When most people ask me what my favorite samurai film of all time is, I usually recommend Masaki Kobayashi’s Hara Kiri. I know most people would go straight to Kurosawa – and while I can’t argue that Kurosawa is a prime choice, I still have to go with Kobayashi’s 1962 masterpiece. It’s brutal, subversive, and poignant. Tatsuya Nakadai’s performance as the haggard, down-on-his-luck ronin is probably the best of his career and the story is without parallel.
If you don’t believe me head over to The Auteurs, a sort of Hulu for film snobs – and watch it online for free. Not all of their selections are sans payment, but a good deal of them are…including Hara Kiri. Trust me…if you’re not doing anything else tonight, do yourself a favor and check it out.
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