The Outsider

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): March 9, 2018

6.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

Truth_of_PiscesMar 18, 2018

It's not an unwatchable movie by any means, though the plot isn't anything original, the script is pretty dull, and Jared Leto once again turns in a performance so wooden and bland you'll wonder how he ever won an Oscar in the first place. AtIt's not an unwatchable movie by any means, though the plot isn't anything original, the script is pretty dull, and Jared Leto once again turns in a performance so wooden and bland you'll wonder how he ever won an Oscar in the first place. At only two hours long, it isn't hard to sit through; many scenes are shot very well and the heavy Japanese cast definitely make the otherwise plodded pace of the film bearable. The biggest problem with the movie is that nothing exciting really happens all that much, even its climax lacks any real payoff and Jared Leto's character is entirely forgettable in a face of Japanese actors who carry this film despite him. Overall, the movie makes me think Netflix has a long way to go when it comes to producing solid films, if they are even capable of such a thing to begin with given what we've gotten since late last year.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

AKthaBeastMar 19, 2018

Honestly this is a very cliche story that get told over and over in Hollywood. The "White American in a foreign setting saving the day" **** Had this come out maybe 15-20 years ago I think it would be reviewed more favorably. I did appreciateHonestly this is a very cliche story that get told over and over in Hollywood. The "White American in a foreign setting saving the day" **** Had this come out maybe 15-20 years ago I think it would be reviewed more favorably. I did appreciate the cast of real Japanese actors/actresses and the feeling/cinematography of the movie. Leto, however, felt out of place and was awkward throughout the movie. The way the story was told could have been better and there was opportunity to tell a more compelling story however it felt at time that they were taking the safe route.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

ViniciusBritoMar 9, 2018

When a american veteran soldier ends up, somehow, in a japanese prison with members of Yakuza, leading to actions that will make he work with them. He is introduced to the Yakuza code, doing some assault missions, making part of them and endsWhen a american veteran soldier ends up, somehow, in a japanese prison with members of Yakuza, leading to actions that will make he work with them. He is introduced to the Yakuza code, doing some assault missions, making part of them and ends up in a war for power and zone.
This movie is a very generic one, you can see several ideas used here in other films and done better in a lot of cases. The plot isn't very interesting and you can mostly see to where it is going, don't have a lot of surprising moments and if you did got surprised by something i highly doubt that you will even get excited about it. It kind of follows that idea of someone that isn't belonging to that place and ends up becoming a better worker in some aspects than they and taking their stuff. It shows about betrayal, what happens to those who do not follow the rules imposed by them and and blasts of violence.
I like how the movie showed a bit about the Yakuza culture and traditions, talking about the tattoos, how they are made differently, about the fingers, why cut them and when, the hierarchy.. They don't go very further with those, but it was well made.
The movie is very gore in some moments and isn't afraid of showing blood and big cuts, wich is good, visually i don't have much to talk about it, but it is functional.
The acting isn't the more positive point of the movie, a got that those characters are cold, but i think that principally Jared Leto could have delivered more, his character is cold and rarely have expressions, but i think that he could have some tones of voice and expressions in the look, depending on who he were talking to, at the very end he does that, but doesn't last long. Tadanobu Asano had a good acting and a good character, he kind of had a back story, different than almost every other, is easily for you to like this character that the mainly one, maybe because he doesn't seem so cold as the others, having more charisma, wich was rare in this movie, for possibly reasonable reasons.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

All this user's reviews

TheQuietGamerMar 9, 2018

Right from the opening credits The Outsider feels like one of Netflix's Marvel series condensed down to a two hour running-time with all of the interesting stuff having been cut out. There are a lot of filler shots and the narrative feelsRight from the opening credits The Outsider feels like one of Netflix's Marvel series condensed down to a two hour running-time with all of the interesting stuff having been cut out. There are a lot of filler shots and the narrative feels fragmented. At one point I actually had to check to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped ahead because I had no idea why Jared Leto's face suddenly looked all beat up. Apparently there was just a time jump. The sporadic, bloody violence and beautiful Japanese scenery is all the movie has to keep it going.

Speaking of Leto, his whiteness is a legitimate problem. He looks so out of place and it doesn't make much sense why all but one of the Yakuza members he finds himself around would embrace him so openly. His character's race and background also contribute nothing to the plot. He is only here to act as a gateway to open up American audiences to the material. Skin color aside, Leto also feels miscast. His role in the Yakuza is that of an enforcer. The guy they call to rough people up. While he may be a secret bad ass in real life, the actor/singer doesn't have any sort of threatening appearance. It makes the whole white boy lead thing feel even more misguided.

We could use more Asian culture in western cinema. While I appreciate The Outsider's efforts to make that happen, it's just not the movie that's going to make it work and not just because of it's ill-advised main character. This really would have been better of as a show on Netflix as opposed to an original film. The material could have had some time to breath, a fully developed plot could have emerged, and some character growth could have occurred that may have even justified an American protagonist. I could see The Outsider as a show succeeding in all of the areas where Iron Fist failed. But instead we get an empty crime-drama that's only redeeming factors rest in it's depiction of Japanese culture. Something it squanders a bit by mostly using it as window dressing and letting the white man prance around like he owns that place. 5.8/10… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

All this user's reviews

MaxPayneIsGodApr 7, 2019

Both good and disappointing at the same time.
Nothing original about the narrative.
A great supporting cast, the Japanese cast really shine. However, as expected its Leto's Potato-sack-esq presence which lets the team down. I can't help butBoth good and disappointing at the same time.
Nothing original about the narrative.
A great supporting cast, the Japanese cast really shine.
However, as expected its Leto's Potato-sack-esq presence which lets the team down.
I can't help but wonder how much better this would have been with a better actor at the reigns.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

BulgarianCriticJul 24, 2020

It had some decent acting and story telling but unfortunately some parts were too long and generic as heck and our main actor barely had any emotions on his face the entire movie it was a pretty ok movie

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews