewers and now, director Yugo Sakamoto attempts to answer it in “Baby Assassins”, surprisingly one of his three directing credits from last year.
Mahiro and Chisato are two high school graduates who, like every other girl their age, are on the lookout of securing and surviving at a part-time job. Unlike most girls their age though, they're both assassins for hire, working as a team for an organisation that insists that they share an apartment with each other till they turn twenty. The two work well as a duo on assignments but living together is a different game altogether, as Mahiro is a self-confessed sociopath whereas Chisato is a bubbly, cheery extrovert. While the two try to work their differences out and make their living situation work, a past job they did puts them in the crosshairs of the Yakuza, who will stop at nothing to find out the people responsible for killing a man integral to their drugs business.
Sakamoto's feature opens with a finely choreographed action sequence in a convenience store and quickly introduces its two baby assassins, the quiet, unassuming Mahiro and the high-spirited and often animated Chisato, personalities that both go completely against their profession. But once its gets through it, the narrative settles into a more leisurely paced story about these two trying to adjust to normal life. Told to earn their own rent by their company, the two must find and latch onto part-time jobs. However, this is easier said than done as Mahiro just isn't suited to many human interactions whereas Chisato isn't very good at much else she does or keeps running into trouble thanks to her short temper.
Their living situation isn't ideal for the two either, with both polar opposites having hard time adjusting to living with the other. In this manner, the feature ends up being more about two people overcoming their differences and trying to live tougher and become friends in the process. An interesting aspect for sure, but it's not an especially new one and one that comes in the way of giving the audience what the feature really should, which is more action sequences. The action is too less and far apart, which is a shame because when it does come up, it is very exciting and well worth the wait. The climactic full-guns-blazing standoff between the two girls and the Yakuza is executed to perfection. The one-on-one fight between Mahiro and the Yakuza tough guy is simply top drawer stuff and one of the best action sequences you'll see this year, which makes the lack of more such scenes further saddening. The pitting of the two girls against the Yakuza is also a direction that could have been explored more.
Shooting as many as three films in a year, it is evident that Sakamoto is adept at shooting quick and shooting on a low budget, which is also evident in certain elements of the feature. This is not necessarily a negative critique, as what he has achieved in the action sequences in such circumstances is outstanding. The cinematography is probably the one the suffers the most, coming across as rough and lacking colour grading, with the image being too bright for its own good at times. The pop culture, video game-like music somehow works in most instances and special mention must also go to the sound mix, which is best showcased in the action scenes when guns are used.
Saori Izawa is cast well as Mahiro, very believable as the low-profile girl who can suddenly change to a ruthless killer at the flick of a switch. The best action sequences of the feature involve her and one would only hope to see her in a full-blown action film that utilises her more in those scenarios. Akari Takaishi is also good as Chisato, her violent outbursts coming out in a fun manner, but the full enjoyment of her character will differ for individual viewers, depending on if they enjoy some of her more flamboyant characteristics. The same can also be said of Nagiko Tsuji's performance as Yakuza daughter Nagiko, whose louder habits could prove annoying to some.
Despite having some issues that cannot be ignored, “Baby Assassins” accepts its limitations and makes the most of what it has to its disposal, making for a fun watch that never overstays its welcome and in the process, gives us few but nonetheless superbly executed action sequences.
