Violent Cop: More Than Just Beatdowns?

Okay, so I finally watched "Violent Cop" (yeah, I know, I'm late to the party!). Everyone always talks about how violent it is (duh, the title!), but I think there's actually something deeper going on with Azuma's character than just him being a total loose cannon. Like, he's clearly messed up, right? The way he deals with grief, anger... it's all channeled into brutal violence. My (kinda half-baked) theory is that the violence isn't just for shock value - it's a symptom of his internal struggle. Think about the scene where he's interrogating the guy in the park and just goes off on him. Is that really about solving the crime, or is it about him releasing some pent-up aggression? I think it's the latter. It's like he's trying to beat the answers (and maybe the pain) out of everyone. And the whole thing with his sister... that adds another layer of complexity. He is trying to protect her, but also almost alienates her. It's like he's so used to dealing with the world through violence that he doesn't know how to express genuine care or concern any other way. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I think Kitano was doing more here than just trying to make a really edgy action film. It's a glimpse into a damaged psyche (and I definitely think that's reflected in later takes, like "Brother". I'm not saying it's perfect - the plot is a bit convoluted and, yeah, there's a lot of senseless violence. But I think it's worth watching for the character study aspect, even if that part is a bit buried under all the punches and kicks. What do you all think? Am I reaching, or is there something to this idea that Azuma's violence is a mask for something else?