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 “A
man does what he can until his destiny is revealed.”
Those are
tall words coming from Tom Cruise, who revealed his destiny years
ago when he became the biggest movie star on the planet. An image
like that can go a long way when it comes to promoting a sprawling
period piece like The Last Samurai, but it can also threaten
to overshadow his actual performance. If that’s not enough, the
trailers for this nearly-$100 million Oscar-wannabe were less
than impressive, making it look like a far-east retread of Kevin
Costner’s epic Dances With Wolves.
Well, there’s
nothing like having a movie exceed your expectations in just about
every way, for not only does Cruise transcend his superstar status
with a commanding performance, but The Last Samurai is
also a breathtaking triumph for director Edward Zwick. Electrifying,
mesmerizing and overwhelmingly powerful, the film will surely
dominate next year’s Academy Awards with nominations in a slew
of categories – including a 4th Oscar nod for Tommy-boy himself.
The year
is 1876, and Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is a Civil War
hero whose soul has been beaten and battered by his experiences.
The nation he once risked his life for has changed, leaving him
to wallow in the dust as a man without a country. That changes
when he is reluctantly hired to train the Japanese emperor’s new
army to fight against the Samurai, who are struggling to hold
onto their way of life. During their first battle, Algren is beaten
and taken captive by the Samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), who teaches
him his code of conduct in an effort to save his soul.
With a body
of work that includes 1989’s Glory, 1994’s Legends of
the Fall and 1996’s Courage Under Fire, director Edward
Zwick (who won an Oscar for producing 1998’s Shakespeare in
Love) is no stranger to films that deal with the long-lasting
emotional consequences of war. The Last Samurai takes that theme
to the next level, as it effortlessly traverses Algren’s spiritual
transformation from a war-torn has-been to a rejuvenated leader.
Algren’s captivity scenes can be slow-moving at times, but they
are more than offset by the beautiful scenery, exciting sword
fights and breathtaking battle scenes (complete with a climax
that’s straight out of Braveheart).
Comparisons
are bound to be made to Dances With Wolves, but The
Last Samurai can also be described as Tom Cruise’s Gladiator.
Co-writer John Logan, who won an Oscar for Gladiator, infuses
the movie with sparse amounts of humor and romance just where
they are needed the most. His dialogue is also poetic, as when
Algren’s inexperienced army prepares to fight the Samurai for
the first time, he arrogantly comments, “I don’t give a damn about
the Samurai, I just want to know my enemy.”
Tom Cruise
once again proves that he is one of the greatest actors of our
time with a physically grueling and emotionally devastating performance
that easily stands alongside his best work in Born on the Fourth
of July, Magnolia, Rain Man and Jerry Maguire. There’s
no doubt that he did most of his own stunts (as he often does),
but even on an emotional level, Cruise rises to the challenge
with a moving and powerful hero’s journey that will stay with
you for days.
As far as
supporting performances are concerned, it’s safe to say that everyone
will be talking about Ken Watanabe’s incredible turn as Katsumoto,
the Samurai leader who refuses to surrender to encroaching industrialization
and imperialism. Watanabe is strong, sympathetic and charismatic,
and he and Cruise complement each other with equally engaging
effectiveness. Tony Goldwyn also gives a strong performance, making
the best out of a brief role as Cruise’s former commander.
If there
is a flaw to be found with The Last Samurai, it’s that
we’ve seen it all before. You can’t help but think of other movies
while you’re watching certain scenes, and that may hurt its chances
on Oscar night (especially since the aforementioned Dances
With Wolves, Braveheart and Gladiator all won Academy
Awards for Best Picture). Having said that, The Last Samurai
is still a fantastic film in its own right, and it will surely
stand the test of Tom.
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