Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction

Japan loves a good corporate drama (with minor thriller elements). Not something I'd expect Daihachi Yoshida to direct, but here we are. The film is solid, pretty much what you'd expect from a film like this, but it doesn't do much to set itself apart from a slew of similar features. In that sense, it's a minor waste of potential, as Yoshida can do better.

Trinity is a minor magazine of a publisher that is poised to become the victim of a power struggle. That is until Hayami is hired to take over the magazine. With his wit, charm, and novel ideas, he adds a new flair to the workplace. He isn't well-liked by the other higher-ups in the company, but he's a pro at navigating corporate pitfalls.

A subject like this is always going to be a little dry, even when the lead walks around with a sly smirk on his face for half the film. Hayami's character is fun and it's pleasant to see him barge through Japan's rigid corporate structures, but it doesn't really make for riveting cinema. It's a solid film, just not at the level of other Yoshida projects.