When done right, there's nothing like a good, slow burn. If you like movies where tension mounts behind stern scowls and muted cries for justice until the very screen explodes with ballistic force, Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins is for you. It is a straightforward samurai tale in crystalline form that makes no attempt to be revisionist or post-modern. It broods, it trains, it fights, and does all of these things very well.
Our story begins when a frustrated samurai spills his guts (literally) as an act of protest. He is calling attention Lord Naritsugo, the Shogun's half-brother who has gone mad with bloodlust and power. He brutalizes his subjects, raping and killing at will and destroying an entire village. (The lone survivor's report of "total massacre" becoming a motif of the film.) After the act of defiant hari-kira, it falls to the leader of the royal house's samurai, Sir Doi, to act. After much deliberation about doing what is right versus their divine purpose (serving and protecting the Shogun and their family, even if one is a jerk) he authorizes an aging samurai, Shinzaemon played with a hardened sadness by Koji Yakusho, to stand up to Naritsugo.
Shinzaemon collects his team (guess how many?) and leads them into this rebellious act of righteous attack. The 13 plan to attack when Naritsugo and his men - 200 of them - are on a planned march.
It is suicide, but it is also the last opportunity for these men to die with honor as the age of the sword is giving way to modernity.
Finally the day comes - and with it a 40 minute battle sequence that elevates Takashi Miike into the highest ranks of action-adventure directors.
The sequence begins with spring doors and charging, flaming oxen and ends with good and evil facing each other one on one. You hear the word a lot, but this time it really fits: it is epic.
If you don't find Japanese culture and history fascinating, you may not dig too much on the first half of 13 Assassins, but, believe me, you'll wake up for the second half. Miike keeps the fighting singular and grounded in the mud. Despite the presence of military strategy, these aren't the beautiful choreographed moves of Red Cliff. 13 Assassins is a period drama, and the weapons may be different, but by the end it is a modern war movie.
My main complaint is that not all of the characters get their chance to shine. There are 13 assassins, but it is really about six of 'em. But 6 Assassins Plus Seven Extra Guys isn't that good of a title.
13 Assassins was the closing night film at Fantastic Fest 2010 and tore the roof off the place. It has been picked up by distribution by Magnet Releasing.
