Underrated...

This Tom Cruise epic was unfairly overlooked because of mediocre reviews and a subject that most American viewers weren't too familiar with or interested in. The film received lukewarm reviews from prominent critics and barely made over $100m at the domestic box-office. With production costs and marketing fees estimated at over $170m, this film had to rely on overseas income and a successful DVD release. 'The Last Samurai' did significantly better overseas, raking in almost $350m, and it will hopefully find an audience on DVD with those Americans who weren't willing to make a trip to the theatre last year.

I must offer my confession to being one of those who decided to skip it during its theatrical run. It came out during a busy Christmas schedule and I never found free time to squeeze it in. Now that I have seen the film... I regret not making time for it on the big screen.

The film has elements of 'Braveheart', 'Seven Samurai', 'Shogun' and 'Ran'. It is an aesthetically gorgeous movie with sweeping landscapes, glorious battle sequences and incredible set and costume design. The story is grand and emotionally powerful, combining Japanese history, political and military intrigue, romance and war. This film carries the emotional weight of a masterpiece. The acting is uniformly spectacular, most notably from Ken Watanabe as the fierce Samurai leader and Koyuki as the widowed love interest for Cruise's Algren.

If there is anything to quibble about with this film, it is the casting of Tom Cruise. Now, before it appears that I am Cruise bashing, you must understand that I think he is a masterful actor... one of the best we have. But his casting here seems out of place. He doesn't seem to fit in period pieces very well. Tom Cruise is the poster child for all-American good looks with his huge smile and chiseled features... he is a man of the 21st century. I just didn't buy him as Nathan Algren, civil war Captain.

Cruise also pulls a Kevin Costner in this film with too many close-ups of his tortured eyes and conflicted face. This seems very much a vanity project. At no point in this film did I forget that I was watching Tom Cruise... and that is a problem when sitting down for a film like this. He doesn't do a poor job of acting, far from it. But he just feels like the wrong guy for this role.

All that being said, I really liked this film. It is fully deserving of its 145 minute running length. The film moves briskly and always has another great scene right around the corner. The ending was a trifle too predictable, but it moved me nonetheless. The unspoken love story was the most compelling aspect of the film, but the battle sequences were spectacular, and the war between the old-world and new-world was tremendous to behold. All in all, 'The Last Samurai' was a great adventure and well deserving of a strong recommendation. It will contend for a spot in my Top 10 films of 2003.

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A- Richard Propes - A- Jacob Hall - A

Richard Propes' Comment

"The Last Samurai" is a wonderful film, despite the Tom Cruise posturing...and the Tom Cruise "manly" voice that permeates the first third of this film. Cruise, who I love as an actor and adore typically his films, uses this voice often to project strength and power. It's the same thing as Denzel's finger pointing...which he has used in the last six films I've seen him in. It drives me bonkers. But, about midway through this film Cruise seemed to relax into the humanity of his character and I became interested...though, as one other critic said, never forgetting that this was Tom Cruise.

Perhaps the biggest reason i love this film is the performance, Oscar nominated, of Ken Watanabe. Watanabe embodies the strength of his character without any of the posturing. It is, at once, a powerful, courageous, tender and vulnerable performance. Quite brilliant.

The direction of Edward Zwick, despite being unable to manage his star, is generally competent if not dazzling. The entire supporting cast of largely Asian actors is wonderful.

Cinematography, costuming and action sequences all come to life...I especially loved the choreography of samurai scenes. It took a topic that really doesn't interest me and drew me in. That's impressive.

Overall, I can't quite call this one of my all-time favorites but it's a film I enjoyed MUCH more than expected...it's a film with one of the best supporting performances I've seen from Ken Watanabe and it's technically superb. Unexpectedly, I recommend this film.

Jacob Hall's Comment

One of the best movies of the year, if not the best.