Review of Yojimbo (1961) by Matthew W — 14 Mar 2013

Before "Yojimbo," Kurosawa's movies were usually character-driven morality tales ("Throne of Blood" and "Rashomon") or ruminations on class and historical change ("Stray Dog" and "Seven Samurai").

"Yojimbo" therefore represents a retreat from substance in favor of meaningless, stylized violence. This shift in what movies aimed to do as the 1950s gave way to the 1960s was mirrored in Hollywood and Italy, where Kurosawa movies exerted a strong influence on a new generation of filmmakers.

"Yojimbo" is undoubtedly well-made, but Toshiro Mifune's talents as a character actor are wasted when he is cast as the stable center of a movie.