The Last Samurai

Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is a survivor of the Little Bighorn. He is disillusioned, depressed, and disgusted with his own culture, and its part in the genocide of the American Indian. Now a sideshow attraction, Nathan is approached with an interesting offer. Colonel Bagley (Tony Goldwyn) a man Nathan despises introduces him to Minister Omura (Masato Harada). Omura is there at the behest of the Emperor of Japan to obtain the best military instructors to help modernize the Japanese army. Algren is offered five years pay to train the army for six months in modern warfare. He takes the job.

In Japan, he finds the people willing, if not skilled. He works to educate his troops in the use of fire arms, aided by his old sergeant, Zebulon Gant (Billy Connolly.) Gant is a military man through and through, as is demonstrated as he takes command of his troops for the first time. Understand not one of them speaks a word of English.

Gant: "Right, you little bastards! You will stand up straight or I will personally sh!t kick every far eastern buttock that appears before me eyes!" (Mad scramble to attention)

Algren: "Well done, Sergeant."

Gant: "When you understand the language, sir, everything falls into place."

But bureaucracy is the same in any language, and they are sent into battle even when Algren proves that they are not ready.

A warrior poet, a battle dancer, Algren forestalls the inevitable end as long as he can, killing the man poised to end him with a broken standard. He is seen by Katsumoto (Oscar nominee for the role, Ken Watanabe), and spared. Taken to a hidden village high in the mountains, he undergoes the painful process of detoxing.

Trapped in the village until the spring thaws once again make war possible, Algren has time to get to know his captors. He realizes that the woman who takes care of him is the wife of the man he killed. He also realizes that these people may not be modern, but they are far from primitive. He realizes his captor, Katsumoto, is a man of honor, a general of distinction, and a poet. He is someone he can respect.

Algren, a natural linguist, learns the language, and enough of the custom not to be a burden on his hosts. As things progress, he comes to admire the samurai, and their constant striving for excellence.

His unfamiliarity with custom also pays off for Katsumoto. Since he did not understand the nuance of the festival play, Algren was the only person to notice the ninja mounting an attack. Forewarned, the villagers manage to prevent Katsumoto's assassination.

In the spring, Katsumoto restores Algren to "civilization." Omura, whom Algren knows ordered the assassination, wants him to lead the new army. Algren refuses, then learns that Omura has arranged for the outlawing of the samurai, and for Katsumoto's death. Algren, along with Katsumoto's retainers, springs their leader from captivity, and flees back to the mountains.

And now the stage is set; Omura can not let this pass. The modern army must come after this anachronistic rebel. And Katsumoto and his allies know that they are doomed. But they intend to die a glorious death, one that will perhaps persuade the Emperor that the samurai still have something to offer.

The Camera

This is a beautiful film. The scenery is indescribably beautiful, the village all the more lovely for not being perfectly manicured. The costumes are stunning, so much so that this film was nominated for an Oscar (one of four) for costuming. The scene where Algren is doing kata silhouetted against the sunset is breath taking. A series of postcards gathered into a flip book, few shots do not stand as poster worthy.

The Score

While beautiful, if I have a complaint, it is with the musical score. It is almost entirely western in origin, conveying none of the ethereal beauty of Japanese traditional music.

The Cast

Ken Watanabe was nominated for an Oscar for his role in this movie. It was well earned. Nor were there any disappointments. I particularly liked Timothy Spall as Simon Graham, the interpreter and photographer. Nobutada, played by Shin Koyamada was another favorite, likable, bright and fierce. An excellent performance.

And Tom Cruise, what ever one may think of his religious views (and in this case, it's not much) is a brilliant actor. He brings a brooding vulnerability to the role of Algren that sells the premise of a man disgusted with his own culture, and looking to belong to one of which he can be proud. A brilliant performance.

I love this movie. Like so many of my favorites, it bears up to repeated watching. I think we all long to belong to something greater and nobler than ourselves. Nathan Algren was a man who when he found something like that, gave everything to be a part of it. How can one not admire such courage?

To live is to serve

Duty, honor, Emperor:

The Last Samurai.