“The Last Samurai” is a 2003 American epic historical drama film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, and Billy Connolly.
Synopsis:
Set in the late 19th century, the film tells the story of Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), an American Civil War veteran who is hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country’s new Western-style army to fight against a rebellion by traditionalist samurai warriors. However, after being captured by the samurai and learning about their way of life and code of honor, Algren becomes conflicted and ultimately chooses to fight alongside the samurai against his former allies.
Awards:
“The Last Samurai” was well-received and nominated for several awards, including four Academy Awards. It won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Ken Watanabe), Best Art Direction, and Best Original Score. The film was praised for its epic scale, stunning cinematography, and strong performances, particularly by Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. It was also noted for its respectful portrayal of Japanese culture and traditions, and for its exploration of themes such as honor, duty, and the clash of cultures.
| Directed by | Edward Zwick |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Marshall Herskovitz Edward Zwick Tom Cruise Paula Wagner Scott Kroopf Tom Engelman |
| Screenplay by | John LoganEdward ZwickMarshall Herskovitz |
| Story by | John Logan |
| Starring | Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Koyuki |
| Music by | Hans Zimmer |
| Cinematography | John Toll |
| Edited by | Steven RosenblumVictor Dubois |
| Production companies |
Radar PicturesThe Bedford Falls CompanyCruise/Wagner Productions |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date | November 20, 2003 (Tokyo) December 5, 2003 (United States) |
| Running time | 154 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | EnglishJapanese |
| Budget | $140 million |
| Box office | $456.8 million |