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"We only realize how beautiful life is... when we face death." One of the finest filmmakers of all-time. Film Forum in NYC is hosting a magnificent retrospective screening series this summer titled Kurosawa in 4K, co-hosted by Janus Films. Janus is the US distributor on many of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's classic films throughout his career. Most of his films have since been fully restored and remastered in 4K - and they'll be showing back on the big screen. Starting in NYC, of course, but hopefully more of them will tour around the country (Seven Samurai already played in many art house theaters last year). All the latest 4K restorations were completed by Toho Co., Ltd in Japan, with many being shown in the US for the very first time, including Throne Of Blood, Stray Dog, High And Low, The Hidden Fortress, Ikiru, Yojimbo, and Sanjuro. The screening series begins on July 18th,...

Akira Kurosawa’s legacy is getting the 4K treatment with a massive U.S. festival. Film Forum in New York City will be hosting a special retrospective to honor the late auteur, including the U.S. premieres of a slew of 4K restorations of Kurosawa’s most beloved films.

From July 18 to 31, Film Forum will screen the new 4K restorations of “High and Low,” “Throne of Blood,” “Stray Dog,” “Ikiru,” “Yojimbo,” “Sanjuro,” and “The Hidden Fortress.” The festival coincides with Spike Lee’s reimagining of Kurosawa’s 1963 crime drama “High and Low,” titled “Highest 2 Lowest,” which debuted at Cannes 2025.

Kurosawa’s acclaimed “Seven Samurai” recently celebrated its 70th anniversary with a 4K restoration and theatrical re-release in 2024. The restored film debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the festival also honored Kurosawa’s contributions to cinema by incorporating a still of “Rhapsody in August” in the official Cannes poster that year.

Forty years ago, a clerical error and bad blood cost Akira Kurosawa an Oscar.

The legendary Japanese filmmaker's Ran proved the final samurai masterpiece of his distinguished career. His third Shakespeare adaptation, the film is epic in every sense of the word — massive in scale, shot in glorious color, with vicious betrayal and intense action and emotion. At the time of its release in 1985, Kurosawa was certainly well-regarded by the Motion Picture Academy, receiving an Honorary Award for Outstanding Foreign-Language Film for Rashomon, followed by Best Foreign-Language Film in 1976 for Dersu Uzala. The 58th Academy Awards found Ran competing for four awards, including Kurosawa’s only Best Director nod — despite not being submitted for Best Foreign-Language Film, a snub that was the product of a messy history.

Kurosawa was remarkably influential in the West. Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars was essentially a remake of Yojimbo, and films as...

Actor-director collaborations are unlike any other in movies, and have more in common with a musician-conductor, or even a star athlete and coach. It involves people with different roles and skills who together elevate the entire production through their abilities (actor/musician/athlete), and leadership (director/conductor/coach). Some may go even further, and say the relationship between actor and director is almost like the instrument and its musician. But whichever way you characterize the actor-director relationship, there's no denying there have been many great ones in movie history. We're looking at the best ever.

I'm focusing on quality, not quantity, so while Bill Murray has been in almost every Wes Anderson movie, he's mostly been in small roles. I'm also looking at diversity of output, so while Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford have made four movies together, all were "Indiana Jones" movies (though Ford famously turned Spielberg down for...

We are officially living in an age where '90s movies are regarded as period pieces, and that thought makes many of us millennial types feel old. However, we can find comfort in aging knowing that the best art is timeless, and some movies will find new fans for as long as they are available to the viewing public. This brings us to "Ben-Hur," a 1959 historical epic about betrayal, friendship, and faith, which FlixPatrol reports is riding high on Tubi at the time of this writing.

Based on Lew Wallace's novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ" from 1880, the William Wyler-directed epic tells the story of Judah (Charlton Heston), a Jewish prince who embarks on a vengeance crusade against his old friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd). In short, Messala imprisons and enslaves Judah for speaking out against the Roman Empire, so it is understandable why their relationship becomes strained afterward.

"Seven Samurai" by master Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa might just be the most remade film ever. The 1954 film is, sure enough, about seven samurai recruited to protect a farming village from bandits. The setting, themes, and characters are Japanese, but the premise is evergreen. "The Magnificent Seven" is just "Seven Samurai" but with cowboys. "A Bug's Life" retold the story with, well, bugs. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" episode "Bounty Hunters" recruits the seven from Jedi Knights and alien mercenaries. 

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas is a well-known fan of Kurosawa. (Lucas even helped him finance his 1980 epic "Kagemusha.") The galaxy far, far away isn't the only space franchise that can riff on "Seven Samurai" though. "Star Trek: Enterprise" aped the premise for its season 2 episode, "Marauders."

First, though, why are Kurosawa's films so often remade in spirit (besides them being so good)? One reason is ease of translation. Kurosawa...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Roxy Cinema

The Limits of Control and Unfaithful screen on 35mm; Claire Denis’ No Fear, No Die and the rare Turkish film Yol play Sunday.

Film Forum

An Ealing Studios retrospective starts; the 4K restoration of Michelangelo Antonioni’s Il Grido continues and Willy Wonka screens on Sunday.

Bam

Films by Harmony Korine, Todd Haynes, and Martin Scorsese play this weekend in “Outrage: Movies and the Culture Wars, 1987–1996.”

Museum of the Moving Image

The Frank Oz series continues, while Vanishing Point screens on Sunday.

Metrograph

Napoleon Dynamite, Throne of Blood, and Wild at Heart show on 35mm; a Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn program begins; The World Is a Stage, Nicolas Uncaged, My Crazy Uncle (or Aunt), Insomnia, and Crush the Strong, Help the Weak continue.

Museum of Modern Art

A massive retrospective of Portuguese cinema continues.

IFC Center

A...

Toshiro Mifune is an iconic Japanese actor and producer, and his collaborations with renowned directors, particularly Akira Kurosawa, changed the world's perception of Japanese films. Mifune is recognized for his intensity, physical presence, and adaptability, portraying various hypermasculine characters, from samurai warriors to contemporary businessmen. His partnership created some of Akira Kurosawa's best films and defined Japanese cinema during the mid-20th century, drawing international attention to Japans burgeoning film industry. Mifune symbolized Japanese cinemas artistic excellence and impacted the film industry throughout his career.

Mifunes expertise extended beyond working with Kurosawa. He collaborated with arguably worked with some of the best directors of all time, such as Masaki Kobayashi and John Boorman, showcasing his versatility and global star power. Whether depicting a battle-weary soldier, a determined detective, or an expert samurai, Mifune elevated every role with unparalleled charisma and depth. His influence on cinema resonates today, as his finest films captivate audiences worldwide.

Akira Kurosawas Seven Samurai is known as one of the best action films ever made a must-watch for any cinephile, those in film classes, or action/samurai movie lovers. That being said, this means that many covet the chance to own such an iconic piece of media in physical form, which they now get to, in 4K.

Blu-ray has just announced that Seven Samurai will be released once again in 4K Blu-ray and on regular Blu-ray on Oct. 21 for its 70th anniversary, marking a huge milestone for such a beloved film. It is the British Film Institute's best-selling Blu-ray, VHS, and DVD release of all time, and will also be the first release ever of the 4K Blu-ray in the United Kingdom. After being newly restored by Toho, Japan, it had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

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Related 10 Best Samurai Movies (That Aren't Directed by Akira Kurosawa...

Akira Kurosawa's films established cinematic language, defining filmmaking for over 80 years, with some of the highest critical acclaim. The best Akira Kurosawa films like Rashomon and Seven Samurai showcase his influence on storytelling, inspiring filmmakers like George Lucas. Hidden Fortress and Red Beard are accessible entry points to Akira Kurosawa's movies, revealing his genius for pushing cinematic boundaries.

As one of the greatest directors of all time, the best Akira Kurosawa films show the amazing influence the filmmaker continues to have on artists who followed. The trailblazing Japanese storyteller helped to establish the language of cinema and define certain filmmaking tenets that have persisted for over eight decades. As such, Kurosawa's most venerated work boasts some of his highest critical acclaim. Kurosawa started his directorial career in 1943 during World War II. After the war ended, Kurosawa used the tragedy that befell his country as an influence and created some of cinema's best movies.

The 1970 war epic "Tora! Tora! Tora!" takes place from August 1939 to December 1941, dramatizing the wartime events that led up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film alternately follows the American and the Japanese military during the same 29-month period, with the American sequences directed by Richard Fleischer and the Japanese sequences directed by Kinji Fukusaku (of "Battle Royale" fame) and Toshiro Masuda. 20th Century Fox ultra-producer Darryl F. Zanuck conceived of the project, as he wanted to give a proper telling of both sides of Pearl Harbor while also wanting to partially exonerate the American military (which had previously been blamed for its inability to prevent the attack).

Planning and shooting "Tora!" took an amazingly long amount of time. Pre-production wrangling lasted about three years, with principal photography taking an entire eight months. To make sure the Japanese segments would be handled by a master, Fox hired Akira Kurosawa to co-direct.

Few feats in filmmaking are rarer that churning out a string of classics within the span of a few years. It's the cineaste equivalent of, I dunno, whatever sports metaphor you deem fit to slot in here. John McTiernan did it by delivering "Predator," "Die Hard," and "The Hunt for Red October" back-to-back-to-back, while Francis Ford Coppola did him one better by helming "The Godfather," "The Conversation," and "The Godfather Part II" within the span of two years before returning five years later with "Apocalypse Now." But for my money, fews runs can match that of Akira Kurosawa in the '50s, a time in which the Japanese legend gifted us with "Rashōmon," "Ikiru," "Seven Samurai," "Throne of Blood," and "The Hidden Fortress," all before the decade was over.

Now, in the latest bid to boost 2024's sagging box office with an exciting theatrical re-release, Janus Films is celebrating "Seven Samurai...

Even among the more underrated Akira Kurosawa films are timeless masterpieces.

If films like “Dersu Uzala” and “The Idiot” and “Kagemusha” aren’t talked about as much, it’s because the best-known Kurosawa titles — “Seven Samurai,” “Rashomon,” “Throne of Blood” — also happen to be among the most influential movies ever made, casting their shadow over the Spaghetti Western genre, “Star Wars,” and so many more.

Just within the past few weeks, a movie loosely based on “Seven Samurai,” Zack Snyder’s misbegotten “Rebel Moon Part 2,” started streaming, Spike Lee confirmed he’ll direct an adaptation of “High and Low,” and, let’s face it, there’d probably be no “Shogun” at all without the Kurosawa-immortalized Japanese samurai culture onscreen. Probably no director other than Fritz Lang and John Ford has influenced as many genres as Kurosawa, who died in 1998.

But instead of focusing so much on his impact, look at the films.

One of Hollywood's most frustrating recent news stories is that Francis Ford Coppola is having trouble finding distribution for his self-funded passion project, "Megalopolis" (via The Hollywood Reporter). In a just world, making "The Godfather" would grant Coppola a lifetime blank check, but that has never been the world we've lived in.

What you may not be aware of is one of Coppola's influences for his magnum opus. Like his friend "Star Wars" director George Lucas, Coppola looked to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While Lucas took after Kurosawa's Jidaigeki (historical) films, Coppola looked to one of the director's contemporary-set films: "The Bad Sleep Well."

Released in 1960 and starring his go-to leading man Toshiro Mifune, the movie is one of Kurosawa's (comparatively) more obscure ones. It was especially overshadowed by "High and Low," the masterful kidnapping thriller that Kurosawa and Mifune released in 1963. Both movies are set in the world of...

Roxy Cinema

Our 35mm presentation of Bertrand Bonello’s House of Tolerance screens on Saturday and Sunday; Jessica Hausner’s Hotel plays on Friday, as does a Frank Tashlin / Jerry Lewis double-bill of Hollywood or Bust and The Geisha Boy; The Bridges of Madison County and Lenny Cooke play on Saturday, while One Hand Don’t Clap shows Sunday; Red Rock West plays Saturday and Sunday.

Anthology Film Archives

Films by Jean-Luc Godard and more play in Afterimage.

Museum of Modern Art

The essential work of Ernie Gehr plays in a new retrospective.

Film Forum

The Japanese horror series continues with Ugetsu, Throne of Blood, Audition, Godzilla, and more; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang plays on 35mm this Sunday.

IFC Center

The End of Evangelion plays this Sunday; The Big Lebowski, Fight Club, Under the Silver Lake, and The Shining play late.

The post NYC Weekend Watch: House of Tolerance on 35mm...

Some of the most famous movies to ever come out of Japan have revolved around samurai. In Japan, the sub-genre is known as "chambara" (movies about sword fighting), and the primary genre is known as jidaigeki (historical dramas set around the time of the samurai). Akira Kurosawa's films are probably the best-known within the realm of samurai cinema, with Seven Samurai being perhaps the most famous Japanese movie of all time; other iconic samurai films by Kurosawa include Yojimbo and Throne of Blood.

Drive-Away Dolls, the new film directed by Ethan Coen, which he coscripted with his partner Tricia Cooke, is a lot of things. First, it's a throwback, in every sense of the word, to the late 90s and early aughts, when teen-oriented movies had names like Dick or Dude, Where's My Car? It was an era in which a near-endless multitude of movies was oriented around scenes that played like half-baked sketches from the SNL slush pile, with only a wisp of plot to give the illusion that something was actually going on. For every Eyes Wide Shut, Topsy-Turvy, and Beau Trevail -- films that smack of idiosyncratic artistry -- there were dozens of titles, like Jawbreaker or But I'm a Cheerleader, that were so thoroughly enmeshed with the cultural mores of the era that they can't help but feel like essential time capsules -- especially for those, like this author,...

Despite being hailed as a genius in the West, Kurosawa faced dismissal and criticism in Japan, causing a downward spiral. Kurosawa's films had a significant impact on international cinema, inspiring genres like spaghetti westerns and gaining recognition globally. Kurosawa struggled to find support and funding in Japan, turning to foreign directors like Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas to produce his later films.

Akira Kurosawa's contributions to movies are evident, and his role in shaping the art form as a pioneer is indisputable today. A master of staging large-scale battles and small personal dramas alike, his decades of films illustrated his range and knack for creating powerful images. In fact, even as early as 1960, still in his prime, his skill behind the camera was recognized by the world. At the top of his game, bringing a new-found international respect and enthusiasm to Japanese cinema, he faced one of the...

There would be no "Star Wars" without Akira Kurosawa. The fabled Japanese filmmaker was a massive influence on creator George Lucas and his vision for a galaxy far, far away, with his period adventures "Seven Samurai" and especially "The Hidden Fortress" informing so much of the Jedi's aesthetics and philosophy, as well as the plot and characters of "A New Hope." Creatives on more recent "Star Wars" projects have only continued to mine inspiration from Kurosawa's oeuvre, with Rian Johnson drawing pretty explicitly from the director's classic "Rashomon" for the perspective-shifting flashbacks to Luke Skywalker's confrontation with his nephew Ben Solo in "The Last Jedi."

For "Ahsoka," a spinoff of "The Mandalorian" and live-action sequel to his animated series "Star Wars Rebels," creator Dave Filoni -- who's since been promoted to chief creative officer of Lucasfilm -- looked to another Kurosawa film entirely for the show's most fantastical outing yet.

Dave Filoni does not like to throw away his toys.

Since joining "Star Wars" as a director on the 2008 "The Clone Wars" cartoon series, he's become the protégé of creator George Lucas and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm. Characters introduced (Ahsoka Tano) and reintroduced (Darth Maul) in "The Clone Wars" and follow-up shows like "Star Wars Rebels" and "The Mandalorian" continue to return time and time again, be it in animation or live-action.

The new trailer for the final season of "The Bad Batch" reveals another face is returning; Asajj Ventress. The trailer holds her appearance for an ending surprise, with Nika Futterman's raspy voice slithering in as narration before Ventress charges out with a yellow lightsaber.

There's just one problem — Ventress is supposed to be dead. In the 2015 novel "Star Wars: Dark Disciple" (authored by Christie Golden and based on scripts written for "The Clone Wars" before it...

One of George Lucas' primary influences when making "Star Wars" was Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, who is generally considered his country's best director aside from maybe Yasujirō Ozu. Whereas Ozu is famous for making domestic comedies and dramas, Kurosawa made movies that felt epic: samurai movies, noir thrillers ("High & Low"), and Shakespearean stories translated into his homeland's history ("Throne of Blood").

This may be one reason why "Star Wars" is popular in Japan. If you don't believe the box office, look at Japanese pop culture; anime cornerstones like "Gundam" owe a debt to Lucas. One Japanese "Star Wars" fan is Hiromu Arakawa, the manga artist most famous for creating "Fullmetal Alchemist." (Arakawa is not shy about expressing her opinions on the "Star Wars" films either.)

Set in a world where alchemy is more than just a pseudoscience, "Fullmetal Alchemist" primarily follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who search far...

There is simply no denying the filmography of this great director is filled with glorious and breathtaking moments. In “Throne of Blood”, when Lord Washizu (played by Toshiro Mifune) sees the ghost of Miki (Akira Kubo) who has been murdered by Washizu's assassins for fear of dethroning him, is one of these moments which still haunts audiences. The occasion, a dinner at Cobweb Caste, Washizu's fortress as the new lord, sets the tone for the event, as it is a festivity meant to re-affirm the former's general's status and the order within his realm. However, his expression when seeing the ghost destroys all illusion that basically anything is in order and highlights the chaos, as Washizu himself has continued to upset a much higher order and now has to pay the price.

The mastery of this scene in particular has to do with its execution, which is in stark contrast...

Many films have reinterpreted or loosely remade other films, from Kurosawa's Throne of Blood retelling the tale of Macbeth to Scorsese making his version of the Hong Kong action classic Infernal Affairs with The Departed. However, Bone Tomahawk takes the cake as one of the most creative loose remakes ever made. Bone Tomahawk takes the age-old story of Beowulf, originally existing as a poem in the first couple of centuries post-Christianity, while also taking influence from some other common interpretations of the story, specifically 1999's The 13th Warrior starring Antonio Banderas and the book from which it was adapted, Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton.

After the drama “I Live in Fear”, acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa would return to the jidaigeki with “Throne of Blood”, arguably one of the most popular works within his filmography. Being an adaptation of William Shakespeare's “Macbeth”, the feature follows the basic structure of the play's plot. However, Kurosawa infused the story with several elements embedded within Japanese culture, such as bushido, systems of belief and superstition. As a result, “Throne of Blood” stands out among the many adaptations of the famous drama as it stays true to its origin but at the same time explores its themes within the aforementioned cultural narratives Kurosawa has chosen for his feature.

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Having successfully defeated the enemies of their lord, generals Washizu (Toshiro Mifune) and Miki (Akira Kubo) are on their way back to Cobweb Caste, but get lost in the maze-like forest surrounding the fortress.

The samurai genre in Japanese cinema has given rise to incredible films that explore society and cultural landscapes. Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is arguably one of the greatest films ever produced and has had a major influence on Western cinema. Other notable samurai films include Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, Harakiri, and Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance, each exploring different themes and showcasing expert storytelling.

Some of the very best moments in Japanese cinema come from the samurai genre, and there are plenty of incredible movies to check out in this category. Telling dramatic and action-packed tales of brave and noble warriors, these movies are often dark and daring examinations of the society and cultural landscape out of which they are born. Portraying solitary figures with extraordinary martial arts abilities, clans of talented swordsmen, and a variety of sub-genres, the samurai film has also had a major influence on Western cinema.

International cinema offers a variety of films with unique storytelling techniques and genres, providing a different viewing experience from Hollywood movies. Foreign films have had a significant influence on American pop culture, with examples like the Japanese Jidaigeki genre inspiring Star Wars and French New Wave cinema influencing Martin Scorsese's crime films. There are many lesser-known international films beyond the popular ones like Parasite that Hollywood movie fans may enjoy.

International cinema has a great variety of films to explore, from different eras and genres, many of which American movie audiences might not be familiar with. Whether they be in subtitles or not, foreign films often follow different beats than American film viewers are used to. Without the massive budgets that go into Hollywood's film engine, filmmakers from other countries have relied on their own creative techniques to tell their stories, often being the ones to innovate cinema in ways Hollywood would later follow.

Previous recipients include Steven Spielberg, Yoji Yamada and Hou Hsiao-Hsien.

Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is to honour Chinese filmmaker Gu Xiaogang and Indonesian director Mouly Surya with the Kurosawa Akira Award at its upcoming 36th edition, which runs October 23 to November 1.

The award, which was revived last year after an absence of 14 years, is presented to filmmakers who have “made waves in cinema” and are expected to help guide the industry’s future. A ceremony to present the awards will be held at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel on October 31.

Director Gu broke through with internationally acclaimed debut Dwelling In The Fuchun Mountains,...

Netflix is releasing an anime adaptation of Capcom's famous video game series Onimusha. The official trailer for Onimusha is now out! The anime based on the video game series, known for its historical references combined with supernatural elements, will premiere on November 2, 2023. The story is primarily set in the Sengoku period of feudal Japan and follows the story of a samurai named Miyamoto Muashi, modeled after the legendary actor Toshiro Mifune who has starred in classics such as Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood.

James Mangold deserves to be heralded as one of the best directors working today. Mangold is responsible for some of the best films of the 21st century. What’s remarkable about him is the range of projects he’s worked on; social dramas, westerns, biopics, adventure films, and comedies are all within his wheelhouse. It’s amazing to look back at what Mangold has accomplished. Ford v. Ferrari may be easily labeled as a “dad movie,” but Mangold showed that he could make the old-fashioned racing genre feel fresh again. Similarly, Walk the Line is much better than most musician biopics, and 2007’s remake of 3:10 to Yuma is one of the few times in which the modern version ended up being better than the original. He even recently brought back Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

However, Mangold’s most acclaimed film so far has been 2017’s Logan.

While 2013’s 47 Ronin might be a fun fantasy action movie, there are many more movies dedicated to the story of these masterless samurai and their legendary quest. 47 Ronin sees Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rinko Kikuchi, and Ko Shibasaki star in a story of betrayal and revenge. 47 Ronin’s plot concerns the eponymous group of samurai who are left without a master when their daimyo is killed. This story finds its inspiration in the true story of the 47 Ronin, a masterless samurai clan who avenged the death of their former lord. A work of chūshingura, 47 Ronin heavily fictionalizes the story with golems, witches, and supernatural elements.

While 47 Ronin was a massive box office bomb, the cult classic found its audience in the decade since its release. Thanks to its striking style, lush visuals, and action-packed storyline, 47 Ronin earned many fans when the movie hit streaming services.

William Shakespeare's Macbeth has been retold and refashioned countless times over the years, but the very best is Akira Kurosawa's Japanese retelling, Throne of Blood. Macbeth is one of the most popular tales ever written. It's influenced a seemingly infinite number of movies, books, TV shows, and plays. You get the idea, it's basically one of the key texts to have shaped modern fiction. Being that Shakespeare's original work has been adapted so many times, it's one of the key examples of a story begging for a fresh interpretation. Kurosawa's film does just that, swapping out Macbeth for Washizu, medieval Scotland for feudal Japan, and mileage-may-vary Shakespearean dialogue for a lot of yelling. It's awesome, transcending its status as one of Kurosawa's best films and taking the throne as the best adaptation of Macbeth.

Indian filmmaker Subhrajit Mitra’s latest venture “Bandit Queen of Bengal” (aka “Devi Chowdhurani”) will start principal photography in the final quarter of the year.

The film is based on Mitra’s own research into the the advent and invasion of the British East India Company in India, the battles of Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764), the great Bengal famine of 1770, the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion (1770-77) and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s 1884 Bengali-language novel “Devi Chowdhurani,” which features a female freedom fighter protagonist.

The film will follow the journey of a villager who eventually becomes the first Indian woman freedom fighter. It will also tell the story of the Hindu monks who had no other option but to take up arms against their British colonial rulers to save the country and their people. It was the first armed revolution by the Indians, led by Bhavani Charan Pathak, against the British East India Company.

It’s easy to get caught up in awards season excitement as the Oscars approach – the glitz and glamour of the red carpet generating global talking points, memes and pub chatter for weeks on end.

But when it’s really broken down, the Oscars are essentially just a microcosm of Hollywood. It’s a depressing fact that films directed by previous winners have more chance of being nominated than those directed by newcomers.

Because of this, the best film in any given year almost never wins the evening’s most coveted prize – in fact, it’s sometimes not even nominated in the first place. The ceremony in 2021, which saw Parasite take home the top prize, was a rare exception.

Over the decades, there have been countless glaring omissions – films that were nominated but were beaten by far inferior films and classic films that failed to secure a single nomination.

As the 2023 Oscars approach,...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Throne of Blood" (1957)

Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max

The Pitch: A warrior returning from battle is told by a mysterious supernatural entity he is destined to rule the realm he defends, leading him down a dark path of betrayal and murder from which there is no escape. Instead of Scottish general Macbeth, the doomed warrior is Taketoki Washizu (Toshiro Mifune), a samurai commander who serves Kuniharu Tsuzuki (Takamaru Sasaki), the current lord of Spider's Web Forest Castle in feudal Japan. And instead of a trio of witches, the supernatural entity is a shape-shifting spirit (Chieko Naniwa) who dwells deep in the labyrinth of tangled tree branches, hidden paths, and fog that is Spider's Web Forest.

Despite these and other changes,...

Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's contribution to cinema has been unprecedented. Throughout his long and eventful career, Kurosawa crafted films that were both historical and contemporary, which were simultaneously infused with grounded human drama and dreamlike qualities. As someone who was intimately involved in the filming process, Kurosawa paid extensive attention to the visual language of the stories he brought to life. This dedication to details is reflected in almost every film he made, from the profound, violent "Throne of Blood" to the surreal, episodic "Dreams."

However, while Kurosawa was meticulously dedicated to his cinematic vision, he made sure that his characters were given the chance to bloom organically. In an interview with John Powers titled "An Audience with the Emperor," Kurosawa explained how he never wanted any of his films to turn out exactly the way he had written or envisioned them. In order to clarify his stance, Kurosawa...

Darren Aronofsky's 2000 addiction drama "Requiem for a Dream" is an aggressively devastating, forthrightly tragic scare film that long lingers in the consciousness. Based on the 1978 novel by Hubert Selby, Jr., "Requiem" bears all the emotional beats of ignorant "druggie" films of the 1930s ("Reefer Madness" and the like) with the added benefit of hypnotic, brilliant, cinematic style. As each of the characters descends deeper and deeper into self ruin at the hands of their drug thirst, we share their pain, feel their desperation, understand their loss. The world is only briefly bright at the times when the drugs are freshly consumed. All other times are devoted to seeking the high again once it wears off. As William S. Burroughs once said: "A junky runs on junk time. When his junk is cut off, the clock runs down and stops. All he can do is hang on and wait for non-junk time to start.

Legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa opened "Seven Samurai" with a group of bandits approaching a small village on horseback. Between the opening credits and the first shot, Kurosawa established the themes of civil unrest and violence that would permeate the film; the bandit scene predicts the brutal savagery that is about to play out. However, this expectation is undercut when the bandits realize they've already looted the village and plan to return later. This change in plans heightens the anxiety surrounding the forthcoming attack, replayed to audiences via a villager overhearing the exchange and running home to warn the residents. Although this scene appears standard when compared to modern movies, Kurosawa had broken the mold of an established Japanese cinematic trend in a key way. 

Kurosawa's contribution to Japanese cinema is multifaceted. The director imbued his films with themes that were unapologetically relevant for audiences, masterfully using camerawork and symbolism to...

When Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon" won the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival in 1951, it allowed Japanese cinema to begin gaining more of a foothold abroad. Throughout his career, Kurosawa incorporated Western influences into his work, with Shakespeare being one ready example as seen in Kurosawa's "Macbeth" and "King Lear" adaptations, "Throne of Blood" and "Ran." The Westerns of John Ford were another major influence on Kurosawa, who managed to combine such inspirations with a local sensibility rooted in his own unique cultural background. In turn, Kurosawa earned the admiration of global audiences and filmmakers, with "The Hidden Fortress" serving as a major inspiration for George...

The post Akira Kurosawa Had A Theory About His Films' International Appeal appeared first on /Film.

This Bullet Train article contains some spoilers.

Bullet Train comes barreling into theaters loaded with a heaping helping of gratuitous violence. This is no surprise from director David Leitch, who began his career as a stuntman, specifically Brad Pitt’s stuntman. Consequently, Leitch is a master at delivering action and ultra-violence on a grand scale.

The title reflects this and its setting, with the Shinkansen, a 50+ year old network of high-speed railways, colloquially known as the “bullet train” in Japan. Since it began, there has not been a single passenger fatality or injury on board these lines due to either derailments or collisions. That all changes in Leitch’s Bullet Train where a sword through the throat is standard operating procedure.

Bullet Train is based on the 2010 Japanese novel, Maria Bītoru (Maria Beetle), by bestselling author Kōtarō Isaka. This book was translated into English last year and retitled Bullet Train to match the movie,...

It's no exaggeration to say that Akira Kurosawa is one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. The trailblazing Japanese storyteller helped to establish the language of cinema and define certain filmmaking tenets that have persisted for over eight decades. As such, Kurosawa's most venerated work boasts some of the highest movie ratings IMDb has ever seen.

Related: 10 Must-Watch Japanese Movies That Aren't Kurosawa, According To Reddit

From such landmark titles as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Throne of Blood to lesser-known classics like Ran, Red Beard, and more, Akira Kurosawa's most well-received films tend to come from the middle of his moviemaking career, marking a level of quality that has rarely been eclipsed since.

Bruce Tuchman-backed Rialto International has launched a branded on-demand streaming service in Japan, focused on independent film, and housed on Amazon’s Prime Video Channels platform.

Rialto Channel launched in 1999 in New Zealand, where it was initially branded as The Sundance Channel. It established itself as an award-winning and industry-leading indie film destination for over twenty years.

In Japan, the Rialto-branded venue will feature current and iconic independent films. Confirmed content at launch or going forward includes Chloe Zhao’s “The Rider”; an homage to the recently departed director Peter Bogdanovich with “The Last Picture Show”; Brad Pitt and Jason Statham in Guy Richie’s “Snatch”; Michael Caine in “Harry Brown”; Sean Connery in Gus Van Sant’s “Finding Forrester”; Ewan McGregor and actor/director Don Cheadle’s “Miles Ahead”; Jean-Jacques Beineix’s “Diva”; Michelle Williams in Wim Wenders’ “Land of Plenty”; Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law in “Gattaca”; and “8Mm,...

Dr. Marcus Stiglegger is an Austrian film scholar, publicist, musician and occasional director. Over the years, he has made a name for himself with countless publications in the fields of film and media theory in German, but also in English. He has been part of commentaries and other extras for editions of movies published by Arrow Video, Capelight and many other publishers. Stiglegger is the author of books like “Terrorkino. Angst/Lust im Körperhorror” (Terror cinema. Fear and lust in body horror), “SadicoNazista. Geschichte, Film und Mythos” and “Grenzüberschreitungen. Exkursionen ins Abseits der Filmgeschichte” (Transgressions. Excursions into the marginalized areas of film history) among many others. Additionally, he has written many essays on directors such as Abel Ferrara, David Cronenberg, William Friedkin and the western genre. His latest work includes the essay collection “Berlin Visionen. Filmische Stadtbilder seit 1980” (Berlin Visions. Cinematic images of urbanity since 1980) with co-publisher Stefan Jung and “Schwarz.

The writer-director talks about his new film, co-starring Denzel Washington, and reveals how it felt to work without his brother, Ethan, for the first time in nearly 40 years

It might be the unlucky play for British theatre rep types. But for movie directors, Macbeth has been a talisman, a fascinating and liberating challenge – for Akira Kurosawa, with his version, Throne of Blood; for Roman Polanski; and for Justin Kurzel. Even Orson Welles’s once-scorned movie version from 1948, with its quaint Scottish accents, is admired today for its lo-fi energy.

Now, Joel Coen, the co-creator of masterpieces such as Fargo, The Big Lebowski, A Serious Man and No Country for Old Men, has directed a starkly brilliant version entitled The Tragedy of Macbeth, shot in high-contrast black and white, an eerie nightmare of clarity and purity, with Denzel Washington as Macbeth and Frances McDormand (Coen’s wife) as Lady Macbeth.

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Historian and politician John Dalberg Acton is quoted saying, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Is it possible he was reading William Shakespeare’s 1606 play Macbeth when he thought of this? Macbeth has always been a story about power and corruption of the spirit and how greed could turn two seemingly good people into murderers. Was it dormant within them? Or was it an opportunity that sent Lord and Lady Macbeth into a power-obsessed frenzy? Director Joel Coen explores the consequences of war and loss through a fantastical, almost surrealist-like lens in The Tragedy of Macbeth, which world premieres tonight to open the New York Film Festival. He executes Shakespeare’s work in a way that takes inspiration from other adaptations of the play while creating a version that is all his own.

Crows hover under the surface of the sun while a death-knell rings. The weird...

The Scottish Play has been adapted into more than 25 different movies since J. Stuart Blackton first gave it a whirl in 1908, and yet Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is such a strange hybrid between cinema and theater that it seems to exist in a realm all its own. Shot in atemporal black-and-white on a Los Angeles soundstage made to resemble the half-empty guts of a leaky snow-globe, this dark lucid dream of a film might be the latest example of a grand tradition, but its hermetically sealed design makes it sound more like an echo chamber. There are mad whispers bleeding through the concrete walls — dark thoughts that curve around the fake night sky — but the voices seem to be coming from inside the castle.

Which isn’t to suggest that the quizzical calm of Denzel Washington’s lead performance doesn’t make for an arresting contrast against...

The Wachowskis aren’t the only siblings going solo this fall. Marking Joel Coen’s first film without his brother Ethan, The Tragedy of Macbeth brings together Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Moses Ingram, Harry Melling, and Ralph Ineson. Ahead of a world premiere this Friday to kick off the 59th New York Film Festival, Apple and A24 have unveiled the first trailer.

Said to be a faithful retelling of Shakespeare’s iconic story—shot in black-and-white by cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, who reteams with Coen from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Inside Llewyn Davis––the first trailer is a starkly gorgeous preview of one of our most-anticipated fall films. It also confirms use of a 1.33 aspect ratio, along with a release date: December 25 in theaters, followed by an Apple TV+ debut on January 14.

Watch the trailer below, along with NYFF’s trailer.

Check out NYFF’s...

Apple and A24 have released a trailer for “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Joel Coen’s new adaptation of the classic play by William Shakespeare premiering in theaters on Dec. 25 and on Apple TV Plus on Jan. 14.

Shot in black-and-white, Coen’s take on the Scottish Play stars Denzel Washington as Lord Macbeth and Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth. As in the source material, the film will follow the couple’s murderous ploys for power over Scotland and their resulting descent into madness.

The ominous trailer shows disjointed clips of large black birds circling the sky, Macbeth trudging through the desert, a hand lifting a crown from the ground and Lady Macbeth fearfully looking over her shoulder. The only dialogue is a witch’s voice, speaking one of the most iconic lines from the play: “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”

Joining Washington and McDormand in...

Film at Lincoln Center has announced the 32 films that will be featured during the 59th New York Film Festival. As previously announced, Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth will open the festival and Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers will close it out. NYFF59 runs September 24th through October 10th and passes are available.

Making its world premiere, Coen’s Macbeth adaptation stars Denzel Washington in the titular role with Frances McDormand portraying Lady Macbeth. Coen’s take on the story of a would-be king and his lady’s amoral political turns,...

The Main Slate selections for the 59th New York Film Festival, presented by Film at Lincoln Center from September 24-October 10, have been announced. Featuring a mix of festival favorites and newcomers, the lineup includes new work by Pedro Almodóvar, Jane Campion, Jonas Carpignano, Joel Coen, Julia Ducournau, Bruno Dumont, Michelangelo Frammartino, Rebecca Hall, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Mia Hansen-Løve, Todd Haynes, Joanna Hogg, Hong Sangsoo, Tatiana Huezo, Radu Jude, Alexandre Koberidze, Kira Kovalenko, Nadav Lapid, Pietro Marcello, Avi Mograbi, Radu Muntean, Francesco Munzi, Gaspar Noé, Panah Panahi, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Alice Rohrwacher, Céline Sciamma, Joachim Trier, Anisia Uzeyman, Paul Verhoeven, Apichatpong Weerasethaukul, Saul Williams, and Ramon and Silvan Zürcher.

“Taken together, the movies in this year’s Main Slate are a reminder of cinema’s world-making possibilities,” said Dennis Lim, NYFF Director of Programming and chair of the Main Slate selection committee. “They open up new ways of seeing and feeling and thinking,...

As Film at Lincoln Center readies to mount its 59th edition of the New York Film Festival, the annual event seems hellbent on bringing the absolute best of the year’s new films to the city’s cinephiles. Today’s announcement of the festival’s Main Slate offers an enviable assortment of features, including Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winner “Titane,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s lauded “Flee,” Joanna Hogg’s much-anticipated “The Souvenir Part II,” Todd Haynes’ archival collage “The Velvet Underground,” and many more titles.

“Taken together, the movies in this year’s Main Slate are a reminder of cinema’s world-making possibilities,” said Dennis Lim, NYFF Director of Programming and chair of the Main Slate selection committee in an official statement. “They open up new ways of seeing and feeling and thinking, and whether or not they refer to our uncertain present, they help us make sense of our moment.