He is later blackmailed into the service of arachnophobia by its head, arachne gorgon. The last samurai, and perhaps of any successful documentary about cinema history, is that it makes you want to. The last samuai, pays tribute to legendary japanese actor toshiro mifune, whose work with akira kurosawa helped to. Okazaki goes indepth on a handful of films mostly the ones directed by kurosawa, and only about a third of those, and covers the major details of mifunes personal and business relationships in the broadest strokes. After explaining mifunes importance, the movie lays out a brief history of japanese cinema, the chanbara swordplay movie in particular. The wry, charismatic, and fierce mifune was also a pioneer, being among the first nonwhite action stars to attract international attention. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director akira kurosawa during the. Interview with john boorman about hell in the pacific 1968. Okazaki cleverly kept his camera on mifune as samurai, the last samurai, which is slightly misleading.
He is from a humble farm in hiroshima who must protect his family. Toshiro mifune, hideko takamine, hiroshi akutagawa. Explores the accidental movie career of toshiro mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema. But he, like any serious devotee of a movie star, wants to know what made the man shine on celluloid. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director akira kurosawa during the golden age of japanese cinema, including rashomon, seven samurai and yojimbo. It was not an uncommon experience for mifune to drive by kurosawas home in a state of drunkenness cursing his name loudly only to report back to set the following day with. Mifune, mifune, known by the epithet god of the sword, kenjin, is an infamous samurai and bodyguard who acts as a guardian to the little witch, angela leon.
Dec 14, 2016 there arent many movie stars more iconic than toshiro mifune, who for most americans is japanese cinema. To prepare for seven samurai and rashomon, mifune reportedly studied footage of lions in the. A look at the life and art of toshiro mifune captures a japanese movie stars revolutionary ferocity but. As of 2017, seven samurai is the bestselling home video title ever released by the british film institute.
It chronicles the life of toshiro mifune, a japanese actor and international star most noted for playing samurai characters in films by akira kurosawa. Eventually, it became japans third highestgrossing film of 1954. Nearly 20 years after his death and in the runup to his centenary, toshiro mifune remains a true giant of japanese cinema. The last samurai boasts a contextual understanding of mifune s appeal and success, though approaches his twilight as something of a footnote. Toshiro mifune, gunbatsu the militarists 1970 remastered, the retreat from kiska mifune toshiro 1965 remastered, battle anthem mifune toshiro 1983 remastered, life of a horse trader mifune toshiro 1951 remastered, the sands of kurobe toshiro mifune 1968 remastered, proof of the man 1977 remastered, 5 freelance samurai vol. The decline of rerun houses and japanese film retrospectives may have dimmed the memory of an extraordinary actor. Dec 30, 2016 by andrew hamlin northwest asian weekly. The last samuraisteven okazakis documentary about legendary japanese actor toshiro mifunecomes early in the film, in the form of a brief. The last samurai, also known as mifune, is a 2015 biographical documentary directed by steven okazaki. To the extent that the last samurai lets you watch clips from these and other mifune films, its as good a time as you could want to have in a movie theater. The last samurai, a dutiful and diverting but rather barebones documentary portrait, opens with a series of clips and photographs of toshiro mifune, the scowlingeyed japanese actor.
The last samurai, the new documentary from steven okazaki, seeks to explore. Nov 25, 2016 nearly 20 years after his death and in the runup to his centenary, toshiro mifune remains a true giant of japanese cinema. The last samurai boasts a contextual understanding of mifunes appeal and success, though approaches his twilight as something of a footnote. The last samurai stars keanu reeves, steven spielberg, martin scorsese the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 20 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. The last samurai is a celebration of the originality and influence of the japanese star toshiro mifune 19201997, shown as a rare actor capable of the subtlest stoicism and the. Mifune also worked with other top directors at toho studios, and in a fouryear period from 19571961, he would appear in a staggering 27 films. The last samurai provides an interesting look at mifune s personal life, one defined by a love of strong drink, cars and playing cards. The last samurai steven okazakis documentary about legendary japanese actor toshiro mifune comes early in the film, in the form of a brief.
The last samurai analyzes the universal appeal of a. The last samurai, a dutiful and diverting but rather. The last samurai 2016 trailers and clips moviefone. A thin, dull, and bythenumbers biography that fails to capture its subjects irrepressible spirit or properly contextualize his importance, steven okazakis mifune. The last samurai, a new film by academy awardwinning filmmaker steven okazaki, explores the accidental movie career of toshiro mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema. The last samuai, pays tribute to legendary japanese actor toshiro mifune, whose work with akira kurosawa helped to revitalize japanese cinema in. The last samurai is a perfectly serviceable documentary on the great japanese actor toshir mifune if you arent looking for any information you couldnt find on. The last samurai is a documentary that vainly searches for and never apprehends the ineffable. Although fans like me will likely be the first in line to see it.
Toshiro mifunes long and legendary life yields great potential for a wellrounded and entertaining retrospectiveand while mifune. The last samurai, a new documentary that chronicles the life of the famed japanese actor, narrated by keanu reaves. A featurelength documentary about the life and films of legendary actor toshiro mifune. The last samurai explores the evolution of chanbara movies, mifune s rich collaboration with kurosawa, and his fascinating path from war to stardom. Was greys planning to kill off a major character in original season 16 finale. Through interviews with friends, family and colleagues, this film reveals the man and his influences. The image of toshiro mifune wielding a samurai sword, eyes glaring at his foe, is among the first images to come to most american filmgoerss minds when they think about japanese cinema. The last samurai renowned for his work in the films of akira kurosawa, actor toshiro mifune reigned supreme during the golden age of japanese cinema. Okazaki goes indepth on a handful of films mostly the ones directed by kurosawa, and only about a third of those, and covers the major details of mifune s personal and business relationships in the broadest strokes. The last samurai, a new film by academy awardwinning filmmaker. This documentary about japans greatest film actor doesnt start off with a flourish of praise and clips from the life and work of toshiro mifune 19201997, legendary for his portrayals of samurai and other madmen. The last samurai reveals him as a formidable and mercurial talent, both onscreen and off, and offers rare insights into his background that draw intriguing parallels with lee marvin. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director akira kurosawa, including such masterpieces as rashomon, seven samurai, and yojimbo.
A featurelength documentary about the life and films of legendary actor toshiro mifune, weaving together film clips, archival stills, and interviews with such luminaries as steven spielberg and martin scorsese. The finale of the last episode, 52, and the beginning of this one have no connection, tartakovsky previously stated in a. Dec, 2016 featuring interviews with fans like martin scorsese and steven spielberg, academy awardwinner okazakis documentary looks at the accidental movie career of the mythic toshiro mifune, the japanese star and true giant of world cinema. The last samurai official trailer 1 2016 documentary. The last samurai official trailer 1 2016 documentary this story revolves around a japanese samurai known as mifune. The writerdirector steven okazaki is a fan of the late japanese actor toshiro mifune, and rightly so. The last samurai friday, november 25 tuesday, december, 2016 featuring interviews with fans like martin scorsese and steven spielberg, academy awardwinner okazakis documentary looks at the accidental movie career of the mythic toshiro mifune, the japanese star and true giant of world cinema. The last samurai stars keanu reeves, steven spielberg, martin scorsese the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 20 min, and received a. The last samurai 2016 trailers and clips this documentary explores the accidental movie career of toshiro mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema. He is best known for his 16film collaboration 194865 with akira kurosawa in such works as rashomon, seven samurai, the hidden fortress, throne of blood, and yojimbo. A painfully safe documentary about one of cinemas most explosive stars the 10 episode season 5 will be set 50 years after the season 4 finale, according to ew. Other icons of cinema, including steven spielberg and martin scorsese. This frustratingly thin portrait of toshiro mifune marks the first time that akira.
The 10episode season 5 will be set 50 years after the season 4 finale. After explaining mifune s importance, the movie lays out a brief history of japanese cinema, the chanbara swordplay movie in particular. The last samurai 2015 trailer legendary actor toshiro mifune helped revitalize japanese cinema after world war ii. The last samurai is neither the first nor best of its kind, this small slice of japanese film history serves up an enjoyable combination of firsthand interviews, rarelyseen photos, and a solid crosssection of.
The last samurai 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. A look at the life and art of toshiro mifune captures a japanese movie stars revolutionary ferocity but not the mystery behind it. The last samurai, a new documentary by steven okazaki, oscar winner for his 1991 short days of waiting. The last samurai is less a comprehensive overview of the actors life than it is an analysis of what that life meant. The last samurai is a good documentary about a worldhistorical actor by andrew wright. The last samurai is a good documentary about a world. The last samurai, the wellassembled documentary on the life of actor toshiro mifune, the longtime akira kurosawa collaborator, should be a worthy introduction to one of japanese cinemas greatest icons, if a little light on more revelatory findings. The last samurai trailers and video, including teasers, extended looks, exclusive clips, footage, sneak peeks, interviews, and more on moviefone. Oct 21, 2016 from academy awardwinning director steven okazaki comes mifune. That his closest competitor in this regard is a fictional charactergodzillais a point humorously made in mifune.
Samurai jack season 5 teaser reveals the return of the longawaited. Tweet t oshiro mifune was an actor who made the very concept of 3d seem absurd. With wataru akashi, kyoko kagawa, takeshi kato, hisao kurosawa. This frustratingly thin portrait of toshiro mifune marks the first time that akira kurosawas untamed muse has ever been boring on screen.
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