My Best Performance: Toshiro Mifune

[Spinal]

I give you an actor.

You tell me which movie contains their best performance. You get one vote.

Discussion might happen.

After a day or so, the votes are counted. I announce the winning performance.

We then move on to somebody else.

Previous decisions:
Robert De Niro - Raging Bull
Kate Winslet - Heavenly Creatures

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/Mifune2l_zps6d2456f7.jpg
TOSHIRÔ MIFUNE

What's my best performance?

[number8]

Gotta be Red Beard, right?

[Raiders]

I imagine the consensus will be Red Beard, and probably rightfully so, but I'm going with High and Low. It was the first non-samurai Kurosawa film I saw starring Mifune, and his ability to display a calmer character, but one who still acted with extreme emotion, was rather revelatory to me. In general, I am always a little uneasy with Mifune's whole-body expressiveness and less-than-cinematic portrayals, and for me his performance in High and Low is what convinced me of his abilities as an actor.

[Grouchy]

Oooooh so good.

I'm going to go with Throne of Blood for now, but I admit I haven't seen Red Beard... yet.

[Ezee E]

I can't find a Red Beard scene, but that's my pick.

[Spinal]

Sadly, I have not seen Red Beard.

I've always been a huge fan of his work in I Live in Fear.

[Skitch]

Ugh this is like asking me to pick one of my children.

[Qrazy]

Throne of Blood

[Stay Puft]

I haven't seen Red Beard, either.

I'd probably go with Throne of Blood or Masaki Kobayashi's Samurai Rebellion. I don't think a non-Kurosawa stands a chance at this, though.

I'll vote Throne of Blood.

[Ezee E]

You guys should make it a priority to see Red Beard. It's one of Kurosawa's best.

[Sven]

I've always been a huge fan of his work in I Live in Fear.

This

[Skitch]

You guys should make it a priority to see Kurosawa's films.

Damn straight.

[dreamdead]

Count me among the I Live in Fear votes as well. Harrowing study of post-atomic bomb trauma that's rightfully bitter and complex, and Mifune sells each reaction so well. And that ending is killer, from his intentional sabotage to the hospital ward monologue. So striking and powerful.

I'll acknowledge, though, that Red Beard is gonna be a wait until the semester ends at the earliest.

[Dukefrukem]

Every mention of Red Beard reminds me of the RT member.

[Dukefrukem]

Rashomon is my pick.

[Skitch]

I'm going to go with his performance as Musashi Miyamoto.

http://i.imgur.com/1FpBmLJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mAPZc6v.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8TknAZF.jpg

[Grouchy]

For those like me who didn't know:


Mifune and Kurosawa finally parted ways after Red Beard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Beard). Several factors contributed to the rift that ended this career-spanning collaboration. Most of Mifune's contemporaries acted in several different movies throughout the year. Since Red Beard required Mifune to grow a natural beard — one he had to keep for the entirety of the film's two years of shooting — he was unable to act in any other films during the production. This put Mifune and his financially strapped production company deeply into debt, creating friction between him and Kurosawa. Although Red Beard played to packed houses in Japan and Europe, which helped Mifune recoup some of his losses, the ensuing years held varying outcomes for both Mifune and Kurosawa. After the film's release, the careers of each man took different arcs: Mifune continued to enjoy success with a range of samurai and war-themed films (Rebellion, Samurai Assassin, The Emperor and a General, among others). In contrast, Kurosawa's output of films dwindled and drew mixed responses. During this time, Kurosawa attempted suicide. In 1980, Mifune experienced popularity with mainstream American audiences through his role as Lord Toranaga in the television miniseries Shogun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun_(miniseries)). Yet Kurosawa did not rejoice in his estranged friend's success, and publicly made derisive remarks about Shogun.

[Yxklyx]

It's been so long since I've seen Red Beard. I'm going to go with Stray Dog.

[bac0n]

I'm going with Throne of Blood. And I'm moving Red Beard to the top of the Netflix queue.

[Kurosawa Fan]

RED. BEARD.

[Spinal]

Match Cut says my best performance is ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/kurosawa-throne_zps4f2cd252.jpg

THRONE OF BLOOD

[Qrazy]

For those like me who didn't know:

Mifune also directed a film during that conflict which apparently didn't do very well.

[Skitch]

I LOVE Throne Of Blood.

[MadMan]

For those like me who didn't know:That's sad. I hate it when good friends end up splitting apart because of something like that. Did they ever reconcile?

This thread makes me realize I need to view more Mifune, not less.

[number8]

Wait, were you previously thinking, "I should watch less Mifune movies"? :lol:

[Ezee E]

Is there a book about this conflict? I'd really like to read more about it.

[MadMan]

Wait, were you previously thinking, "I should watch less Mifune movies"? :lol:What I meant to write was that I had seen too few. Then I thought "Eh what the hell? I post it like this." Mostly to see if anyone would actually comment.