The Last Samurai

2003 Action/Adventure

Edward Zwick returned to the director's chair for the first time since 1998's The Siege with this sweeping period drama set in 19th-century Japan. After centuries of relying on hired samurai for national defense, the Japanese monarchy has decided to do away with the warriors in favor of a more contemporary military. Tom Cruise stars as Nathan Algren, a veteran of the U.S. Civil War who is hired by the Emperor Meiji to train an army capable of wiping out the samurai. But when Algren is captured by the samurai and taught about their history and way of life, he finds himself conflicted over who he should be fighting alongside. Billy Connelly, Tony Goldwyn, and Ken Watanabe co-star.

Director: Edward Zwick

Starring: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly,Tony Goldwyn

 30 Reviews  31 Awards

Reviews

  • Hugely satisfying entertainment that will attract a broad spectrum of audiences around the world. Zwick fully exploits the star power at his disposal, pairing off Cruise and Japanese star Ken Watanabe as two larger-than-life warriors.

    Kirk Honeycutt - The Hollywood Reporter

    27 April 2013

  • A handsome epic, a brave-hearted 19th-century man-saga from the director who made the period piece man-sagas ''Glory'' and ''Legends of the Fall.''

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

  • Cruise's undeniable star voltage makes it all palatable, and the film is gorgeous to behold and even to listen to, from the rolling green hills to the galloping horses to the "Lohengrin"-like theme music on the sound track.

    Mick LaSalle - The San Francisco Chronicle

    27 April 2013

  • Even if you think Cruise has never had a moment of doubt in his life, he makes Nathan's self-loathing palpable, and the character's regeneration has a hoarse, cautious purposefulness that's striking.

    Ty Burr - The Boston Globe

    27 April 2013

  • When the script, by Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz and John Logan, doesn't sabotage the images, and the great cinematographer John Toll turns action into poetry, The Last Samurai emerges as a haunting silent movie.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Movie of the Year

    AFI Awards (2004)

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (2004)

  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role

    Academy Awards (2004)

     

  • Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film

    Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (2004)

     

  • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases

    American Society of Cinematographers (2004)

     

Lists

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