The Last Samurai - 2003

Warner Bros. Pictures, Bedford Falls Company, Cruise/Wagner Productions

Directed by Edward Zwick

Cast:

• Captain Nathan Algren – Tom Cruise
• Katsumoto – Ken Watanabe
• Sgt. Zebulon Grant – Billy Connolly
• Col. Bagley – Tony Goldwyn
• Omura – Masato Harada
• Simon Graham – Timothy Spall
• Emperor Meiji - Shichinosuke Nakamura
• Nobutada - Shin Koyamada
• Ojio - Hiroyuki Sanada
• Taka - Koyuki

Story: In 1876, Captain Nathan Algren, retired from the 7th Cavalry, is convinced by his former sergeant and comrade, Zebulon Grant, to accept a position as a military trainer and advisor for the Japanese. Algren is a brilliant military mind and an alcoholic who is haunted by the scenes of battles and engagements of his past, and his immediate superior, Col. Bagley, is a part of that. He begins training the Japanese troops, who are mostly conscripts and farmers, and is rushed into battle before they are ready to fight. He fights alongside his men and is captured by Katsumoto, the leader of the rebelling Samurai. The Samurai take him to a village deep in the mountains and explain that with winter coming on, there is no way to escape. He is not treated as a prisoner in the usual sense, and has access to the people of the village. During his captivity, he is allowed to learn the ways of the Samurai as Katsumoto, who speaks English, has “conversations” with him to learn about his American enemy. As the two learn about one another, they develop a respect for each other, and Algren develops a love and respect for the way of the Samurai. In the end, he helps the Samurai in their battle to preserve the way of the Japanese people.

Review: Based very loosely on the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, this two and one half hour epic is one of the closest views to Japanese life before western culture ever shot by an American. Tom Cruise shows us his ability to develop and mature as a character throughout the film, and Ken Watanabe displays the quiet yet powerful acting he is known for. The power and emotion of the film are riveting, and the scenery is incredibly beautiful. Supporting roles are exceptionally acted, with special credit to Billy Connolly for his brilliant, if not brief, portrayal as Sargent Zebulon Grant, the hard nosed enlisted man who is tasked with “whipping” the soldiers into shape. The only major flaw I see is a technical one that was added to the film to provide a more dramatic ending, and that is the use of Gatling Guns, which were in use in South America and Europe at the time, but not in the Orient.The links above wil provide you with the setting of the actual rebellion, and I believe Mr. Zwick did an excellent job in portraying the Imperial Court politics of the day. Omura is the prime example of a man consumed with greed and power, and his influence over the Emperor Meiji, the boy who has been thrust into the role of living god, is evident in every scene. Rated R for violence and language, this film is probably acceptable for teens who play battle games on their X-Box or Play Stations, but the little ones should probably be in bed or doing something else. Collectible for fans of Tom Cruise, good drama, or anyone who wants a little insight into the way of the Samurai.