Search: Starring Koji Yakusho

Ultimately, what you see is what you get in 13 Assassins. Lots of blood and death and despicable cruelty.

Assisted by the remarkable cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, Iñárritu moves seamlessly from the arid isolation of a Moroccan village to the gleaming modernity of Tokyo to the colorful chaos of Tijuana, his camera alternately capturing scenes of hope and des

For all its supernatural stylings, it's the natural connections that count.

Beautiful in its simplicity and utterly moving.

Hara-kiri: Death Of A Samurai is in fact a lesson in artful restraint, slowly and deliberately building to its violent conclusion with a multi-layered narrative of flashback and counter-flashback.

This a memorable film, luxurious and intense.

Thumbs up here for graphics that are colourful, inventive and always interesting.

This focus on small events across a short span of time brings a pleasing specificity to what is also a story about the end of an era and the sociological changes which allowed Japan to move into the modern age.

The 4:3 format, preferred by Yasujirō Ozu, is the perfect frame for paying attention to the small mysteries that are often overlooked.

The combination of subtlety and indeterminacy makes for an uncanny treat.

On the one hand, Kiyoshi Kurosawa directs with admirable restraint... on the other violates credibility with a plot that is predictable and absurd.

When it comes to Japanese slo-mo sensuality, there is nothing you can do but admire the photography, because arousal has been dulled to death long before.

Masayuki Suo juggles humour with romance, although, being Japanese and ballroom, they are understated.

The film was a labour of love for all involved and it shows in every detail.

Considering each aspect individually, this is a picture of outstanding quality, from the strong cast to the photography and haunting soundtrack to the acute character studies.

The lightness of touch so evident in his family films is no less deft here, as he woos us with the promise of cast iron fact.... only to spend the rest of the film oiling the ground beneath our beliefs until they can't stop sliding this way and that

Meanders aimlessly towards a sentimental conclusion.

Despite some stylishly staged action sequences, a throat-grabbing powerhouse of a performance from the lead actor, and arresting editing and visuals, director Nakashima overcooks the pudding.