Mifune is a featurelength documentary about the life and films of legendary japanese actor toshiro mifune. The last samurai, a new film by academy awardwinning filmmaker steven okazaki, explores the accidental movie career of. The last samurai often feels more like an educational film for a classroom lecture or museum orientation than an exploration of one of international cinemas. The last samurai is a pretty good documentary about a truly great subject. Steven okazaki japan, usa documentary 2016 80 mins. The last samurai dvd, 2016 portions of the proceeds from this sale go to deland library. 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. He was a muse for one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century, a beacon for japanese cinema, and a howling ambassador for the entire country and its culture. Actor, legend, and longtime akira kurosawa collaborator toshiro mifune is perhaps japanese cinemas bestknown international star. 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. Okazaki utilizes archival clips, photographic stills and interviews with those who worked with mifune.
Together they thrilled audiences and influenced filmmaking around the mifune. Samurai vendetta 1959 if john ford had ever directed a samurai movie, it might have come out looking a little bit like samurai vendetta. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back. Through interviews with friends, family and colleagues, this film reveals the man and his influences. The last samurai doesnt offer much new information to the actors biggest fans, but for newcomers it squeezes a good deal of information into its 80 minutes. Nearly 20 years after his death and in the runup to his centenary, toshiro mifune remains a true giant of japanese cinema. Age of japanese cinema, including rashomon, seven samurai and. Explaining mifunes place in the firmament of pop culture, the narration says of his collaborations with director akira kurosawa, without them there would have been no. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. Oscarwinning director steven okazaki pays tribute to mifune s craft and legacy in this documentary, as much a portrait of an artist as it is a history of one of japans major contributions to world cinema. The movie is very good at revealing and expanding upon is how this reluctant actor became such a masterful one. Oscar winner steven okazakis documentary uses film clips, new onscreen interviews with mifune collaborators and admirers, and rare behindthescene footage to tell mifune.
Featuring contributions from steven spielberg and martin scorsese, mifune. Legendary japanese actor toshiro mifune is best known for 16 films he made with director akira kurosawa during japans golden age of cinema in the 1950s. Rich with archive footage and personal reminiscences from family and friends, this keanu reeves narrated documentary shines a light on both the man and the actor, starting with his childhood and. The last samurai, a new film by academy awardwinning filmmaker steven okazaki. The last samurai, a new film by academy awardwinning filmmaker steven okazaki, explores the accidental movie career of toshiro mifune, one of the. The last samurai boasts a contextual understanding of mifunes appeal and success, though approaches his twilight as something of a. The last samurai 2016 11252016 us documentary 1h 20m user score. The last samurai explores the evolution of chanbara. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director akira kurosawa during the golden age of. He is best known for his 16 film collaboration 194865 with akira kurosawa in such works as rashomon, seven. The last samurai directed by academy award winning director steven okazaki is a must see for any film buff. The last samurai, also known as mifune, is a 2015 biographical documentary directed by steven okazaki. 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. The last samurai 2016 ntsc dvd9 documentary mifune.
Mifune officially opened on november 25, 2016 at the ifc center in new york city, over a. A painfully safe documentary about one of cinemas most explosive stars. 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. This is a pretty ordinary bio documentary, narrated by an affectless keanu reeves, and filled with film clips from the extraordinary career of japanese actor toshiro mifune, who brought the persona of the samurai to its most iconic fruition. The conversation with steven okazaki we were lucky enough to have further explores the dynamic mifune and his impact. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director akira kurosawa during the golden age of japanese cinema, including rashomon, seven samurai and yojimbo. Mifune and akira kurosawa were connected for much of the great postwwii era of japanese cinema. Fans of mifunes work will glean precious little from such. The last samurai 2016 is a celebration of toshiro mifunes legacy and life told by those closest to him, is now out on dvd and bluray. The last samurai reveals him as a formidable and mercurial talent, both onscreen and off, and an influence that still resonates through world cinema. A whole new wave emerged with kurosawas masterpieces, rashomon and the seven samurai, in the early 1950s. The last samurai 2016 san diego asian film festival. With keanu reeves as the narrator, okazakis film features clips from kurosawa and mifunes work on movies such as seven samurai, rashomon and yojimbo. 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 mans wikipedia page.
Streaming di film e serie complete con sottotitoli in italiano. Over the course of his legendary acting career, toshiro mifune was a samurai, a stray dog, and a shoe tycoon. Toshiro mifune, yoko tsukasa, go kato, tatsuyoshi ehara. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director akira kurosawa during the golden age of japanese cinema, including rashomon, seven samurai, hidden fortress and yojimbo. Renowned for his work in the films of akira kurosawa, actor toshiro mifune reigned supreme during the golden age of japanese cinema. The last samurai, a documentary on the actor directed by steven okazaki and narrated by keanu reeves the script is by okazaki and stuart galbraith iv got off on a somewhat bad foot for me.
First presenting a loose history of the samurai film, mifune soon dives into the personal history and public genius of the influential, ferociously charismatic actor, from humble beginnings in manchuria to raw talent and, eventually, global superstar and sex symbol. With wataru akashi, kyoko kagawa, takeshi kato, hisao kurosawa. 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. It chronicles the life of toshiro mifune, a japanese actor and international star most noted for playing samurai characters in films by akira kurosawa. A featurelength documentary about the life and films of legendary actor toshiro mifune, weaving together film clips, archival stills, and interviews with such. After the film s release, the careers of each man took different arcs. Together they thrilled audiences and influenced filmmaking.
The last samurai, a dutiful and diverting but rather barebones documentary portrait, opens with a series of clips and photographs of toshiro mifune, the. Duel at ganryu island 1956 with toei, the largest producer of period. A galvanic performer who was as present in his roles as anyone who ever lived, the legendary japanese actor is the subject of mifune. The mother of a feudal lords only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord.
Mifune continued to enjoy success with a range of samurai and war themed films rebellion, samurai assassin, the emperor and a general. The last samurai, also known as mifune, is a 2015 biographical. 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. Nearly 20 years after his death, toshiro mifune remains a true giant of japanese cinema.
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