Review of Drunken Angel (1948) by Chris C — 29 May 2008

So this film began the legendary and prosperous cinematic pairing of director Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune. A towering Mifune, shed of his characteristic samurai garb and beard and in one of his earlier roles, radiates an commanding intensity that betrays his lack of experience.

Kurosawa's storytelling prowess is keen, and it is always exhilirating to see him tackle issues of poverty, life and death, and an ailing Japan while telling a rather intimate story. He weaves them together so well.