The Last Samurai
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- :This article is about a film; for Helen DeWitt's novel, see The Last Samurai (novel)
The film's plot is very loosely based on the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion led by Saigo Takamori, and also on the story of Jules Brunet, a French army captain who fought alongside Enomoto Takeaki in the Boshin War. The roles of the United Kingdom and the French Third Republic are largely portrayed as United States actions, and characters in the film and the real story are simplified. Although it is not an accurate source of historical information, the film illustrates some major issues in Japanese history and is often cited as a good example of an American film epic.
The film received an enthusiastic reception among the moviegoing public in Japan, with box office receipts higher in that country than in the USA. [[http://www.countingdown.com/movies/567538/news?item_id=3367385]]
Critical reception in Japan, however, was mixed. Tomomi Katsuta of The Mainichi Shimbun thought that the film was "a vast improvement over previous American attempts to portray Japan", noting that director Ed Zwick "had researched Japanese history, cast well-known Japanese actors and consulted dialogue coaches to make sure he didn't confuse the casual and formal categories of Japanese speech." However, Katsuta still found fault with the film's idealistic, "storybook" portrayal of the samurai, stating that "Our image of samurai are that they were more corrupt." As such, he said, the noble samurai leader Katsumoto "set (his) teeth on edge." [link]
Some contend that the word "Samurai" is plural, and thus the movie title glorifies the culture and people who practiced the art. The movie itself does not state that Captain Algren or Katsumoto is "The Last Samurai." In light of the varying interpretations and complaints, the producers of the film advocate an official stance in the Extras of the official DVD, in which it is distinctly clarified that Captain Algren does become the last samurai.
Plot
Captain Nathan Algren, a disenchanted ex-United States Army captain (once under the command of George Armstrong Custer) who is tortured throughout the film by the guilt of his past transgressions against Native American civilians, learns that the Japanese are eager to modernize their country along Western lines, and have recruited experts in various fields from many different Western countries to accomplish these goals. Algren is recruited by Mr. Omura, a Japanese tycoon and railroad magnate, to help the new Meiji Restoration government train its first Western-style army.
Upon his arrival, he begins training the army, consisting mostly of peasants and farmers, who have never used firearms, to combat a fierce samurai rebellion led by the general Katsumoto, who believes that Japan is modernizing far too quickly and losing its special identity. After only a few brief weeks, Algren is ordered to take the army into battle against the samurai rebels, despite his insistence that the men are not ready.
Algren leads the army into battle against Katsumoto's men, and as he had foreseen, the attack claims the lives of many of the woefully inexperienced soldiers. Although he exhausts himself in fighting, he manages to kill a number of samurai, including one adorned in red armor. He is spared execution by Katsumoto, and is then taken as a prisoner to an isolated village, controlled by Katsumoto's only son, Nobutada, where he gradually recovers from his wounds and begins to learn about the locals.
Algren comes to discuss many things with Katsumoto, who enjoys "a good conversation," and it is through him that Algren is given a glimpse of the world through the eyes of his enemy. While he has several times irked Katsumoto's sister, Taka (who, incidentally, is the widowed wife of the samurai in red armor), Algren comes to be attracted to her, while her two young sons grow ever more fond of him. Algren learns swordplay from Ujio, a skilled swordsman and capable warrior, and is often accompanied by an unknown, silent elder warrior, whom Nathan refers to as "Bob."
While it is Katsumoto's intention to glean whatever information he can from Algren, and then to free him once winter comes around, Nathan learns, during an assassination attempt against Katsumoto (most likely under orders from Omura), that Katsumoto would gladly take his own life if the emperor commanded it. When spring comes, Nathan is taken back to Tokyo, where he learns that the army is now organized and, more importantly, outfitted with Howitzer cannons and Gatling guns. He is given his pay and an offer to stay on as a training consultant, but declines. He also witnesses the brutality of the Japanese soldiers who enforce the new laws forbidding samurai to publicly carry swords and wear their hair in long queues ("chonmage"). Nobutada is one whose queue is forcibly hacked off.
Algren later learns that Katsumoto is to meet with Emperor Meiji's council, which later leads to his arrest. After Nathan is attacked en route to Katsumoto's estate, he decides to rescue Katsumoto. A jailbreak is devised and Katsumoto is freed, but Nobutada is wounded during a fierce skirmish and is killed soon after when he stays behind to delay the Japanese soldiers in pursuit.
Katsumoto is devastated by this, compounded by the fact that the emperor is incapable of speaking for his nation, instead allowing his advisors to dictate policy and speak in his stead. While the emperor shows reluctance in speaking, Algren convinces Katsumoto to continue his rebellion to the end, hoping that the emperor will hear his words. A force of swordsmen and warriors is built up - it is here that Algren receives a katana of his own - and Katsumoto begins to plan his final stand, with the assistance of Algren. It is here that Katsumoto compares his futile attack to that of General Custer's. Algren recounts the legendary Battle of Thermopylae, in which three hundred Spartan warriors held off a Persian army of nearly two million men, with the Persians suffering losses so great that they lost all taste for battle.
Soon afterwards a large Japanese army arrives to confront the samurai and put down the rebellion. The attack starts with a howitzer barrage from the Emperor's army that, at first, falls short, but is soon corrected to find its target. The samurai force uses walls of fire and wood to cover their escape and deny the enemy army a view of their casualties. The samurai wait behind a hill, with archers covered by wooden walls. The Emperor's army then attacks their new position with its large infantry element. At the opportune moment a samurai bowman releases a single flaming arrow, which hits explosives and oiled grass designed to block off the army and catch it in flames. The samurai archers take advantage of the panic and thick smoke to unleash their arrows on the infantrymen, killing many. Algren and Katsumoto prepare for battle, with Katsumoto asking Algren about the fate of the garrison at Thermopylae. Algren replies: "Dead to the last man."
The samurai swordsmen, Algren and Katsumoto amongst them, charge a second large unit of infantry. In a fierce battle that leaves many samurai and infantrymen dead and both Algren and Katsumoto injured, Algren reflects that, even after the timely intervention of samurai cavalry, they will not be able to deflect the inevitable counterattack by the Emperor's army. Looking to "die by the sword" in battle, they mount horses and charge the massed ranks of the enemy army, passing through the infantry lines only to be stopped short by Gatling fire, which mortally wounds Katsumoto and injures Nathan badly. The army ceases fire, watching as Katsumoto, obeying bushido in order to keep his honour, commits seppuku (ceremonial samurai suicide), ending his life. The Emperor's soldiers, many of whose comrades have also been killed, show their respect by bowing to the fallen samurai.
Later, as American ambassadors prepare to have the emperor sign a treaty that would give the US exclusive rights to sell firearms to the Japanese government, an injured Algren enters the emperor's chambers, bearing Katsumoto's sword. He tells the emperor that Katsumoto would have wanted him to have it, to remember the ancestors that served before him. It is in this single act that the emperor finally gathers the conviction and valor to turn away the American ambassadors by stating, "We cannot forget who we are... Or where we come from."
Algren then returns to the samurai village and reunites with Taka.
Cast
- Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren, a Civil War and Indian Wars veteran with a penchant for languages and drinking alcoholic beverages, especially whiskey. He has recurring flashbacks of what appears to be the Sand Creek Massacre which haunts him deeply. After being fired from the Winchester Company where he works as an arms promoter for $25 a week, he takes up a job to train the newly-formed Japanese Imperial Army. Algren works alongside his former officer Col. Bagley, with whom he has a deep seated resentment and hatred because of Bagley's ordering of the cowardly massacre on the Native Indians. He tells Col. Bagley he would happily kill him for free. In protest to Col. Bagley's premature call to a strike against the samurai, Algren orders one of the soldiers to shoot him or he will kill him. Algren then fires his revolver at the man, and ceases when the soldier misses. Although it appears Algren wanted to be shot he was showing how unprepared the soldiers were for battle. During the Battle he is captured by the Samurai Katsumoto and taken to the village of Katsumotos son where he soon becomes intrigued with the way of the Samurai and decides to join them in their cause.
- Ken Watanabe as samurai Lord Katsumoto, a warrior-poet who was once Emperor Meiji's most trusted teacher. He is displeased with Mr. Omura's bureaucratic reform policies which leads him into organising a revolt against the Imperial Army.
- Masato Harada as Omura, an industrialist and pro-reform politician. He very much depises the way of the samurai especially Katsumoto. Coming from a family that like many merchants was repressed during the days of Samurai rule, he assumes a great deal of power during the Meiji Restoration and takes advantages of Meiji's youth to become his chief advisor (wielding power similar to those of the Shoguns). Following the final battle he tries to persuade the Emperor not to listen to Algren's plea to remember Katsumoto. When the Emperor refuses to sign the Arms Agreement and decides to give Omura's possesions to the people of Japan, Omura resists vehemently to which the Emperor offers him Katsumoto's sword. Omura, realising that the Emperor is no longer the submissive Emperor he was, refuses the challenge and steps away in defeat.
- Shichinosuke Nakamura as Emperor Meiji. Credited with the implementation of the 1868 Meiji Restoration, the Emperor is eager to import Western ideas and practices to modernize and empower Japan to become a strong nation. His interest in the Western world is first shown when he enquires Algren about Red Indians. He is then portrayed as being a mere figurehead in the ruling of his country, what with the immense political clout wielded by Omura in the Council. When told by Katsumoto that he is a living god, he sadly admits that he is only a living god if he says what the Council thinks is right. However, his indomitable spirit is revealed at the end of the movie when he rejects the Arms Agreement put forth by US Ambassador Swanbeck and asserts strongly that as Japanese, they cannot forget where they come from, referring to the rich samurai heritage and history that he is slowly eroding and burying as a result of modernization.
- Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio, one of the most dedicated and vicious samurai under Katsumoto. He teaches Algren the art of Samurai swordfighting and is beaten to a draw in an ensuing practice duel with Algren, much to the amazement of the other Japanese samurai watching the duel. Later, Ujio rescues Katsumoto from captivity in Tokyo and gives his life in the final concluding battle against the Imperial Army. He is killed in the final battle when charging on horseback together with Algren and Katsumoto towards the enemy lines.
- Timothy Spall as Simon Graham, a British translator for Captain Algren and his non-Japanese speaking soldiers. Initially portrayed as a typical practical-minded Englishman, he later comes to understand the Samurai cause that Algren believes so strongly in and offers to photograph the Samurai and write a book on them in order to preserve their history and cultural heritage.
- Shin Koyamada as Nobutada, Katsumoto's only son who is lord of the village that the Samurai are encamped in. He knows a smattering of English and befriends Algren, asking him to join them for dinner and teaching him to empty his mind when facing an adversary. During his father's trip to the capital city, he is forced to bear the humiliation of having the Imperial Military Police cut off his top knot, thus losing his unique identity as a Samurai. While helping his father escape captivity he is shot to death by Imperial guards.
- Seizo Fukumoto as the Silent Samurai, an elderly man assigned to follow Algren as he travels through the village. Algren refers to him as "Bob," and engages in conversations with him to which he doesn't reply. The only word he says in the movie is, "Araguren-san!" (because all the samurai find the L in Algren difficult to pronounce) in the ending battle to warn Algren of a soldier who was about to shoot him. He then jumps in the way of the shot and is hit in the stomach. He kills the soldier immediately after but then drops dead.
- Koyuki as Taka, Katsumoto's sister and the wife of the red-masked Samurai Hirotoro Algren kills in the opening battle. Initially is repulsed by Algren's presence in her house despite her kind treatment towards him, but as Algren begins to assume more of a father-role to her children she begins to appreciate him and eventually accepts Algren's apology for her Hirotoro's death.
- Billy Connolly as Sergeant Zebulon Gant, a former cavalry soldier who served with Algren and talked him into coming to Japan. He is later killed in the opening battle by Hirotoro (Taka's husband).
- Tony Goldwyn as Colonel Bagley, Capt. Algren's commanding officer in the 7th Cavalry Regiment, who was contacted by Omura to have him, Algren and Sgt. Gant train the Imperial Army. During training he orders a premature strike against Katsumoto with an undertrained army which results in a disastrous defeat and Algren's capture by Katsumoto. He has little if any respect for the samurai and refers to them as "Savages with bows and arrows," implying a comparison to his campaigns against the Native Americans. He almost loses his job to Algren but Algren refuses to take it. In the final battle he is killed by Algren when Algren throws his katana at him while he tries to shoot Katsumoto, ending the underlying resentment between Algren and Bagley in the opening scenes in which Algren remarks under his breath that he would "happily kill Bagley for free".
Trivia
Although many of the film's cast members are Japanese, the production crew is almost entirely American, and most of the movie was filmed in New Zealand.
See also
External links
- [Official website]
- [}}}] at Rotten Tomatoes
- [}}}] at Box Office Mojo
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