Mifune: The Last Samurai (2016) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Mifune The Last Samurai 
Year: 2016
Director: Steven Okazaki
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese

Toshiro Mifune appeared in 126 films and, from 1946 to his death in 1997, was Japan’s most famous actor. Mifune embodied a quality Steven Spielberg has described as “from the Earth,” meaning the actor’s style was primal, as though something had been unleashed. Like Bruce Lee, Mifune had piercing eyes and a charisma onscreen that few actors could imitate. Although many of his contributions outside Akira Kurosawa are overlooked, there is little wonder to why this man is such a cultural icon. 

This is a feature-length documentary about the life and films of legendary actor Toshiro Mifune, narrated by Keanu Reeves.

Director Steven Okazaki considers his frequent theme of Eastern influence on Western culture and vice versa. A previous film of his, called Unfinished Business, was about the detainment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans in camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Fortunately with Mifune: The Last Samurai this eastern/western influence is positive. The samurai theme is quite weak, as it only is meant to tie the man to his film roles. Okazaki never quite ties together samurai beliefs with Mifune.

The film succeeds as a straight-forward linear progression of Mifune's professional career, while giving us some insight to his personal life. Most of the documentary is presented complete with archival footage, stills, and testimonials from a variety of Mifune’s fellow actors. Other contributors include Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader, and Spielberg, but it’s rather surprising that filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas do not appear, given their outspoken fondness for the Mifune-Kurosawa films.

 Mifune is not the most in-depth documentary, but is is an essential must-see for those who have never heard of the man before. Toshiro Mifune may be the most important non-English speaking actor of cinematic history. It's an engaging film, but to truly understand Mifune's charisma one must watch his films themselves.