Seven Samurai (1954) Dir: Akira Kurosawa
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Akira Kurosawa is one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time, and some of his most popular and enduring films are those belonging to the samurai genre. This 1954 classic is almost certainly the most famous samurai film ever. I actually studied Kurosawa's filmmaking at university, but, somehow, failed to watch any of his films until now. I thought there was no better place to start than here.
Even for the 50's, some of Kurosawa's cinematography was absolutely stunning in its variety. The black and white footage was no issue, as the wonderful landscapes and sets of Kurosawa's feudal world come to the fore with great detail. The costume design is also worthy of praise - each character feels unique in appearance, and befitting the era in which the film is set.
The film has a classic story of unlikely heroes battling a seemingly insurmountable foe - one which famously inspired the classic 1960 western; 'The Magnificent Seven'. The film is, perhaps, a little too long, being comfortably over three hours, but the wait is worth it for the film's exciting and chaotic climax. Furthermore, some of the camerawork and staging during this climax is exemplary, giving the audience some iconic shots.
In regards to the ensemble cast, I enjoyed everyone's acting quite a bit, with the standouts being Toshirō Mifune and Takeshi Shimura, whose acting was thoroughly entertaining - especially Mifune, who had some hilarious moments, thanks to his unhinged character. Shimura played the wise old head role with poise and grace.
It's also more than worth mentioning the other supporting figures in the film, played by the likes of Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Katō, Isao Kimura, and Keiko Tsushima. Each brought their own identity to their character that helped each of them feel memorable in their own way.
Overall, while I did struggle a little with the sheer length of this film, I cannot fault its excellence beyond that. It is well and truly deserving of the title of classic, and is full of excellent filmmaking and intriguing characters. I am already looking forward to watching more of Kurosawa's beloved filmography, and I'm certainly glad that I started here.
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