Review of The Last Emperor (1987) by Stephen E — 16 Jul 2012
Strange as it may seem, "The Last Emperor" isn't all that boring. It's quite great, actually. After a slow and somewhat uninteresting opening half hour, it picks up with the arrival of Peter O'Toole, who turns in a wondrously nuanced performance, and becomes a splendid account of Japan's final and most passive emperor.
Bernardo Bertolucci's elegant, sophisticated direction compliments a focused, if imperfect, screenplay. On top of that, the lavish production design fills the screen with beautiful colors and textures, and both the cinematography and lighting are marvelously used.
Interesting score, too.
This review of The Last Emperor (1987) was written by Stephen E on 16 Jul 2012.
The Last Emperor has generally received very positive reviews.
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