Samurai Marathon (2019)

Samurai Marathon is apparently based on a true story, or, at least, on true events. That is why the movie was just a bit ... I wouldn't say boring but it lacked intensity. Usually, with samurai movies you expect action scenes that can take your breath away, wonderful speeches about greatness and deep emotions. Here, you get nice characters, but a flat story.

The action scenes were okay, but just a bit boring. The characters, moreover, were interesting, but they were too many to follow and that's why the movie couldn't handle them and they ended up falling through the cracks and disappearing.

The performances, as expected, were brilliant. The movie was packed with Japan's big names (I mean Sato Takeru was one of the leads and that is enough reason to watch this one).

So, overall, six out of ten.

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1855, Japan is at the crossroads: change is inevitable but fear of invasion a big issue. Samurai Marathon is based on actual events, of minor importance though, and the main asset of the film is no doubt its great ensemble cast: among them, Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu and Mirai Moriyama really deliver the goods.

British director Bernard Rose (mostly known for Candy Man) leads you through the beautiful landscapes of the Yamagata Prefecture in an epic which is both a tribute and a parody. The cinematography is superb and the soundtrack (Phil Glass) just as good.

The film is a very pleasant watch and offers a mix of action, drama and farcical elements for a plot which deals with duty and loyalty.

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