The brand new Toshirō Mifune documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai had its premiere in the US theatres yesterday. Until now confined to the film festival circuit, the film should now be playing in the larger cities, although I have trouble finding out where, exactly. By this, I gather the “wide” release isn’t quite as wide as the word might imply.
Early reviews are on the whole positive, although there does seem to be a consensus of opinion that the film could have done with more depth and substance.
The film is narrated by Keanu Reeves. Here’s a trailer:
No doubt somehow connected to the documentary’s opening, Mifune also finally received his Walk of Fame star in Hollywood. This was originally announced last year.
Have you seen the film, or are you planning to go to see it? Drop a comment below if you do manage to catch it.
this documentary is now available for streaming on netflix. i haven’t checked whether this availability applies outside of the USA.
i enjoyed it, though i felt it was too short, and maybe the opening lingered a bit too long on the background of samurai films prior to the impact of kurosawa and mifune.
given mifune’s alcohol use, i wonder whether his dementia was really alzheimer’s type. it could have been alcohol-related damage, or a combination of alzheimer’s and alcohol-related causes. if he suffered a stroke, then vascular dementia could have been a component of his cognitive decline. car accidents could also have caused traumatic brain injury.