Mifune: The Last Samurai
Mifune: The Last Samurai, also known as Mifune, is a 2015 biographical documentary directed by Steven Okazaki. It chronicles the life of Toshiro Mifune, a Japanese actor and international star most noted for playing samurai characters in films by Akira Kurosawa.[1]
| Mifune: The Last Samurai | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Steven Okazaki |
| Produced by | Toshiaki Nakazawa |
| Screenplay by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | Jeffrey wood |
| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Steven Okazaki |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Strand Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
Plot
Cast
- Toshiro Mifune (archival footage) as Himself
- Akira Kurosawa (archival footage) as Himself
- Kyōko Kagawa as Herself
- Yoko Tsukasa as Herself
- Yoshio Tsuchiya as Himself
- Takeshi Kato as Himself
- Kaoru Yachigusa as Herself
- Yosuke Natsuki as Himself
- Terumi Niki as Herself
- Steven Spielberg as Himself
- Martin Scorsese as Himself
- Shiro Mifune as Himself
- Hisao Kurosawa as Himself
- Teruyo Nogami as Herself
- Tadao Sato as Himself
- Sadao Nakajima as Himself
- Haruo Nakajima as Himself
- Kanzo Uni as Himself
- Wataru Akashi as Himself
- Kōji Yakusho as Himself
- Keanu Reeves as Narrator
Production
Mifune was produced by Toshiaki Nakazawa, known for producing 13 Assassins and Sukiyaki Western Django.[2]
Writing
Mifune is inspired by the book Samurai: Hyōden Mifune Toshirō (Samurai: A Biography of Mifune Toshirō) by Matsuda Michiko.[1][3]
Filming
Release
Mifune officially opened on November 25, 2016 at the IFC Center in New York City, over a year after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September 2015.[4][2]
Its opening coincided with Toshiro Mifune being honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—the ceremony also featured a screening of the film.[5]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10.[7]
On Metacritic, the film has a score of 64 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]
Awards and nominations
- Venice Film Festival (2015)
- Nominated – Best Documentary on Cinema – Steven Okazaki
- Nominated – Documentary Feature – Steven Okazaki
- Denver International Film Festival (2016)
- Nominated – Best Documentary – Steven Okazaki
References
- Okazaki, Steven (Director) (November 25, 2016). Mifune: The Last Samurai (Motion picture). United States: Creative Associates Limited.
- Maunula, Vili. "Mifune: The Last Samurai shown at the Venice Film Festival". Akira Kurosawa Info. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- "Matsuda Michiko". Nippon. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- Kohn, Eric. "Toshiro Mifune: The First Non-White Movie Hero – Interview". IndieWire. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- "Hollywood Chamber to Honor Toshiro Mifune with Walk of Fame Star". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- "Mifune Netflix and DVD Release". Farallon Films. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- "Mifune: The Last Samurai". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- "Mifune: The Last Samurai". Metacritic. Retrieved May 14, 2018.