Review of Yojimbo (1961) by Aaron A — 11 Jan 2011

"I'll get paid for killing, and this town is full of people who deserve to die.".

Masterless samurai Sanjuro Kuwabatake finds himself in a feud-torn Japanese village, as two factions of ruthless crime lords battle, Kuwabatake secretly convinces each side to hire him as protection against the other.

Though Yojimbo is set in feudal japan, the film is proof that Westerns do not always have cowboys; with themes of lawlessness, long shots of a lone hero against multiple baddies, dust kicking up in dramatic effect, the film exudes the aesthetics of the Western film genre better than most classic westerns.

Also on display here is the unrestrained style of director Kurosawa. Yea sure, we all know Tarantino has style, we know Sergio Leone could also lay it on thick, but individuals whom have only seen Rashomon and Seven Samurai will be shocked to see such swagger from Kurosawa, even though they shouldn't be.

Toshiro Mifune is perfect as the protagonist. His calm carefree attitude and constant twitching and scratching leave the impression that he is cold, unbathed, and an opportunist, a wonderful coupling with his great skill in swordplay. In short, his performance in this film is probably one of the most memorable in Japanese film history.

With a dark script and fun stylish direction, Yojimbo is an undeniable classic of a Western.