This is Just My Face is on sale nowNPR Gabourey Sidibe has a book out, now "This is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare" (great title). It's about her rise to fame, body image, and being confused with her fame-making character in Precious which she finds both frustrating and powerful
Time Out New York publishes its own Tony* nominations. Get it, their initials are Tony. Not to be confused with the actual Tony Award nominations which are due tomorrow to honor the best of Broadway. Consider this their "should be nominated" article
The Retro Set looks at the new documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai, narrated by Keanu Reeves, and now available to stream on Netflix. Can't wait to watch this.
Deadline republished an interesting history of the making of Silence of the Lambs. I didn't know that the project started with Gene Hackman who was going to direct and star.
Time Out New York publishes its own Tony* nominations. Get it, their initials are Tony. Not to be confused with the actual Tony Award nominations which are due tomorrow to honor the best of Broadway. Consider this their "should be nominated" article
The Retro Set looks at the new documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai, narrated by Keanu Reeves, and now available to stream on Netflix. Can't wait to watch this.
Deadline republished an interesting history of the making of Silence of the Lambs. I didn't know that the project started with Gene Hackman who was going to direct and star.
- 5/1/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
The Age of Shadows (Kim Jee-woon)
Eyebrows were raised when it was announced that South Korea will submit the as-yet-unreleased espionage thriller The Age of Shadows for Oscar consideration instead of Cannes hits The Handmaiden and The Wailing. Premiering out of competition at the 73rd Venice Film Festival, writer/director Jee-woon Kim’s return to Korean-language cinema after a brief stint in Hollywood with the Schwarzenegger-starrer The Last Stand...
The Age of Shadows (Kim Jee-woon)
Eyebrows were raised when it was announced that South Korea will submit the as-yet-unreleased espionage thriller The Age of Shadows for Oscar consideration instead of Cannes hits The Handmaiden and The Wailing. Premiering out of competition at the 73rd Venice Film Festival, writer/director Jee-woon Kim’s return to Korean-language cinema after a brief stint in Hollywood with the Schwarzenegger-starrer The Last Stand...
- 4/28/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Jack is back – well at least for a quick second. Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim has unleashed a new glimpse at Season 5 of “Samurai Jack.”
The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sneak peek features the return of the time-displaced hero standing outside in the rainy night with his mystical sword.
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, the critically acclaimed cartoon follows Jack in his quest to travel back in time and defeat the tyrannical demon Aku. The series first premiered in 2001 and ended in 2004. It was then picked up for its fifth and final season on Adult Swim.
Read More: ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Review: A Painfully Safe Documentary About One Of Cinema’s Most Explosive Stars
The 10-episode Season 5 will be set 50 years after the season 4 finale, according to EW. “The finale of the last episode, 52, and the beginning of this one have no connection,” Tartakovsky previously stated in a featurette. “So, what’s...
The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sneak peek features the return of the time-displaced hero standing outside in the rainy night with his mystical sword.
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, the critically acclaimed cartoon follows Jack in his quest to travel back in time and defeat the tyrannical demon Aku. The series first premiered in 2001 and ended in 2004. It was then picked up for its fifth and final season on Adult Swim.
Read More: ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Review: A Painfully Safe Documentary About One Of Cinema’s Most Explosive Stars
The 10-episode Season 5 will be set 50 years after the season 4 finale, according to EW. “The finale of the last episode, 52, and the beginning of this one have no connection,” Tartakovsky previously stated in a featurette. “So, what’s...
- 2/4/2017
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Being a revolutionary pioneer in a particular field of work should be an accomplishment that’s continuously celebrated. Unfortunately, not all visionaries receive the praise they deserve for launching an honored way of life into mainstream society. That’s regrettably the case with actor Toshiro Mifune, who began to garner fame in the late 1940s after he served in World War II. In Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki’s new documentary, ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai,’ the performer is highlighted as not only being the first international Asian, but overall nonwhite, star who garnered worldwide attention in the action genre. While Mifune’s work has left lasting impressions on dedication genre fans, the majority of the [ Read More ]
The post Interview: Steven Okazaki Talks Mifune: The Last Samurai (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Interview: Steven Okazaki Talks Mifune: The Last Samurai (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 11/28/2016
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
Thanksgiving weekend usually launches a few of the top specialized releases of the year in New York and Los Angeles.
This year boasts two long-shot awards contenders, Weinstein Co’s “Lion” starring Dev Patel and EuropaCorp’s Jessica Chastain vehicle “Miss Sloane.” Both fell short of past high-end initial results, but showed sufficient strength to justify their respective strategies.
They enter a field of established specialty titles led by “Manchester by the Sea” (Roadside Attractions), “Nocturnal Animals” and “Loving” (Focus Features) as well as “Moonlight” (A24).
Opening
“Lion” (Weinstein) – Metacritic: 64; Festivals include: Toronto, Hamptons, AFI 2016
$128,368 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $32,092
Getting the full Weinstein treatment — prime holiday release date, top New York/Los Angeles initial theaters, major ad support aiming at not only specialized but eventual crossover audiences — this Australia-produced India family reunion story opened to respectable initial numbers. While “Lion” lacks the high-end reviews that buoyed past...
This year boasts two long-shot awards contenders, Weinstein Co’s “Lion” starring Dev Patel and EuropaCorp’s Jessica Chastain vehicle “Miss Sloane.” Both fell short of past high-end initial results, but showed sufficient strength to justify their respective strategies.
They enter a field of established specialty titles led by “Manchester by the Sea” (Roadside Attractions), “Nocturnal Animals” and “Loving” (Focus Features) as well as “Moonlight” (A24).
Opening
“Lion” (Weinstein) – Metacritic: 64; Festivals include: Toronto, Hamptons, AFI 2016
$128,368 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $32,092
Getting the full Weinstein treatment — prime holiday release date, top New York/Los Angeles initial theaters, major ad support aiming at not only specialized but eventual crossover audiences — this Australia-produced India family reunion story opened to respectable initial numbers. While “Lion” lacks the high-end reviews that buoyed past...
- 11/27/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The image of Toshiro Mifune wielding a samurai sword, eyes glaring at his foe, is among the first images to come to most American filmgoers’s minds when they think about Japanese cinema. And rightfully so. Mifune is perhaps the only iconic Japanese actor to achieve international fame, and for a period in the 50s and 60s, he was the biggest movie star in Japan, thanks largely to a series of samurai epics directed by his frequent collaborator Akira Kurosawa. Together, they brought Japanese cinema onto the world stage. Steven Okazaki’s “Mifune: The Last Samurai” is as much a documentary about the Golden.
- 11/25/2016
- by James Greenberg
- The Wrap
It’s hard to talk about Toshiro Mifune without mentioning Akira Kurosawa. And it’s hard to talk about Mifune and Kurosawa without discussing their revelatory impact on cinema as we know it today. Which, in a way, is exactly what “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” the new documentary from Steven Okazaki, seeks to explore: just who was Toshiro Mifune and how did a boy from such humble beginnings wind up becoming one of film’s most influential figures?
Continue reading Documentary ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Is An Engaging Look At The Life Of A Legend [Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading Documentary ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Is An Engaging Look At The Life Of A Legend [Review] at The Playlist.
- 11/25/2016
- by Gary Garrison
- The Playlist
From the second the world learned about Gauri Shinde’s upcoming “Dear Zindagi,” anticipation for the film skyrocketed. Not only would it be the writer-director’s first project after the surprising success of her 2012 debut — you’d be hard-pressed to find a Bollywood fan who didn’t adore the life-affirming comedy-drama that was “English Vinglish” — but her sophomore effort would star Alia Bhatt, who’s quickly becoming one of the most acclaimed and popular young actresses in Bollywood alongside Shah Rukh Khan, who has been hailed as literally “the biggest movie star in the world.” The pressure was on—or so one would think.
But neither the heavyweight performers nor the massive shadow of “English Vinglish” seem to have intimidated Shinde; unfazed by the weight of audience expectations, she stays true to telling her story, and “Dear Zindagi” once again showcases her unique ability to tug at our hearts and...
But neither the heavyweight performers nor the massive shadow of “English Vinglish” seem to have intimidated Shinde; unfazed by the weight of audience expectations, she stays true to telling her story, and “Dear Zindagi” once again showcases her unique ability to tug at our hearts and...
- 11/25/2016
- by Anisha Jhaveri
- Indiewire
This week sees the American premiere of Steven Okazaki's documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai, about probably the most famous Japanese actor of all time: Mifune Toshiro. In his review Patryk Czekaj calls it "...a perfectly informative and well-researched documentary that should satisfy both true fans of Japanese cinema and total newcomers." Mifune Toshiro was a veritable force of nature before the camera (and apparently, sometimes also when Not in front of a camera...), and when will we ever get a better opportunity to dedicate a quiz to him? So once again I'm going to use fourteen pictures of one of my favourite thespians to make a quiz. Click through the images and guess which movies or shows they're from. No competition, no prizes, just for...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 11/25/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Over the course of his legendary acting career, Toshiro Mifune was a samurai, a stray dog, and a shoe tycoon. He was a muse for one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th Century, a beacon for Japanese cinema, and a howling ambassador for the entire country and its culture. He was a feral force of nature who prized combustion over control, a wild gust of wind whose energy only a precious few collaborators knew how to harness. He was even, according to his daughter, almost Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The one thing that Toshiro Mifune wasn’t — wasn’t even capable of being — was boring. At least not on screen. At least not until now.
A thin, dull, and by-the-numbers biography that fails to capture its subject’s irrepressible spirit or properly contextualize his importance, Steven Okazaki’s “Mifune: The Last Samurai” might have made for a solid bonus feature on a Criterion Collection DVD,...
The one thing that Toshiro Mifune wasn’t — wasn’t even capable of being — was boring. At least not on screen. At least not until now.
A thin, dull, and by-the-numbers biography that fails to capture its subject’s irrepressible spirit or properly contextualize his importance, Steven Okazaki’s “Mifune: The Last Samurai” might have made for a solid bonus feature on a Criterion Collection DVD,...
- 11/25/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The modern movie hero owes a great debt to Toshiro Mifune, the longtime Akira Kurosawa star who provided a ferocious centerpiece to everything from “Seven Samurai” to “Yojimbo.” Steven Okazaki’s documentary “Mifune” chronicles the scope of the actor’s sprawling career as well as his lasting cultural impact. The filmmaker spoke to IndieWire about his interest in Mifune, gathering interviews with filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, and why more people should be appreciating Mifune’s legacy as “the first movie hero who wasn’t a white guy.
Read More: ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Trailer: Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg Sing the Legendary Actor’s Praises
A version of this interview was original published at the Telluride Film Festival, where “Mifune” premiered this fall. The film opens November 25 at the IFC Center in New York with more cities to follow.
When did you first encounter Mifune’s performances?...
Read More: ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’ Trailer: Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg Sing the Legendary Actor’s Praises
A version of this interview was original published at the Telluride Film Festival, where “Mifune” premiered this fall. The film opens November 25 at the IFC Center in New York with more cities to follow.
When did you first encounter Mifune’s performances?...
- 11/23/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Given that the Toshiro Mifune biographical documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai is only 80 minutes long, it’s a bold choice by director Steven Okazaki to wait until 15 minutes into the film to get to the birth of the man himself. The doc’s introductory passages don’t trace Mifune’s family lineage; instead, they cover the importance of the samurai to Japanese history and popular culture, and trace the origins of the “chanbara” film to the earliest days of cinema. Named to evoke the sound of swords clashing against swords, chanbara pictures relied on stock characters and situations to retell the tales of Japan’s past, as an expression of what the nation saw as its core values. When Mifune teamed up with director Akira Kurosawa for a series of revisionist samurai films in the ’50s and ’60s, they found receptive audiences all over the world for a ...
- 11/23/2016
- by Noel Murray
- avclub.com
We recently provided a guide to streaming the best films of 2016, but it’s time to hit pause because the theatrical options this month are stellar. Along with the year’s best film thus far, there’s a wide variety of must-see features, from documentaries to animations to sci-fi dramas to innovative experiments.
Matinees to See: Doctor Strange (11/4), Peter and the Farm (11/4), The Monster (11/11), Seasons (11/11), The Love Witch (11/11), Notes on Blindness (11/16), Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (11/18), Bleed For This (11/18), I Am Not Madame Bovary (11/18), Lion (11/25), Evolution (11/25), and Old Stone (11/30)
15. Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk (Ang Lee; Nov. 11)
Synopsis: 19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After its mixed reception at Nyff, I probably shouldn’t be looking forward to Ang Lee‘s latest as much as I am. However, I’m always curious as...
Matinees to See: Doctor Strange (11/4), Peter and the Farm (11/4), The Monster (11/11), Seasons (11/11), The Love Witch (11/11), Notes on Blindness (11/16), Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (11/18), Bleed For This (11/18), I Am Not Madame Bovary (11/18), Lion (11/25), Evolution (11/25), and Old Stone (11/30)
15. Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk (Ang Lee; Nov. 11)
Synopsis: 19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: After its mixed reception at Nyff, I probably shouldn’t be looking forward to Ang Lee‘s latest as much as I am. However, I’m always curious as...
- 11/1/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Toshiro Mifune is not a stranger to samurai movie lovers. A veteran of nearly 170 movies, his collaboration with filmmaker Akira Kurosawa is often cited as the catalyst for the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema post-wwii. Three films from their collaborative effort – “Rashomon”, “The Seven Samurai” and “Yojimbo” – remains internationally influential up to this day.
Nearly 19 years after the iconic actor’s passing, fans will soon be able to revisit their favorite samurai with the release of the documentary “Mifune: The Last Samurai”.
Directed by Acadamy-Award winner Steven Okazaki, “Mifune: The Last Samurai” is narrated by Keanu Reeves. The documentary also features interviews and tributes from Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese, and interviews with members of Mifune and Kurosawa family.
“Mifune: The Last Samurai” is set for release on November 25.
Source: IndieWire.com...
Nearly 19 years after the iconic actor’s passing, fans will soon be able to revisit their favorite samurai with the release of the documentary “Mifune: The Last Samurai”.
Directed by Acadamy-Award winner Steven Okazaki, “Mifune: The Last Samurai” is narrated by Keanu Reeves. The documentary also features interviews and tributes from Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese, and interviews with members of Mifune and Kurosawa family.
“Mifune: The Last Samurai” is set for release on November 25.
Source: IndieWire.com...
- 10/31/2016
- by Gloria Gee
- AsianMoviePulse
A total of 145 feature documentaries were submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for consideration for the 89th Academy Awards.
Out of those films the members of the Academy’s documentary branch will select a shortlist of 15 features that will be announced in December, and the five nominations will be announced on January 24.
Read More: Documentary, Now: Three Rock Stars Who Run the Fast-Changing Non-Fiction World
Among the titles included in the list are Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize winner “Weiner” by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, Raoul Peck’s Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner “I Am Not Your Negro,” the visually stunning “Voyage of Time: The Imax Experience” by Terrence Malik and Otto Bell’s “The Eagle Huntress.”
Read More: Oscars 2017: 10 Documentary Shorts Vie for Nominations
This year Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees’ film “Amy” about British singer Amy Winehouse...
Out of those films the members of the Academy’s documentary branch will select a shortlist of 15 features that will be announced in December, and the five nominations will be announced on January 24.
Read More: Documentary, Now: Three Rock Stars Who Run the Fast-Changing Non-Fiction World
Among the titles included in the list are Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize winner “Weiner” by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, Raoul Peck’s Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner “I Am Not Your Negro,” the visually stunning “Voyage of Time: The Imax Experience” by Terrence Malik and Otto Bell’s “The Eagle Huntress.”
Read More: Oscars 2017: 10 Documentary Shorts Vie for Nominations
This year Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees’ film “Amy” about British singer Amy Winehouse...
- 10/29/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
To star in nearly 170 films in your career is an incredible feat, and to have your performances influence the works of Hollywood giants like Clint Eastwood and George Lucas is almost unimaginable. That is, unless, you’re Toshiro Mifune.
Read More: 5 Things You May Not Know About Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’
From Academy Award-winning director Steven Okazaki comes “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” a new documentary that chronicles the life of the famed Japanese actor, narrated by Keanu Reaves. Included in his resume are “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurai” (two of the sixteen collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa), and Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy.”
In the latest trailer for the upcoming film, fellow actors, directors and film aficionados discuss Mifune’s incredible impact on both Japanese and American cinema, as well as the actor’s battle with alcoholism. Included in the film are interviews with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who notes,...
Read More: 5 Things You May Not Know About Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’
From Academy Award-winning director Steven Okazaki comes “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” a new documentary that chronicles the life of the famed Japanese actor, narrated by Keanu Reaves. Included in his resume are “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurai” (two of the sixteen collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa), and Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy.”
In the latest trailer for the upcoming film, fellow actors, directors and film aficionados discuss Mifune’s incredible impact on both Japanese and American cinema, as well as the actor’s battle with alcoholism. Included in the film are interviews with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who notes,...
- 10/21/2016
- by Mark Burger
- Indiewire
In his latest effort to protect and preserve motion picture history, Martin Scorsese proudly presented the latest restoration of “One-Eyed Jacks” at the 54th New York Film Festival, the only film directed by Marlon Brando. The restoration was helmed by The Film Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to film restoration founded by Scorsese himself, and played at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival before making its way to New York.
Read More: Watch: Martin Scorsese Talks Lovingly About Film Restoration & How ‘The Seven Year Itch’ Spurred His Preservation Work
“This is visually stunning, what he did,” said Scorsese in his introduction. He later comments on how the film world was abuzz when Brando stepped into the director’s chair, which he did only after the initial director, Stanley Kubrick, left the production before filming began. Rumors began to spread about lengthy, obsessive shooting process, and even the existence of a five-hour cut of film.
Read More: Watch: Martin Scorsese Talks Lovingly About Film Restoration & How ‘The Seven Year Itch’ Spurred His Preservation Work
“This is visually stunning, what he did,” said Scorsese in his introduction. He later comments on how the film world was abuzz when Brando stepped into the director’s chair, which he did only after the initial director, Stanley Kubrick, left the production before filming began. Rumors began to spread about lengthy, obsessive shooting process, and even the existence of a five-hour cut of film.
- 10/21/2016
- by Mark Burger
- Indiewire
Mifune: The Last Samurai, the well-assembled documentary on the life of actor Toshirô Mifune, the long-time Akira Kurosawa collaborator, should be a worthy introduction to one of Japanese cinema’s greatest icons, if a little light on more revelatory findings. With a softly-spoken narration by Keanu Reeves and talking heads from the likes of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, as well as the sons of both Mifune and Kurosawa, Mifune offers a personal and professional tribute to an actor who reinvented the hero for a post-World War II age.
Mifune, the preeminent Japanese actor of his generation, had starring roles in some of the iconic samurai movies of the country’s golden age – including Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood and Yojimbo – and influenced a host of American icons from Clint Eastwood’s Man With No Name to Darth Vader (Mifune was supposedly offered Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars). Director...
Mifune, the preeminent Japanese actor of his generation, had starring roles in some of the iconic samurai movies of the country’s golden age – including Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood and Yojimbo – and influenced a host of American icons from Clint Eastwood’s Man With No Name to Darth Vader (Mifune was supposedly offered Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars). Director...
- 10/20/2016
- by Ed Frankl
- The Film Stage
If you're a fan of classic martial arts films there's no doubt that you know the name Toshiro Mifune. Over the course of his career, he made 16 incredible films with director Akira Kurosawa, which include classics such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Yojimbo. These films inspired some of America's classic westerns including The Magnificent Seven, Clint Eastwood’s A Fistful of Dollars, and of course, George Lucas’ Star Wars.
A trailer has been released for a great looking new documentary called Mifune: The Last Samurai directed by Steven Okazaki, which "explores the accidental movie career of Toshiro Mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema." When talking about Mifune, director Steven Spielberg says, “A lot of people try to imitate Mifune, especially when they’re playing strong and silent but nobody can. He was unique in all the world.”
The film has only been playing in film festivals around the world.
A trailer has been released for a great looking new documentary called Mifune: The Last Samurai directed by Steven Okazaki, which "explores the accidental movie career of Toshiro Mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema." When talking about Mifune, director Steven Spielberg says, “A lot of people try to imitate Mifune, especially when they’re playing strong and silent but nobody can. He was unique in all the world.”
The film has only been playing in film festivals around the world.
- 10/20/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Nearly 20 years after his death, Toshiro Mifune remains a true giant of world cinema. He made 16 remarkable films with director Akira Kurosawa, including Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, and together they shook the film world, inspiring not only The Magnificent Seven and Clint Eastwood’s breakthrough movie, A Fistful of Dollars, but also George Lucas’ Star Wars.
Mifune: The Last Samurai, the new feature-length documentary by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki, explores the evolution of the samurai film; Mifune’s childhood and World War II experience; his accidental entry into the movies; and dynamic but sometimes turbulent collaboration with Kurosawa.
Mifune – wry, charismatic and deadly — was the first non-white action star. “A lot of people try to imitate Mifune, especially when they’re playing strong and silent,” says Steven Spielberg, “ but nobody can. He was unique in all the world.”
The new trailer for Mifune: The Last Samurai looks amazing:...
Mifune: The Last Samurai, the new feature-length documentary by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki, explores the evolution of the samurai film; Mifune’s childhood and World War II experience; his accidental entry into the movies; and dynamic but sometimes turbulent collaboration with Kurosawa.
Mifune – wry, charismatic and deadly — was the first non-white action star. “A lot of people try to imitate Mifune, especially when they’re playing strong and silent,” says Steven Spielberg, “ but nobody can. He was unique in all the world.”
The new trailer for Mifune: The Last Samurai looks amazing:...
- 10/20/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Steven Okazaki's documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai will begin it's theatrical run in the U.S. in November. On November 25th it opens in New York at the IFC Center followed by Los Angeles on December 2nd and San Francisco on December 9th. There is a new trailer and a poster for the release from Strand Releasing. You can see both below. Nearly 20 years after his death, Toshiro Mifune remains a true giant of world cinema. He made 16 remarkable films with director Akira Kurosawa, including Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, and together they shook the film world, inspiring not only The Magnificent Seven and Clint Eastwood’s breakthrough movie, A Fistful of Dollars, but also George Lucas’ Star Wars. Mifune: The Last...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 10/19/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Keith Maitland’s SXSW prize winner — the film pulled in both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at this year’s festival — “Tower” takes a deeply painful story and lays it out through inventive and expressive animation.
“Tower” follows the events of August 1, 2966 — billed in official materials as “the day our innocence was shattered” — when University of Texas student Charles Whitman took to the school’s iconic tower and opened fire on the campus below. Over the course of 96 minutes, Whitman shot nearly 50 people, killing 16 of them (including an unborn child that people believe he targeted, as his mother was a very obvious 8 months pregnant at the time), before being taken out by police. The event is still one of America’s worst school shootings and, for many years, was the deadliest attack on a U.S. college campus.
Read More: ‘Tower’ Director Keith Maitland Attached for Killer...
“Tower” follows the events of August 1, 2966 — billed in official materials as “the day our innocence was shattered” — when University of Texas student Charles Whitman took to the school’s iconic tower and opened fire on the campus below. Over the course of 96 minutes, Whitman shot nearly 50 people, killing 16 of them (including an unborn child that people believe he targeted, as his mother was a very obvious 8 months pregnant at the time), before being taken out by police. The event is still one of America’s worst school shootings and, for many years, was the deadliest attack on a U.S. college campus.
Read More: ‘Tower’ Director Keith Maitland Attached for Killer...
- 9/23/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
It’s hard to forget the first time you see Toshiro Mifune in Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai.” He prowls and prances like a demented street urchin, giggling with sick glee in some moments and screaming with fury in others. As director Martin Scorsese astutely noted, Mifune often projected the unpredictable screen presence of a caged animal. There was never any telling what he’d do next, only that there was no turning away from it, either.
Continue reading Martin Scorsese & Steven Spielberg Praise A Legend In Trailer For ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai,’ Narrated By Keanu Reeves at The Playlist.
Continue reading Martin Scorsese & Steven Spielberg Praise A Legend In Trailer For ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai,’ Narrated By Keanu Reeves at The Playlist.
- 9/23/2016
- by Nicholas Laskin
- The Playlist
Not for nothing is Toshiro Mifune one of the most renowned actors of world cinema. Known mostly for his many collaborations with Akira Kurosawa — including such classics as “Rashomon,” “Seven Samurai” and the “Yojimbo” cycle — as well as Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy,” the Japanese thespian appeared in nearly 170 films before his death in 1997. Steven Okazaki directed the new documentary “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” which just released its first trailer.
Read More: Morgan Spurlock’s New Documentary ‘Rats’ Will Definitely Make You Lose Your Lunch — Watch
Narrated by Keanu Reeves and featuring interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese (who offers that “Mifune’s performance is layered, complex. He studied the movement of lions. He’s like a caged animal”) and Steven Spielberg, the trailer touches on Kurosawa and Mifune’s joint influence on American cinema as well as the actor’s two main vices: alcohol and cars.
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Read More: Morgan Spurlock’s New Documentary ‘Rats’ Will Definitely Make You Lose Your Lunch — Watch
Narrated by Keanu Reeves and featuring interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese (who offers that “Mifune’s performance is layered, complex. He studied the movement of lions. He’s like a caged animal”) and Steven Spielberg, the trailer touches on Kurosawa and Mifune’s joint influence on American cinema as well as the actor’s two main vices: alcohol and cars.
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- 9/22/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
‘Blue Jay’ Trailer: Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson Rekindle a Former Romance in Alex Lehmann’s Drama
It’s been a busy last few weeks for Sarah Paulson, who just won an Emmy for her role in “The People v. O.J. Simpson” and premiered her new film “Blue Jay” at the Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by a debuting Alex Lehmann, the black-and-white romantic drama co-stars Mark Duplass. Watch its first trailer below.
Read More: Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson Capture the Joys of Reliving the Past In ‘Blue Jay’ — Tiff Review
Paulson and Duplass two play former high-school sweethearts who run into each other later in life, launching a “Before Sunset”–style walk-and-talk before getting into some serious reminiscing.
Read More: ‘American Crime Story’ Star Sarah Paulson on the Everyday Sexism That Powered Her Marcia Clark Obsession
Duplass also wrote the script and serves as executive producer along with his brother Jay. “Blue Jay” will be released in theaters by the Orchard on October 7 before heading to Netflix later this year.
Read More: Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson Capture the Joys of Reliving the Past In ‘Blue Jay’ — Tiff Review
Paulson and Duplass two play former high-school sweethearts who run into each other later in life, launching a “Before Sunset”–style walk-and-talk before getting into some serious reminiscing.
Read More: ‘American Crime Story’ Star Sarah Paulson on the Everyday Sexism That Powered Her Marcia Clark Obsession
Duplass also wrote the script and serves as executive producer along with his brother Jay. “Blue Jay” will be released in theaters by the Orchard on October 7 before heading to Netflix later this year.
- 9/22/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
A24 has released the first trailer for “Trespass Against Us,” Adam Smith’s upcoming thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson. The film, which just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, is due out in theaters in early 2017.
Read More: Michael Fassbender Steals ‘Trespass Against Us,’ A Charming Debut From Adam Smith — Tiff Review
The film follows three generations of an outlaw family living in Britain’s countryside: patriarch Colby (Gleeson), heir apparent Chad (Fassbender) and young Tyson (Georgie Smith), whose future remains uncertain. “When Colby learns of Chad’s dreams for another life he sets out to tie his son and grandson into the archaic order that has bound the Cutler family for generations,” reads the official synopsis. “He engineers a spectacular piece of criminal business involving a heist, a high-speed car chase and a manhunt, which leaves Chad bruised and bloodied and with his very freedom at stake.
Read More: Michael Fassbender Steals ‘Trespass Against Us,’ A Charming Debut From Adam Smith — Tiff Review
The film follows three generations of an outlaw family living in Britain’s countryside: patriarch Colby (Gleeson), heir apparent Chad (Fassbender) and young Tyson (Georgie Smith), whose future remains uncertain. “When Colby learns of Chad’s dreams for another life he sets out to tie his son and grandson into the archaic order that has bound the Cutler family for generations,” reads the official synopsis. “He engineers a spectacular piece of criminal business involving a heist, a high-speed car chase and a manhunt, which leaves Chad bruised and bloodied and with his very freedom at stake.
- 9/22/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
"A lot of people try to imitate Mifune, but nobody can." Stop and watch this now! The first official trailer has debuted online for a fantastic documentary called Mifune: The Last Samurai, profiling the life and work of Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune. If you're a cinephile you're already very familiar with Mifune - he starred in numerous Akira Kurosawa films including The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Rashomon, as well as tons of other classic Japanese films. This doc examines his life work with old footage and photographs and tells his story from the early beginnings of his career, to his falling out with Kurosawa and final roles. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are two of the filmmakers who talk about how incredible Mifune was, with more special guests. I caught this film at the Telluride Film Festival and loved it - highly recommended. Here's the first trailer for Steven Okazaki...
- 9/22/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Scorsese, Spielberg, Keanu Reeves, and More Praise a Titan In Trailer for ‘Mifune: The Last Samurai’
There may be no actor who so forcefully brings budding film lovers into world cinema as Toshiro Mifune, the Japanese wild man who redefined period epics and still puts most action stars to shame. Given the (very) rarified place he occupies in cinema, his enshrinement via documentary is an inevitable thing. While Steven Okazaki didn’t get there first, his Mifune: The Last Samurai appears to have done it well.
With the likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa regular Kôji Yakusho on hand for interviews — as well as narration from Keanu Reeves — the film appears to follow a standard career-and-life walkthrough, admirers and co-workers alike singing his praises while clips and archival photos move us along. (A less-than-glowing review, one of the only published thus far, indicates as much.) So be it: any excuse to revisit his work, even in bite-sized form, is always welcome, and some...
With the likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa regular Kôji Yakusho on hand for interviews — as well as narration from Keanu Reeves — the film appears to follow a standard career-and-life walkthrough, admirers and co-workers alike singing his praises while clips and archival photos move us along. (A less-than-glowing review, one of the only published thus far, indicates as much.) So be it: any excuse to revisit his work, even in bite-sized form, is always welcome, and some...
- 9/21/2016
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
“Mifune’s performance is layered, complex. He studied the movement of lions. He’s like a caged animal,” says Martin Scorsese in the (above) trailer for Mifune: The Last Samurai, the new documentary about Toshiro Mifune, the greatest actor from the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema. Directed by Academy Award-nominated director Steve Okazaki and narrated by Keanu Reeves, Mifune: The Last Samurai features rare archival footage and interviews with Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Koji Yakusho as well as Mifune co-stars Kyoto Kagawa, Haruo Nakajima and Yoshio Tsuchiya. Mifune appeared in nearly 170 films, including Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, and Red Bear. The film […]...
- 9/21/2016
- by Paula Bernstein
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The sales company has struck a deal with Strand for Us rights to Steven Okazaki’s documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai.
The film screened at the Venice and Telluride and is narrated by Keanu Reeves with interviews including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Koji Yakusho as well as Mifune co-stars Kyoto Kagawa, Haruo Nakajima and Yoshio Tsuchiya.
Celluloid Dreams has also closed deals for all German-speaking territories with Koch Media and for France with La Rabbia.
Mifune was the greatest actor from the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema who appeared in nearly 170 films.
Some of his most memorable works were in his collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa during the 1950s and 1960s and the documentary focuses on his work on Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne Of Blood andRed Beard.
The film screened at the Venice and Telluride and is narrated by Keanu Reeves with interviews including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Koji Yakusho as well as Mifune co-stars Kyoto Kagawa, Haruo Nakajima and Yoshio Tsuchiya.
Celluloid Dreams has also closed deals for all German-speaking territories with Koch Media and for France with La Rabbia.
Mifune was the greatest actor from the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema who appeared in nearly 170 films.
Some of his most memorable works were in his collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa during the 1950s and 1960s and the documentary focuses on his work on Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne Of Blood andRed Beard.
- 9/12/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Into the InfernoThe lineup for the 2016 Telluride Film Festival (September 2nd - 5th) have been announced:Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, Us)The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography (Errol Morris, Us)Bleed For This (Ben Younger, Us)California Typewriter (Doug Nichol, Us)Chasing Trane (John Scheinfeld, Us)The End of Eden (Angus Macqueen, UK)Finding Oscar (Ryan Suffern, Us)Fire at Sea (Gianfranco Rosi, Italy/France)Frantz (François Ozon, France)Gentleman Rissient (Benoît Jacquot, Pascal Mérigeau, Guy Seligmann, France)Graduation (Cristian Mungiu, Romania/France/Belgium)Into the Inferno (Werner Herzog, UK/Austria)The Ivory Game (Kief Davidson, Richard Ladkani, Austria/Us)La La Land (Damien Chazelle, Us)Lost in Paris (d. Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, France/Belgium)Manchester by the Sea (Kenneth Lonergan, Us)Maudie (Aisling Walsh, Canada/Ireland)Men: A Love Story (Mimi Chakarova, Us)Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, Us)My Journey through French Cinema (Bertrand Tavernier, France)Neruda (Pablo Larraín,...
- 9/1/2016
- MUBI
Kenneth Lonergan’s Sundance hit, Denis Villeneuve’s Venice selection, and Pablo Larrain’s acclaimed Chilean biopic are among select titles heading to Colorado this weekend.
The 43rd edition of the Telluride Film Festival includes Clint Eastwood’s Tom Hanks starrer Sully, Barry Jenkins’ anticipated triptych Moonlight and Maren Ade’s Cannes triumph Toni Erdmann.
Joining them are Aisling Walsh’s Maudie, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea, Damien Chazelle’s Venice opener La La Land and also from the Lido, Rama Burshtein’s Through The Wall.
Telluride runs from September 2-5. The main slate line-up appears below.
Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, Us, 2016)The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography (Errol Morris, Us 2016)Bleed For This (Ben Younger, Us, 2016)California Typewriter (Doug Nichol, Us, 2016)Chasing Trane (John Scheinfeld, Us, 2016)The End Of Eden (Angus Macqueen, UK, 2016)Finding Oscar (Ryan Suffern, Us, 2016)Fire At Sea (Gianfranco Rosi, Italy-France, 2016)Frantz ([link...
The 43rd edition of the Telluride Film Festival includes Clint Eastwood’s Tom Hanks starrer Sully, Barry Jenkins’ anticipated triptych Moonlight and Maren Ade’s Cannes triumph Toni Erdmann.
Joining them are Aisling Walsh’s Maudie, Gianfranco Rosi’s Berlin Golden Bear winner Fire At Sea, Damien Chazelle’s Venice opener La La Land and also from the Lido, Rama Burshtein’s Through The Wall.
Telluride runs from September 2-5. The main slate line-up appears below.
Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, Us, 2016)The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography (Errol Morris, Us 2016)Bleed For This (Ben Younger, Us, 2016)California Typewriter (Doug Nichol, Us, 2016)Chasing Trane (John Scheinfeld, Us, 2016)The End Of Eden (Angus Macqueen, UK, 2016)Finding Oscar (Ryan Suffern, Us, 2016)Fire At Sea (Gianfranco Rosi, Italy-France, 2016)Frantz ([link...
- 9/1/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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