The Last Samurai   
 

Nathan Algren: Tom Cruise

Katsumoto: Ken Watanabe

Colonel Bagley: Tony Goldwyn

Omura: Masato Harada

Simon Graham: Timothy Spall

 

Directed by Edward Zwick

Story by John Logan

Screenplay by John Logan and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
The Last Samurai is the story of how two men of different cultures come to admire each other for the similarities they see between them.  It's also about the acceptance of and assimilation into a foreign culture.  In these respects, it shares a lot of themes with previous movies, most recently, Dances With Wolves.  However, it conveys the story very well and still seems fresh despite the familiar premise.

Tom Cruise plays Nathan Algren, an alienated soldier who is constantly haunted by the images of killing innocent Native American women and children.  He is given an offer by the Japanese to train an army to quell an uprising from a group of Samurai led by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe).  In an early battle, the inexperienced army is overrun by the Samurai.  Algren's life is spared by Katsumoto who wants to learn about the enemy he faces.  He takes Algren back to his village to stay through the winter.

Needless to say, Algren sees the obvious similarities between the Samurai and the Native Americans he once so brutally slain.  He develops a kinship with them and begins to respect Katsumoto.

It is apparent that a lot went into recreating late 19th century Japan here.  There was no doubt that I was staring into the life of an actual Samurai village in the mountains of Japan.  And, while that is admirable, should that really be the first thing I think of to praise?

Cruise does an excellent job here, and further proves to me what an outstanding and versatile actor he is.  He never gets the credit he is due.  However, Ken Watanabe is the star of this movie.  He has a dynamic screen presence and is able to effectively portray Katsumoto as a compassionate warrior willing to die for his way of life.  It is a performance worth seeing.    

I have to admit that I've had trouble writing a review of this movie.  I liked it, but not all of it.  There were a lot of things to admire about this movie, but there were other things that prevented it from being what I felt it could have been.  But, ultimately, I would recommend it.  

In all honesty, the problem is the ending.  I watched the movie to its logical and heartfelt conclusion only to have to sit through another 15 minutes of  implausible wrap-up.  It cheapened what was otherwise a great movie up to that point, which is always frustrating.