seven samurai ( 七人の侍 shichinin no samurai ) is a 1954 japanese samurai adventure drama film co-written , edited , and directed by akira kurosawa .

the story takes place in 1586 during the sengoku period of japanese history .

it follows the story of a village of farmers that hire seven ronin ( masterless samurai ) to combat bandits who will return after the harvest to steal their crops .

since its release , seven samurai has consistently ranked highly in critics ' lists of the greatest films , such as the bfi 's sight & sound and rotten tomatoes polls .

it has remained highly influential , often seen as one of the most " remade , reworked , referenced " films in cinema .

seven samurai

if you like the magnificent seven , watch kurosawa ' s the seven samurai .
poster of the 1960 remake of seven samurai titled the magnificent seven - image via google .
kid samurai : katsushiro is the youngest of the seven and only beginning the samurai way .
kurosawa , akira . seven samurai . trans . donald keene . 1970 . seven samurai and other screenplays : ikiru , seven samurai , throne of blood . london : faber and faber , 1992 .
photo of toshiro mifune in the akira kurosawa classic seven samurai : toho films .
seven samurai is above all a homage to the samurai class at its most noble
( mellon 20 ) .
it’s kambei’s legendary introduction , though , that first kicks “seven samurai” into high gear .
seven samurai , the ( 1954 ) - - ( movie clip ) . . .
toshiro mifune in akira kurosawa ' s
seven samurai .
( janus film )
the magnificent seven samurai : trope maker . ' seven warriors defend a village from bandits ' has become a template used in many places .
a poor village under attack by bandits recruits seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves .
seven samurai ( program note ) , mill valley film festival , b . peterson , 2002
seven samurai , the ( 1954 ) - - ( movie clip ) there . . .
seven samurai , the ( 1954 ) - - ( movie clip ) stop . . .
what it influenced : damn near everything , that ' s what . seven samurai was directly remade as the magnificent seven ( which is what seven samurai had been called for some of its u . s . promotions ) . magnificent seven spawned numerous sequels and remakes itself , making seven samurai a grandfather to , among others , battle beyond the stars , the seven magnificent gladiators , three amigos , and a bug ' s life .
vili might want to chime in as well , but i’m familiar enough with seven samurai and the magnificent seven to want to respond to your question .
seven samurai , the ( 1954 ) - - ( movie clip ) got a . . .
“by protecting others , you save yourself . ” : seven samurai ( akira kurosawa – 1954 )
that hires seven masterless samurai to protect them from a group of bandits intent on stealing their harvest . seven samurai’s unique style and themes redefined the action movie genre and inspired filmmakers across the world .
seven samurai , the ( 1954 ) - - ( movie clip ) i ' m . . .
seven samurai , the original cult classic film written and directed by akira kurosawa - image via google .
samurai : technically , like the ronin entry above notes , they ' re not really samurai : but all seven are still striving to follow bushido .
looking for movie tickets ? enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing seven samurai near you .
seven samurai is also available to rent on bfi player ( £3 . 50 / £2 . 98 ) urltoken
the single largest undertaking by a japanese filmmaker at the time , seven samurai was a technical and creative watershed that became japan ' s highest - grossing movie and set a new standard for the industry . its influence can be most strongly felt in the western the magnificent seven ( 1960 ) , a film specifically adapted from seven samurai . director john sturges took seven samurai and adapted it to the old west , with the samurai replaced by gunslingers . many of the magnificent seven ' s scenes mirror those of seven samurai . the film spawned several sequels and there was also a short - lived 1998 television series .
we chart the rocky road to classic status of akira kurosawa’s all - time classic action film , seven samurai .
the village of the farmers in seven samurai was a set built in tagata on the izu peninsula , shizuoka , japan . read below for more information on the filming location of seven samurai and travel tips for the izu peninsula .
seven samurai ( shichinin no samurai ) is the quintessential samurai movie and perhaps the most accomplished collaboration between director kurosawa and actor toshiro mifune . the film deeply influenced cinema , including john sturges who directed a remake : the magnificent seven starring yul brynner , steve mcqueen , charles bronson .
now it’s your turn : if you love “seven samurai , ” sound off in the comments and tell me why .
if you ' re going to use a film for inspiration , seven samurai is certainly a good place to start .
the film’s action has been much imitated . but it’s the desperate , yearning humanity that makes seven samurai truly magnificent .
“by protecting others , you save yourself . ” : seven samurai ( akira kurosawa – 1954 ) – behind the seens
set photography for seven samurai . retrieved from akira kurosawa digital archive . id 01 . 14 . 04 . 917 .
set photography for seven samurai . retrieved from akira kurosawa digital archive . id 01 . 14 . 04 . 949 .
set photography for seven samurai . retrieved from akira kurosawa digital archive . id 01 . 14 . 04 . 939 .
as lawless pointed out , the magnificent seven is a fairly direct remake of seven samurai , just in a western setting . the other two films you listed are less directly connected to kurosawa .
thanks for the great introduction , vili ! ! as most of you know , seven samurai is my favorite movie ever .
in a special cinephile saturday program , the pollock theater is proud to present seven samurai on 35mm film . kurosawa’s masterpiece tells the story of a poor village under attack by bandits , which recruits seven unemployed samurai to help the villagers defend themselves .
rbeort , magnificent seven is a straight up remake of seven samurai . i haven’t seen army of darkness , but mad max isn’t really influenced i think by seven samurai . seven samurai is generally seen as the ‘original’ film featuring the now common idea of a motley group of fighters getting together for one last battle . numerous films have followed this idea since then – the best source on this i think is dolores martinez’s book on kurosawa remakes .
of films have used the language “seven samurai” created when staging their own set pieces , the power of “samurai’s” action has not diluted one iota in the time since its release .
that’s all the synopsis one needs to understand what “seven samurai” is about , and though this story has been the core influence on countless imitators , from “the magnificent seven” all the way to “a bug’s life , ” it’s not the modest plot , but the astonishingly profound way kurosawa tells the story that makes “seven samurai” a masterpiece .
“seven samurai” is , without a doubt , a testament to all the incredible things this medium can accomplish at its very best .
but until august , our undivided attention will be on seven samurai . as always , dear friends , the floor is yours .
☛ seven samurai ( shichinin no samurai ) by akira kurosawa , japan , 1954 . intermission card from 01 : 46 : 45 to 01 : 51 : 46 , criterion edition .
with a plot based on the magnificent seven and the seven samurai , this science fiction film involves a peaceful planet attacked by invaders . looking for assistance results in the hiring of a diverse group of mercenaries .
“seven samurai” is definitive proof that it is not the story being told , but the execution of that story that creates compelling drama .
shimura takashi ( left ) and mifune toshirō ( second from right ) in seven samurai ( 1954 ) , directed by kurosawa akira .
— a mexican village hires gunmen to defend them from a gang of bandits . terrific american version of
the seven samurai
!
the closest similarity i see between army of darkness and mad max and seven samurai / the magnificent seven is the need for a disparate group of folks to pull together to defend themselves . if that’s what you mean by the same concept , then i suppose it is , but i know of no evidence that seven samurai inspired mad max , and it seems even less likely that it inspired army of darkness , which imdb indicates is a sequel to the evil dead series of films . also , neither seven samurai nor the magnificent seven is post - apocalyptic .
the villagers either scavenged weapons and armor from dead samurai , or killed samurai and stripped them of their belongings .
another common theme is there are different monsters belonging to a different attribute for each reincarnation of
six samurai
:
the six samurai
,
legendary six samurai
and the recent
secret six samurai
.
4 ) and there is also a new magnificent seven remake on its way .
seven samurai is a 1954 japanese adventure film co - written , edited , and directed by akira kurosawa . the story takes place in 1586 during the warring states period of japan and is about a village of farmers that hire seven ronin ( masterless samurai ) to fight the bandits who are expected to return to steal the village ' s crops . to say seven samurai is a classic is an understatement . since the movie ' s release , seven samurai has been one of the most
remade , reworked , referenced
films in cinema history .
seven samurai is now by far the best known and influential film ever to hail from japan . after all , what do critics know ?
seven samurai is an unforgettable masterpiece - - the work of one of the world ' s greatest filmmakers at the height of his powers .
toshiro mifune , foreground , took on an influential role by starring in akira kurosawa s 1954 classic , seven samurai . ( associated press )
this july , our akira kurosawa film club turns its attention to seven samurai ( 1954 ) , perhaps the best known of kurosawa’s works .
blades of glory . . . akira kurosawa ' s seven samurai is to be remade by the weinstein company . photograph : ronald grant archive
seven samurai ( shichinin no samurai ) , blu - ray steelbook , is a very timely release from the bfi . as the 6th september marks 15 years since the passing of the great “sensei” .
deck build pack : spirit warriors introduces the new
secret six samurai
sub - archetype , as well as the first
six samurai
fusion monster ,
secret six samurai - rihan
. these six samurai have various effects focused on banished six samurai monsters , as well as banishing themselves to protect six samurai monsters on the field .
it could be said that it is only the pure that survive , from a group of men already purer than the average samurai . unsurprisingly , many have leaped into the conclusion that seven samurai straightforwardly glorifies traditional samurai values , with these interpretations often stressing kurosawa’s own family background as a member of an old samurai family .
families can talk about the rigid class system in place during the time period of seven samurai . why is there such a separation between the samurai and the villagers ? what makes it easier for the samurai and villagers to overcome the social barriers to band together ?
here ' s how kurosawa ' s
seven samurai
has inspired films like george miller ' s
mad max : fury road .
to see how “seven samurai’s” visuals , plot , dialogue have influenced filmmakers from quentin tarantino to george lucas , check out the short video below .
a sixteenth century farming village requests protection from the seven samurai against a horde of bandits who have warned they will return when the crops are ripe . a gripping three hour ride that inspired the hollywood remake , the magnificent seven .
non indicative name : the seven heroes are composed of six ronin and a peasant .
another seven samurai peculiarity is the introduction of western modernity in the form of guns . most samurai films show the samurai winning with superior skill in swordplay . kurosawa ' s film , however , shows samurai killed by gunshot . not only does that detail reinforce the sense of “unfairness
 about their demise , but , unlike other samurai movies , it also adds realism to the proceedings .
some films have even lifted dialogue almost verbatim from “seven samurai . ” the film’s “everlasting and genre - spanning influence is a testament to its undeniable greatness and its special place in cinematic history , ” writes bill rwehera , author of the fandor video , “from seven samurai to fury road . ”
…as acclaimed as kurosawa akira’s seven samurai ( 1954 ) , on which it was based—proved to be a popular and influential entry in the genre . …
made only six years after 1954 ' s the seven samurai , john sturges ' the magnificent seven is at the same time a classic american western and a faithful remake of the japanese original , leaving the structure of the plot largely intact while translating samurai tropes into the language of the old west .
i actually assume that you mean mad max 2 , which i think bears more resemblance to seven samurai than the original mad max , unless i get them mixed up in my head . in mad max 2 we have max sort of defending a small town under threat from outlaws , just like in seven samurai , but unless i’m mistaken , mad max 2 doesn’t have the “gathering of heroes” concept which is at the heart of seven samurai . it seems a little more like a western frontier story to me than seven samurai , but i would still be very surprised if george miller didn’t know kurosawa’s film .
yet , for me , it ' s the seven samurai that seems the most potent influence . you have , after all , the anthill under threat from grasshoppers , who wreak their damage and fly off again ( although seven samurai didn ' t have kevin spacey on brilliant voicing duties , of course ) .
and if you ' re more into animation than westerns , pixar ' s a bug ' s life is loosely inspired by the seven samurai as well .
…epic shichinin no samurai ( seven samurai ) is considered the most entertaining of kurosawa’s films and also his greatest commercial success . it depicts a village of peasants and a few leaderless samurai who fight for the village against a gang of marauding bandits . although it was inspired by his admiration…
in the meantime , richie’s monograph notwithstanding , seven samurai had rather fallen out of critical purview . in 1982 , however , it made its first appearance in sight
bbc’s flagship discussion programme the forum has recently taken as its subject akira kurosawa’s 1954 film seven samurai . the audio is now available for listening on bbc’s website .
note : this review of akira kurosawa ' s seven samurai is a condensed / revised version of dan schneider ' s text , which can be read in its original form here . the views expressed in this seven samurai review are those of mr . schneider , and they may not reflect the views of alt film guide .
samurai # 7 : kikuchiyo self - recruited
samurai
of dubious origins , determined to join the mission ; uninvited , kikuchiyo follows the recruited samurai back to the village , where he will ultimately prove himself invaluable to defense of the village and worthy of samurai status .
“seven samurai” is undoubtedly long – at 207 minutes , it outpaces most films an ordinary viewer will have seen – but few films use length to such great advantage .
[ … ] “by protecting others , you save yourself . ” : ‘seven samurai’ ( akira kurosawa – 1954 ) ( behindtheseens . wordpress . com ) [ … ]
the movie location of the village in seven samurai was a set built in the tagata district on the izu peninsula in shizuoka at the request of director akira kurosawa .
kambei ( takashi shimura ) and kikuchiyo ( toshiro mifune ) offer differing comments at the funeral for the fallen samurai heihachi , which is interrupted as the bandits attack , in director akira kurosawa ' s the seven samurai , 1954 . >
more than sixty years after the release of “ seven samurai , ” akira kurosawa’s legendary epic continues to leave its mark on hollywood . while the film is widely known to have led to the 1960 remake “the magnificent seven , ” directed by john sturges , “seven samurai” has also inspired filmmakers like george miller as recently as 2015 , when he released his epic sci - fi action film , “ mad max : fury road . ”
“seven samurai” is the exceedingly rare film that transcends the time and place it was made to suggest universal experiences of friendship , loyalty , fear , courage , and community .
warriors fight to save a poor village from bandits in akira kurosawa ' s masterpiece and one of the greatest movies ever made , the seven samurai ( 1954 ) . >
the heroic figures that embody the themes of this epic poem are seven ronin – masterless samurai – and it is through their deeds and adventures that kurosawa weaves his tale .
til : while filming seven samurai , to simulate getting shot with arrows , several stuntmen were actually shot with live arrows . they wore blocks of wood under their clothes .
it’s no secret akira kurosawa ‘s perennial seven samurai has influenced every underdog trope film of the last sixty years . from the magnificent seven and bonnie and clyde to die hard and ocean’s eleven : surface themes are easily comparable , but how deep do these similarities actually go ?
as narrator keanu reeves points out , there would be no
magnificent seven
without
the seven samurai ,
no
a fistful of dollars
for clint eastwood without
yojimbo ,
no
star wars
for anyone without
the hidden fortress .
the writers of seven samurai — kurosawa , oguni and hashimoto — sued toho in the 1970s as they had not received any payment for the american remake the magnificent seven . in 1978 , the tokyo district court agreed with them , declaring that the writers owned the remake rights , and that mgm ( the producer of the magnificent seven should also compensate the three writers ) .
in 1960 , seven samurai had its first remake with john sturges ' the magnificent seven shot in mexico . this remake moves the story to mexico and tells the story of a mexican peasant village that assembles seven gunfighters to help them defend their land and homes . the production brought together a large cast of famous actors that includes yul brynner , steve mcqueen , and charles bronson .
one of the greatest films ever made , kurosawa’s seven samurai has influenced the work of directors from george lucas to steven spielberg , and spawned remakes including john sturges’ western the magnificent seven . first released on dvd in 1999 , it remains the bfi’s no1 best - selling title .
a remake of the magnificent seven hit theaters last week , reteaming director antoine fuqua with star denzel washington following their work together on training day and the equalizer . it ' s not the first time that seven samurai has been re - re - booted . * in fact , an entire textbook could be written on seven samurai ' s legacy and the differences between its various adaptations , but for a simple comparison of differences between that formative classic , the original magnificent seven , and this week ' s reboot , you ' re in the right place !
a true samurai wanted nothing more than to be attached to a daimyo and a castle , to be ' tied down ' in classic feudal organisation . . . . the samurai fought out of the kindness and alliance of the land which justified , for kurosawa , their entire birthright . the very mention of money and gratitude betray the spirit of seven samurai ; the samurai code forbad the very touching of money as beneath a samurai ' s dignity
( mellon 71 ) .
this article is related to : features and tagged 5 things you might not know about . . . , akira kurosawa , features , on this day in movie history , seven samurai
so , let me end this review by stating that seven samurai is every bit as great as its most enthusiastic champions claim . i then ask you , how rare is that ?
' seven samurai ' analysis : akira kurosawa classic keeps improving © 2004–2018 alt film guide and / or author ( s ) . text not to be reproduced without prior written consent .
despite its fame , questions about the critical response to seven samurai can be raised . in her book seven samurai , joan mellen writes that the film has been the “least written about” and the “most misunderstood” of all of kurosawa’s works ( 63 ) . while in terms of quantity of writing this may not strictly speaking be true , at least if material written outside of the academia is also factored in , the discussion on seven samurai has admittedly been traditionally marked by a certain lack of shared insight , or at least any recognisable unified direction .
til : while filming seven samurai , to simulate getting shot with arrows , several stuntmen were actually shot with live arrows . they wore blocks of wood under their clothes . : todayilearned
based on the original seven samurai screenplay by director and writer akira kurosawa , the screenwriters for the magnificent seven are john lee hancock ( the blind side , saving mr . banks ) and nic pizzolatto ( true detective ) . the story centers around seven outlaws who team up to defend a village from a powerful adversary . the production has already started filming last week at the santa fe studios .
george lucas is an ardent kurosawa admirer . the first star wars is largely a retelling of kurosawa ' s the hidden fortress ( 1958 ) , with some yojimbo ( 1961 ) and seven samurai thrown in for good measure . c3po ' s observation
it seems we are made to suffer ; it ' s our lot in life
is reminiscent of what the farmers in seven samurai say about themselves . lucas has said that the way yoda rubs the back of his head when he ' s thinking is a tribute to the wise kambei , who does the same thing throughout seven samurai .
bounty hunters ,
a 2010 episode of the star wars : the clone wars animated series , is dedicated to kurosawa and is based on seven samurai . so seven samurai partially inspired star wars , and if you want to get into all the movies that star wars inspired , we ' ll be here all day .
a remake of the classic japanese film seven samurai has been given the green light by hollywood , with british film - maker scott mann set to direct , variety ( paywall ) reports .
takashi shimura ( as kambei ) issues orders and directs archers , while toshiro mifune ( as kikuchiyo ) leads swordfighters , as the samurai and the villagers face the bandits in this portion of the climactic battle sequence from akira kurosawa ' s the seven samurai , 1954 .
and as the american occupation of japan had ended only half a year before the work on seven samurai begun , some have seen the samurai as standing for the americans , who came to rescue japan from itself , but whose time it has now come to leave .
a new video from fandor explains in depth just how wide ranging the influence of “seven samurai” can be felt . while films with enormous battle scenes like “the lord of the rings : the two towers” and “the matrix revolutions” unsurprisingly borrowed visual elements from kurosawa , some unexpected titles that were inspired by the plot of “seven samurai” include john landis’ “three amigos” and “a bug’s life . ”
both katsushiro and kikuchiyo are defined by their failures to cross the aisle of their preordained social class , an aspect vital to seven samurai ' s themes . however , the magnificent seven ( 1960 ) lost a lot of the cultural exploration of seven samurai simply because its setting hearkens to a different culture . western gunslingers were similarly legendary warriors in their own time , but , unlike samurai , they were not a class of nobility , attainable only by birth . with no true strife of social boundaries to battle , the magnificent seven lost the added layer of sacrifice that the seven must make to do the right thing . consequently , the film combined the lover and the loon into the character of chico , played by horst buchholz , in an attempt to play the character against his own desires .
at the time , seven samurai made the headlines with a budget of half million dollars while most movies then were filmed with seven time less . filming took 148 days - 4 times more than originally planned - with kurosawa being intransigeant about the authenticy of the film but also battling with difficult natural conditions .
takashi shimura ( as kambei ) issues orders and directs archers , while toshiro mifune ( as kikuchiyo ) leads swordfighters , as the samurai and the villagers face the bandits in this portion of the climactic battle sequence from akira kurosawa ' s the seven samurai , 1954 . >
to mark the 60th anniversary akira kurosawa’s celebrated masterpiece , seven samurai ( shichinin no samurai ) , the bfi is releasing the epic adventure on blu - ray ( for the very first time in the uk ) in a limited edition steelbook ( out monday 21 april ) .
the basic premise of samurai is really cool and it is a great game .
this event is presented in conjunction with the 2017 ucsb reads program . this year’s text for the program , into the beautiful north by luis alberto urrea , draws on the classic western the magnificent seven ( 1960 ) , which in turn was based on seven samurai . the event will be followed by a reception .
kizan
can summon itself if you have a different
six samurai
monster , while
kageki
summons another
six samurai
when normal summoned .
that purpose was to make a samurai movie that was anchored in ancient japanese culture and yet argued for a flexible humanism in place of rigid traditions . one of the central truths of
seven samurai
is that the samurai and the villagers who hire them are of different castes and must never mix . indeed , we learn that these villagers had earlier been hostile to samurai - - and one of them , even now , hysterically fears that a samurai will make off with his daughter . yet the bandits represent a greater threat , and so the samurai are hired , valued and resented in about equal measure .
photo credit : banner image from the magnificent seven 1960 remake starring yul brynner and steve mcqueen - image via google .
as a final observation on seven samurai ' s realistic approach to its narrative , kurosawa shows the surviving samurai leave the village with little to show for their work , save their honor and war tales . the villagers can live in peace , if only for a time , while they must go seek employment on the road without their brothers in arms . there is no hollywood ending , or cheap emotional payoff . seven samurai refuses to condescend – and this is part of its greatness . ( the ending is softened somewhat in john sturges ' 1960 remake , the magnificent seven , with yul brynner . )
seven samurai is set in the sengoku period , rather than the tokugawa period more typical for samurai films . the sengoku jidai , or warring states period , was an exceptionally turbulent time of uncertainty for japan , as near constant military conflict shook the country for nearly one and half centuries .
although it would become the film to which all samurai films would later be compared , seven samurai did not immediately change the jidaigeki genre . for that purpose , it had been too expensive and too exception to be straightforwardly copied . it would take seven years and another kurosawa film to really change the genre , with the release of yojimbo in 1961 , and sanjuro a year later . ( see yoshimoto 245 )
on the structural side , seven samurai has been noted for its atypical length and the mastery with which kurosawa pulls off a film nearly three and a half hours long . kenneth turan in his short essay included with the newer criterion release of the film talks about the film’s length and pacing , noting that unlike many other equally long films , seven samurai ‘s length is not only necessary but also natural . audie bock in her japanese film directors similarly draws our attention to the film’s rhythm , noting that just like seven samurai , “the best kurosawa films unfold in a push - and - release rhythm , with vigorous action tempered by static dialogue , gripping suspense relieved by light romance or outright buffoonery . and at calculated intervals in the course of the unfolding come moments of kurosawan truth . ” ( 176 ) this “push - and - release rhythm” is easily recognisable in seven samurai , where weightier scenes are often followed by lighter , often comic ones . indeed , seven samurai could at many points be called a seriously funny film .
the samurai even by law could not become farmers . . . . [ a samurai ] must play out the fate of his class
( mellon 71 ) .
was
a code and way of life for samurai .
combining the influences of
satellite character : out of all the samurai , shichiroji gets the least to do .
: old man , i ' m worried . the village girls will go crazy over the samurai . if the samurai touch ' em , all hell will break loose .
demonstrated that ronin could be heroes . a masterless samurai has unlimited capacity to be more honorable acting upon his own morality than a true samurai who serves a corrupt lord .
arguably akira kurosawa ' s masterpiece , the seven samurai is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story , memorable characters , and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made .
seven samurai is a magnificent , barbaric , japanese picture maintaining a high level of technical and artistic brilliance which only sheer exhaustion - it lasts two and a half hours - prohibits from whole - hearted admiration .
the 1954 japanese epic seven samurai by akira kurosawa has been described as one of the most influential films in the history of cinema . set in 16th century rural japan it tells the story of a small village
kikuchiyo ( toshiro mifune ) taunts his would - be comrades , en route with the peasant farmers to their village , and stages a fishing demonstration in akira kurosawa ' s the seven samurai , 1954 . >
a pinnacle of japanese cinema , seven samurai saw the birth of the historical epic genre , and is an amazing movie in it ' s own right . kids may have issue si . . . continue reading
you could also consider sending an email to david gaines , who tours with a one man mime adaptation of seven samurai . perhaps he might be able to help . you can find his website at urltoken .
seven samurai [ japan : shichinin no samurai ] . dir . akira kurosawa . wr . akira kurosawa , shinobu hashimoto , hideo oguni . perf . takashi shimura , toshirô mifune , isao kimura , yoshio tsuchiya . toho co . ltd . , 1954 . dvd . janus criterion collection , 1998 .
although seven samurai has often been called an epic , it ' s really not . almost all of the action takes place indoors or in small settings , and even though the film features numerous characters and extras , there are only forty bandits and maybe twice as many villagers . this is personalized , small - scale warfare . the only epopee seven samurai indulges in is the rhetoric spouted by toshiro mifune ' s kikuchiyo and akira kurosawa ' s visuals , which often let the viewer get both subjective and objective viewpoints in one shot ( often over the shoulders of the characters ) . ( image : toshiro mifune in seven samurai . )
now , despite toshiro mifune ' s renown and billing , seven samurai is actually the tale of kambei , played by the magnificent takashi shimura , an akira kurosawa regular just off his great role in ikiru ( 1952 ) , in which he plays a doomed political hack who achieves a minor victory against bureaucracy . in rashomon ( 1950 ) he had played a peasant , while in seven samurai he is a sage and warrior .
i should also mention that seven samurai is the granddaddy of all great action films , from sam peckinpah ' s the wild bunch to james cameron ' s aliens and the terminator series . additionally , i noticed how seven samurai ' s opening – to the sound of drumbeats – is reminiscent to that of my beloved godzilla , which was released that same year . while as a film godzilla is nowhere in the same league as seven samurai , it is probably the second most influential japanese cinematic production of all time . that both of them rely on such primal sounds in their opening sequences makes one wonder if there ' s a connection .
3 ) thirdly , the weinstein company is currently producing a seven samurai remake , which i think is licensed . depending on their contract , their adaptation license may block other new adaptations and / or remakes , or they may have some say in what currently gets licensed . or that’s my guess based on experience , but it may well also be the case that the weinstein production has nothing to do with seven samurai licensing .
so as we enter into autumn 2013 , it is only right to celebrate the greatest film of all time , by one of the greatest directors of all time with a blu - ray print of seven samurai .
it is truly amazing how distinct and fascinating – or just downright fun – each of the seven samurai are individually , and one of kurosawa’s wisest moves is to devote the entire first hour to putting the team together .
if the villagers are the heart and soul of “seven samurai , ” kikuchiyo and his many flaws and strengths is the spirit of the eponymous team itself , a concept immortalized in his symbolic triangle on the group’s flag .
samurai ponytail : all seven feature the short - and - straight version , except kikuchiyo , who has a short - and - messy version . kambei ' s hair , sadly , is sacrificed to a greater goal .
the popularity of seven samurai has also spawned a wide number of remakes , many of which are discussed in depth in martinez’s remaking kurosawa , and most of which can be found at the remakes page of this website .
this classic of the samurai film genre will appeal to teens and older who love action . young viewers may find the human deaths disturbing , as many of the most sympathetic characters meet their demise while protecting the village . for those who can deal with the emotion of loss , seven samurai offers substantial rewards .
debut queue : we meet the samurai one at a time as they assemble the team .
: find hungry samurai . even bears come down from the mountains when they are hungry .
each six samurai has a different attribute , and those with polar attributes have opposite effects .
“whoever heard of farmers hiring samurai ? ” asks the farmer who’s about to hire the samurai . six decades later , everyone’s heard of seven samurai . the film’s outline is movie myth : tormented villagers , cruel bandits , a few wandering heroes for hire . director akira kurosawa was a john ford fanboy who transplanted the hollywood western onto feudal japan . hollywood borrowed right back . in 1960 there was the magnificent seven , half as long and half as good , with a great score and mostly great actors but unfortunately also horst buchholz .
i wouldn’t really call him the 8th samurai . while he is very helpful and clearly a fairly likable man — sulking and all — i don’t think that he really has or wants to have much to do with the samurai values or behaviour exhibited by the actual samurai characters .
the name of the archetype and the design of their members , including the
shien
archetype , may be derived from the japanese films seven samurai ( 1954 ) and kagemusha ( 1980 ) , both by akira kurosawa .
i wondered , this time around , if rikichi isn’t also a samurai at heart ? he is the guide for the samurai of course , the link to the villagers , but is he not as brave , as willing to take risks , as wise and protective as the samurai themselves ? in scene after scene he attends the samurai , first as a social subordinate , but as time goes on , as an equal . i honestly see rikichi as the eighth samurai…
decoy protagonist : played with . for the first thirty minutes , the film follows four peasants tasked with hiring samurai . once they recruit kambei , the story focuses mainly on the samurai .
seven samurai / shichinin no samurai ( 1954 ) . dir . : akira kurosawa . scr . : akira kurosawa , shinobu hashimoto , hideo oguni . cast : toshiro mifune , takashi shimura , yoshio inaba , seiji miyaguchi , isao kimura , kamatari fujiwara , yukiko shimazaki , yoshio tsuchiya , minoru chiaki , daisuke kato .
seven samurai , like most of kurosawa’s films , is typically seen as a male dominated work , a film about men and male bonding . joan mellen , in waves at genji’s door , insists that the film’s only female character of any importance is the peasant girl shino , with whom the young samurai katsushiro falls in love . ( 51 ) in contrast , however , in her essay “seven samurai and six women” ( printed in japanese cinema : texts and contexts ) , d . p . martinez writes about the role of women in seven samurai , arguing that a “close look at [ kurosawa’s ] films reveals that they are peopled with fascinating , complex women who might occupy little screen time but whose personalities and motivations are essential to their plots” ( 112 - 113 ) .
seven samurai , if you ' ve not seen it , is the story of a village that hires - yes ! - seven samurai to protect the harvest from people looking to steal it . effectively , the farmers of the village hire in outside help to offer some defence to those who come and steal their livelihoods . it ' s a stunning film , and , it should be noted , a much longer one than a bug ' s life .
after being attacked by a group of bandits several times , a group of villagers seek help of seven samurai in order to fight the bandits once and for all . this is the story of how they made their pass through the enemy ' s massive army and their tremendous epic war with the bandits . the seven samurai will do anything in order to win the battle ; however , there are still a lot of obstacles and problems they must solve .
seven samurai unrolls naturally and pleasurably , like a beautiful scroll or valuable rug , luxuriating in its elongation—it takes an entire hour just for the basic task of choosing the titular seven . rather than try to ignore time , the film emphasizes its passage , underlining key scenes with a quiet but insistent drumbeat that could almost be a clock ticking off the inexorable seconds .
this intermission card arrives 107 minutes in akira kurosawa’s 1954 film seven samurai . it lasts approximately 5 minutes and is accompanied by a music score by hayasaka fumio . at the time of writing , it can be watched on youtube .
the sentiment is repeated by chris adams at the end of the magnificent seven ( 1960 ) , but this is contrasted by the highly stylized , explosive , and revenge - filled 2016 remake . emma cullen ends the film reminding the audience that the heroics of her seven guns - for - hire would not be forgotten , but perhaps the seven worth remembering are the ones who had the least to gain .
rbeort – i’m not familiar with army of darkness except what i just looked up on imdb , and i haven’t seen mad max , but neither of them is an adaptation or remake of seven samurai , the earliest of these films and the direct precursor to the magnificent seven , an authorized but lesser remake . there’s extensive commentary on both films elsewhere on this site .
more than 60 years later , seven samurai has not aged a bit thanks to a powerful narrative and a unique set of characters that are worth all the special effects in the world . under the spell of kurosawa , the audience is placed at the center of the strenuous battle made of relentless attacks from the bandits and anxious peace moments waiting for the next offensive . with his first samurai movie , kurosawa subtly captures the essence of the way of the samurai through the unfaltering earnestness of the seven ronins , ready to give their life to fullfill their mission .
there was a magnificent sequel , and now a remake , but samurai ‘s influence is cosmic . it defined a narrative structure : the misfit badasses on a mission of mercy . it’s the dirty dozen and guns of navarone , armageddon and guardians of the galaxy . zack snyder has described next year’s justice league as a seven samurai riff . back in 2013 , snyder was rumored to be working on a seven samurai - influenced star wars spinoff . ( that would’ve been poetic : george lucas was a kurosawa fanboy who invented space - samurai with laser - swords . ) instead , this december brings rogue one , starring six hero humans and one badass droid .
: subverted with kikuchiyo . the other samurai mock him repeatedly , arguably heihachi most of all ,
last week , the new mexico film office announced that the magnificent seven , a modern day remake of akira kurosawa ' s cult classic seven samurai , will be filming in the state . directed by antoine fuqua ( south paw , the equalizer ) , the movie stars denzel washington , chris pratt , ethan hawke , vincent d’onofrio , byung - hun lee , and peter sarsgaard . the magnificent seven will be the first reunion for fuqua , washington and hawke who teamed together 10 years ago in training day .
he’s known now as the genre’s greatest master , but kurosawa was more than a decade into his career as a director before he made seven samurai . it’s the most ambitious and praised of all of his samurai films , but while other directors might have built up to such a massive project , this was actually his first samurai movie . other classics , including yojimbo ( 1961 ) and sanjuro ( 1962 ) , would follow .
seven samurai features a remarkable scene where mifune / kikuchiyo vents his anger when kambei and the others see the armor of dead samurai . at first , he agrees with the samurai that the villagers are liars and not worth defending ; even that they should be killed . but then his rage turns toward his stunned comrades . kikuchiyo leaves , huffs at katsushiro , and later rejects the advances of a flock of children as well .
there’s an old chinese curse that runs , “may you live in interesting times . ” and sixteenth - century japan was certainly an interesting time from a dramatic point of view—which is undoubtedly why akira kurosawa chose it as seven samurai ’s …
whatever the film’s possible social and political interpretations , on the surface seven samurai has three very distinct groups : the samurai , the farmers and the bandits . yet , on closer inspection these group lines become blurred . the bandits and the samurai are , after all , both masterless samurai , products of a tumultuous era , and therefore “of the identical social group , driven by the same condition to opposite choices” , as mellen puts it in waves at genji’s door ( 91 ) . in the two groups , we witness a situation similar to the one that forms the basis of stray dog , where identical circumstances have led characters to two very differing outcomes , with some individuals choosing to blame their environment , ignore morals and go down the road to lawlessness , while others like the noble samurai in seven samurai remain strong and honourable , albeit no less suffering .
: subverted . the samurai are enraged when they discover that the villagers whom they are defending have in the past sometimes killed samurai escaping from battles and stripped them of their armor and weapons . as the other samurai begin muttering about how they ' d like to slaughter the entire village , kikuchiyo
the original six samurai monsters debuted in strike of neos and depended on having another
six samurai
on the field to activate their effects . they also all shared the effect of
if this card would be destroyed you can destroy another
six samurai
monster you control instead
.
but these values are increasingly hard to come by , even in the world depicted in the film . as mellen points out , as the story progresses , “the samurai begin to fade from importance in the structure of the film . ” for , while the peasants can acquire battle skills from the samurai , the samurai remain unable to integrate themselves into the peasant society . “their class is truly obsolete and they must disappear . ” ( waves 98 ) in mellen’s views , as well as in the view of many others , seven samurai is ultimately a mournful lament about the death of the samurai class and its codes of conduct .
we only see the bandits at the beginning and at the end of the film . none of them is a darth vader despite george lucas ' latter - day attempts to cite seven samurai as an influence for his puerile star wars saga .
seven samurai is the highest reviewed movie at rotten tomatoes with the highest number of votes that is listed as an action / adventure film on the site . it is also ranked number two on rotten tomatoes ' top 100 foreign films list .
some films get better after repeated viewings . akira kurosawa ' s 1954 black - and - white drama seven samurai / shichinin no samurai is one of them . it fully deserved winning that year ' s silver lion at the venice film festival , as well as its academy award nominations for best art direction - set decoration ( black and white ) and best costume design ( black and white ) . additionally , seven samurai deservedly became an international sensation and it ' s reported to have been the highest - grossing japanese film of its day . [ warning : spoilers ahead . ]
for this week’s film , i decided to watch seven samurai , edited and directed by akira kurosawa . this film follows the journey of samurai warriors who agree to help local farmers against bandits . this film used several interesting editing techniques to create an entertaining movie , including establishing shots , transition wipes , eyeline matches , and continuity of action .
in fact , although seven samurai is probably the most popular of kurosawa’s films , views on how it ranks in the director’s oeuvre have been varying . at one end of the scale , we have noël burch who has once called seven samurai nothing more than the finest of kurosawa’s minor jigaigeki ( quoted in mellen , 63 - 64 ) . stephen prince ranks it higher , labelling seven samurai “one of [ kurosawa’s ] most richly textured philosophical works” ( 204 ) . meanwhile , stuart galbraith calls it kurosawa’s best film ( 174 ) , while donald richie goes a step further and insists that it is not only kurosawa’s best film , but also possibly the best made in japan , and among the best made by anyone anywhere .


tramps is a 2016 american comedy film directed by adam leon .

it was screened in the contemporary world cinema section at the 2016 toronto international film festival .

it was released on april 21 , 2017 , by netflix .

tramps ( 2016 film )

“tramps” premiered at the 2016 toronto international film festival . it is currently seeking distribution .
, may / june 2016 . online edition from film society of lincoln center website . accessed 8 july 2016 .
in september 2016 , netflix acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film . [ 3 ] it was released on april 21 , 2017 . [ 4 ]
netflix has struck again , this time picking up worldwide rights to the hotly contested indie romance - heist film tramps .
[ 12 ] holly rogers , beethoven’s myth sympathy : hollywood’s re - construction . urltoken . web . accessed 2 july 2016 .
netflix has acquired worldwide rights for “ tramps ” following its debut at this year’s toronto international film festival , variety has confirmed .
it ' s tramps ' attitude to be short and sweet that proves definitive , vital .
the release date of the movie tramps is set to april 21 , 2017 on netflix . : )
the film premiered on netflix on december 11 , 2015 . [ 14 ] on january 6 , 2016 , netflix announced that the film had been viewed more times in 30 days than any other movie in netflix history . it also made it to the # 1 spot in every territory in which netflix operates . [ 15 ]
tramps won ' t stay in your mind for days after , but it ' s a genuine delight .
there are no featured audience reviews yet . click the link below to see what others say about tramps !
tramps made its world premiere in the contemporary world cinema section of the toronto film festival and sparked immediate interest from a24 , sony pictures classics and the orchard , among other distributors .
actress grace van patten , director adam leon , standing , and actor callum turner , from the film
tramps , in the l . a . times photo studio at the 41st toronto international film festival . ( jay l clendenin / los angeles times )
this article is issued from wikipedia - version of the 10 / 26 / 2016 . the text is available under the creative commons attribution / share alike but additional terms may apply for the media files .
[ 11 ] o’grady , megan . “director peter davis speaks to urltoken on the 40 th anniversary of his pivotal vietnam documentary , hearts and minds . ” urltoken . web . accessed 2 july 2016 .
tramps is overall a winning film , proving once again that some of the best romantic comedies can be light on plot : all we need is an excuse for beautiful people to fall in love .
movie news , screening invitations and reviews from the world of independent film and beyond .
cooke , mervyn . a history of film music . cambridge university press , 2008 .
callum turner and grace van patten are being hailed for their breakout performances in tramps , which also stars mike birbiglia and margaret colin .
saturday afternoon saw the world premiere of “tramps” at the toronto international film festival . the movie is the latest from writer - director adam leon , whose 2012 debut “gimme the loot” won the grand jury prize at the south by southwest film festival in austin , texas , and earned leon an independent spirit award and a gotham award .
ahead of its world premiere in toronto , westend films has boarded tramps , the sophomore feature from gimme the loot writer - director adam leon .
when it was shown at the toronto film festival , last september . but “a ghost story” will be eligible for consideration in year - end movie awards in 2017 and “tramps” won’t , because the prevailing definition of a film’s “release” is its theatrical release—even if that release is only in a single new york or los angeles theatre for a single week .
with a laid - back , ' 70s soul , tramps is the rare doe - eyed relationship movie where playing third - wheel is a joy .
back to one podcast : keith poulson on developing as an actor in the ny indie film scene .
rogers , holly . music and sound in documentary film . ny : routledge , 2015 . ebrary .
sonoma , ca ( march 4 , 2016 ) – the sonoma international film festival celebrating the best in film , food , wine and spirits is proud to announce the line - up for the 19th edition . the five day program will take place wednesday , march 30 to sunday , april 3 . considered one of the nation’s top destination film festivals , siff presents over 100 films shown at 6 venues , all within walking distance from sonoma’s historic plaza - - dubbed siff village - - in the heart of california wine country and will host nearly 200 filmmakers from around the world .
[ 13 ] samuel clemens ( mark twain ) , following the equator ( more tramps abroad ) . american publishing company , hartford , ct , 1897 .
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as barnouw states , this “witness - like” quality of the documentary soundtrack does not necessarily imply “truth , ” but rather a quality of testimony . [ 7 ] one film maker , scott hicks , interviewed for pepita ferrari’s film capturing reality : the art of documentary argues that film making , even a non - fiction / documentary film , is a subjective , constructed art and any claim to absolute truth is spurious . another great contemporary documentarian also interviewed for the film , errol morris , states that in a documentary , “the truth is not up for grabs . ” by this , morris means that a film maker may have opinions about the ramifications of an event , but he or she is not at liberty to change the factual occurrences of that event in their film .
an interview with writer / director boots riley about his incendiary new film ,
sorry to bother you .
cooke , mervyn , ed . the hollywood film music reader . new york : oxford university press , 2010 .
reay , pauline . music in film : soundtracks and synergy ( short cuts ) . wallflower press , 2004 .
i interviewed leon back when gimme the loot premiered , and one of the things we discussed was independent film financing . in that interview he gave in just a couple of paragraphs perhaps the best breakdown of how to write an independent film business plan we’ve published . so , here , i asked him about working his producers and putting this film together along with questions about this new film’s larger scale and why he returned to the independent world after loot ‘s success .
leeman , lisa . composers confab : creating the best score for your film . ida ( international documentary association ) website , home › documentary magazine › all issues › summer 2008 › composers confab : creating the best score for your film .
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the tomatometer score — based on the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics — is a trusted measurement of critical recommendation for millions of fans . it represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show .
rounding out the programming is the wavelengths strand of film and video art curated to challenge popular notions and refresh the cinematic art .
barnouw , erik . documentary : a history of the non - fiction film . new york : oxford university press . 1993 .
the use of the film score to evoke nihilistic humor was already being used by a few popular dramatic early cold war filmmakers , notably stanley kubrick in his 1964 film dr . strangelove ( or how i stopped worrying and learned to love the bomb , a cold war black comedy fictional film . the conclusion of the film features the sappy , sentimental wwii vera lynn song “we’ll meet again” played over images of nuclear holocaust engineered by the bumbling - yet - evil , kissingeresque dr . strangelove , played by peter sellers .
spence , louise . crafting truth : documentary film and meaning . new brunswick , nj , rutgers university press , 2011 . ebrary .
[ 8 ] national film board of canada , pepita ferrari , director : capturing reality : the art of documentary . ( 40’ )
on rotten tomatoes , tramps has an approval rating of 95 % based on 19 reviews , with an average rating of 7 . 1 / 10 . [ 5 ] on metacritic , which assigns a normalized rating , the film has a score 77 out of 100 , based on 10 critics , indicating
generally favorable reviews
. [ 6 ]
“tramps” director adam leon once said something in an interview that i will never forget . while talking about his gritty debut film “ gimme the loot , ” about two young graffiti writers wanting to tag a new york city landmark , leon said that his goal was making someone’s favorite movie of the year . that’s quite a novel idea that only interesting filmmakers could accomplish—to make something that speaks to a viewer so directly , it essentially fulfills what they need , what they ' ve been yearning to see . and it proves a fitting statement coming from leon , given that he’s made a direct companion piece to “gimme the loot” with “tramps , ” which has a similar urban verve , style and even more sweetness . but while “tramps” may be inspired and unusual , it’s hard to shake off the idea that leon isn ' t just making the film he wants to see , he ' s riffing on himself .
tramps makes its debut just as andrea arnold’s american honey hits the autumn festivals . that’s another film in which young people from impoverished backgrounds make trouble on suburban lawns . that movie isn’t a masterpiece either , but there’s at least a great deal of freshness in its specificity . best to go with initial instinct and ignore the call to get that briefcase .
, critic sean doyle comments that “the film soundtrack , like the movement of the camera , often is experienced like the ( invisible ) work of god ; when there is a contrast or contradiction between onscreen action and the score , the film’s god may seem unjust or even cruel . ”
but apparently they still do , or movies such as tramps wouldn’t exist . starring two terrific young actors ( callum turner and grace van patten ) , tramps , shot with sparkle and verve in various locations in new york , has the raw materials required to construct an indie gem . but it’s quickly revealed that there is no real blueprint , other than to wing it and hope it comes out all right in the end .
there were other studios circling “tramps , ” including a24 and the orchard , although there were concerns that without big stars , its commercial prospects would be diminished . “tramps” is the sophomore feature of adam leon , the writer and director who first attracted attention with 2012’s “gimme the loot . ” it follows a bagman , who picks up the wrong briefcase in a drop gone wrong , and later falls in love with the driver .
families can talk about why a mother might press her son to do something illegal . what can you tell about danny ' s and his mother ' s lives based on early scenes of tramps at their apartment ?
as for the visual language , we wanted tramps to feel like a warm , beautiful , colorful blast of a movie . loot has a washed out , brown palette ( we purposefully emulated bad ’70s film transfers ) , but on tramps we were drawn to saturated colors with bright greens and yellows and bursts of reds . i put two stills from each movie next to each other for a lookbook recently , and they couldn’t live on the same page ; the loot ones looked recessed about 20 feet and tramps stills looked like they were coming out of the page . and then with the camera movements , we talked a lot about the zoom work , making sure it never felt winking or self - aware and always emotional , and i asked her to push me on using hand - held more .
regardless of the film’s awards chances , lion is well worth seeing and , hopefully , appreciating . it’s an earnest but not cloying film , one that seems wise about the world and its alternately grim and encouraging complexity . oh , and the reveal of the significance of the film’s title arrives as a perfectly poignant little button at the end . that’s when i cried . for the third or fourth time while watching the movie , that is .
carefully doling out information . . . leon maintains a buoyant energy that ' s given even more bounce by the film ' s lively score and soundtrack
netflix has acquired worldwide rights for “tramps” following its debut at this year’s toronto international film festival , variety has confirmed . it’s been a busy few weeks for the streaming giant , which picked up “barry , ” a look at the early days of president barack obama , and “what happened to monday ? , ” a sci - fi thriller with noomi rapace , [ … ]
the ballad of narayama
is a japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice , telling a story of startling cruelty . what a space it opens…
[ 2 ] barnouw , erik . documentary : a history of the non - fiction film . new york : oxford university press . 1993 , 90 .
over time , documentary soundtrack tropes occasionally become dated and the sounds themself can become an ironic signifier of cultural attitudes . an example of this is film trailer music , background teaser music used to promote film at the time , often made before the film’s soundtrack was completed and used to market a documentary . inappropriate trailer music can later become unintentional historic commentary , as seen in a comparison of the original 1994 trailer and updated 2004 trailer for steve james’ documentary hoop dreams .
richard lawson is a columnist for vanity fair ' s hollywood , reviewing film and television and covering entertainment news and gossip . he lives in new york city .
nigerian metropolis lagos is the focus of the eighth city to city showcase at the toronto international film festival ( tiff ) as top brass anoint two international rising stars .
buhler , james , david neumeyer , and rob deemer . hearing the movies : music and sound in film history . new york : oxford university press . 2010 .
as the sonoma international film festival has grown over these past 19 years , it has established itself as a destination festival as well as continuing to expand and broaden its scope for filmmakers and guests alike . every film has been selected for the integrity of the storytelling , dedication to the filmmaking craft and always keeping the audience in mind .
director alex lehmann cut his teeth as a cinematographer on short films and horror movies before landing his feature film directorial debut , “blue jay . ” a comedic drama starring sarah paulson and mark duplass , who also wrote the screenplay for the film , “blue jay” centers on a pair of high school sweethearts who meet by chance upon returning to their hometown in california . tiff calls the film as a “stateside cousin to ‘before sunset , ’” partially because paulson and duplass are the only two characters in the movie . lehmann shot the film himself , and recently served as director , dp and editor on his feature documentary debut , “asperger’s are us , ” produced by duplass brothers productions . - gw
in a largely positive review , indiewire’s eric kohn wrote that while the film doesn’t “break new ground , ” it ranks as “one of the better american romcoms in recent memory . ”
filmmaker : a couple , a macguffin , of sorts , a compressed time period — it sounds as if tramps has some similar elements to gimme the loot . what’s different about the movie ? what were you trying to do differently in terms of both story and filmmaking ?
filmmaker : when you were last in the pages of filmmaker , it was just before the release of your debut feature , gimme the loot . i remember talking to you about the various hollywood meetings you were doing , and the process of finding what would be your next feature . so , how did you get from gimme the loot to tramps ? and why led you go back to make an independent film rather than develop something within the studio system ?
this oscar - nominated colombia film is a strikingly photographed black - and - white epic that intertwines a passionate attack on the depredations of invasive capitalism with a potent adventure story . read more
fleetly paced and inventively shot , tramps keeps things moving while leaving plenty of room for its leads to shine . van patten charts a touching transition from adversarial to gracious , while turner , recalling a young richard edson , is just about the cutest would - be criminal imaginable .
the film currently holds a rare 0 % rating on rotten tomatoes , based on 35 reviews , with an average rating of 2 . 3 / 10 . the site ' s critical consensus reads ,
every bit as lazily offensive as its cast and concept would suggest , the ridiculous six is standard couch fare for adam sandler fanatics and must - avoid viewing for film enthusiasts of every other persuasion .
[ 16 ] on metacritic , the film has a score of 18 out of 100 , based on 12 critics , indicating
overwhelming dislike
. [ 17 ]
• closing night party , sunday , april 3 ( 8 - 10pm ) – it’s a wrap ! one last hoorah after the closing night film , featuring music by the grateful bluegrass boys .
tramps is produced by joshua astrachan , david kaplan , andrea roa and jamund washington ( the latter who also shared a story by credit with leon ) . frederick w . green , michael b . clark , alex turtletaub , julia godzinskaya , sophie vickers and michael sackler served as executive producers .
• gypsies , tramps & thieves , friday , april 1 ( 8 - 11pm ) – continue the party after yard dog road shows screens . get your groove on with the gypsy jazz band vignes rooftop revival , followed by a local dj . sample some deliciousness from one of sonoma’s best caterers .
adam mckay , with the help of christian bale , steve carell , ryan gosling and brad pitt , has made a very funny film about a very serious situation , 2008’s global financial collapse . read more
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click here to read our summer 2018 issue , featuring interviews with madeline ' s madeline director josephine decker , david leitner on the new cameras of 2018 , our overview of film schools and more . . .
harold and lillian eloped to hollywood in 1947 , where they became the film industry’s secret weapons . nobody talked about them , but everybody wanted them . theirs is the greatest story never told – until now .
from writer - director adam leon , the film made its world premiere in the contemporary world cinema section of the festival and sparked immediate interest from a24 , sony pictures classics and the orchard , among other distributors .
the film playfully flirts with whether or not it wants to be a romance , as ellie and danny both seem wary of the idea that someone else may like them for anything other than their immediate use value .
kenneth turan is film critic for the los angeles times and national public radio’s morning edition as well as the director of the los angeles times book prizes . he has been a staff writer for the washington post and the times’ book review editor . a graduate of swarthmore college and columbia university’s graduate school of journalism , he is the coauthor of “call me anna : the autobiography of patty duke . ” he teaches film reviewing and nonfiction writing at
at a time when american romantic comedies aim for broad humor and questionable gender politics , [ the film ] provides a more intimate contrast to the market standard . if romantic comedies need a savior , leon may be their best hope .
the new film feels like both an extension and a maturation from
gimme the loot ,
as it has the same rambunctious , roustabout energy and sharp eye for atmosphere and character , but also feels slightly more ruminative and sensitive .
in tramps , ellie ( van patten ) and danny ( turner ) are an unlikely pair of would - be criminals thrown together over two new york city summer days . their misadventures through the streets , outer boroughs , and idyllic suburbs of new york include a heist , a stolen briefcase , mistaken identity – and the prospect of unforeseen romance .
in november of 1975 , seven arizona loggers encounter a ufo and one goes missing , igniting a firestorm of controversy aimed at the logging crew . this film provides an accurate in - depth coverage of how this event changed their lives forever .
just as people in the audience may have been surprised by turner ' s accent , van patten was asked about appearing before the crowd with a glamorous look of long blond hair that was much different from her dark , shorter hair in the film .
an artful investigation into the causes of songbird mass depletion and the compassionate people who are working to turn the tide . the film takes viewers on a visually stunning journey revealing how the problems facing birds also pose daunting implications for our planet and ourselves .
as sean doyle comments in “dance macabre , ” instead of vera lynn optimistically waiting for her lover to come home from the war , the film’s audiences anxiously knew that a nuclear holocaust would be a war from which no one would come home . [ 10 ]
oddly , these two tendencies meet in “tramps , ” which isn’t a bad movie but , rather , a thinned - out and calculated , caper - like throwback to gritty , hands - on picaresque new york stories . yet it’s no worse than many movies that get released theatrically , even widely ; for that matter , it’s better than many , and deserves to be considered alongside them—and in terms of the same artistic traditions and possibilities . netflix may not have advanced the art of the cinema in its distribution of “tramps , ” but the art and commerce of the cinema have always advanced side by side , with money made in one realm enabling audacious creation in another . trade and cinema are inseparable ; but cinema is too important for critics to let a trade group—or anyone else—define it .
unfortunate as it is to say about a movie largely about indian people , one of the most striking performances in the film belongs to nicole kidman , who plays saroo’s adoptive mother . she has one scene in particular , in which she explains to saroo why she and her husband chose adoption , that is , beyond the teary reunion , the emotional centerpiece of the film . kidman just plays it so well , and it’s so thoughtfully written . i’ve no doubt the weinsteins have her performance primed and ready for a supporting - actress run .
in the hands of director ryan coogler and star michael b . jordan , what is nominally a spinoff of the celebrated “rocky” series plays like a spiritual remake of the 1976 film that retells the original story in the kind of involving way one would not have thought possible . read more
you get to go places in movies by just sitting in this dark room and i want to maximize that . i’m attracted to stories that are adventures and tramps , as i mentioned , centers around movement . so travel and transportation were key to the settings and we have them on buses , trains , bikes , cars , subways and in these transit hubs like grand central , penn station , and the port authority .
the film was extremely controversial . in the age of woodstock and protest songs , the ambient sounds of hearts and minds captured the average post - war citizen’s feeling of overloaded confusion , betrayal and innocence lost , through mediums that had become increasingly self - referential in an ironic and satirical way .
brie larson excels in a film able to give full weight to both sides of the emotional equation as it tells the story of a young woman imprisoned for years in a single room in a tiny shed and the young son who was born to her there and knows no other world . read more
oc ukeje the lagos - born actor , singer and performer won the 2006 amstel malta box office reality tv show for actors an went on to train at the new york film academy . credits include half of a yellow sun , two brides and a baby , black november and tv series gidi up .
in jarecki’s searing 2012 documentary the house i live in , the soundtrack is an ingeniously - constructed amalgam of music , dialogue , ambient noise , and narration . jarecki saves the most pointed non - verbal commentary , though , for the very end , when the film’s credits roll over the sounds of paul robeson singing “the house i live in , ” an idealistic 1940s anthem to utopian american democracy and brotherhood . this comes at the very end of a scathing , emotionally exhausting 2 ½ hour film detailing the targeting of poor and minority non - violent drug offenders to support the “prison industrial complex” in america .
filmmaker : you’re working with a new cinematographer , ashley connor , who is known for her work with josephine decker , among others . tell me about the process of working with her . how’d you land on a look for a film and a style of shooting that was congruent with your budget and schedule ?
“we are honored to screen ithaca , meg’s directorial film debut , ” commented mcneely . “she is a critically - acclaimed actress whose films reflect a wide range of dynamic roles that make her a unique talent in the motion picture industry . we are thrilled she will be a part of our 19th festival ! ”
leon : we then went through a sort of rehearsal process where , along with pouring over references and doing camera and color tests , we hung out and talked about life , went to movies , to a basketball game . it was basically a several month conversation that centered around tramps , and her influence on the movie extends beyond the visual language to the dialogue , characters , and just the emotions of the piece . she’s a major collaborator in every sense .
thr ’s david rooney said , “winsome … never a false note … the world of leon’s films is graced with such endearing innocence that you go with it . it ' s the faultless performances that make the film so captivating … the delightful callum turner and grace van patten are the tender heart of the movie . ”
with famed film mogul sam goldwyn as her grandfather , liz goldwyn ' s family name is practically synonymous with old - school hollywood glamour . but it ' s los angeles before it became the capital of the motion picture industry that ' s the subject of the style maven ' s new book ,
sporting guide : los angeles , 1897
( regan arts ) . the work of historical fiction looks back on the city ' s seedier past , with loosely connected stories about the madams , prostitutes , orphans , hustlers and tramps who roamed alameda , los angeles and spring streets . i chatted with goldwyn about what drew her to this time period in l . a . , her impressions of the book ' s rough characters , and what role women had in a culture where prostitution was tolerated . read more
• preceding the opening night film , siff will present the sonoma salute award to producer / screenwriter robert mark kamen , in honor of his dedication and support of the festival . a sonoma resident and owner of kamen estate wines , kamen has been writing screenplays for 35 years and is best known for such films as taps , the 5th element , and the karate kid , transporter & the taken franchises . his next film to be released is warriors gate . in addition , kamen will give a screenwriting master class on saturday , april 2 , from 11 : 45 – 12 : 30 pm , in which he will talk about the mechanics of a screenplay .
both “win it all” and “tramps” can be viewed the way that most people have , for decades , watched movies—via home video—and are indistinguishable , in form and substance , from many other movies , current or classic , that were or will be released first in theatres . yet the distinction between these films and those that are shown in theatres is maintained—of course , by hollywood , which earns much from theatrical releases . as long as that’s the case , it’s unlikely that the academy will be changing its eligibility rules .
tramps
scampers in and around new york city as danny ( callum turner ) steps in as bagman on some shady exchange of a briefcase when his hustler older brother lands in jail . this puts him in contact with the driver ellie ( grace van patten ) , but when the hand - off goes awry , the two of them have to get the case back . the movie also features a supporting role by comedian and filmmaker mike birbiglia as the sad - sack heavy who sets the deal in motion .
there are a few playful hijinks , like a dress - up montage with a rich woman’s wardrobe , and also the cliche walk through a summer carnival . it was during this sequence , with leon’s decision to use a jazz tune i swear i’ve heard in woody allen movies , that i realised that this seemingly mild , agreeable film was actually a disappointment .
in terms of the filmmaking , we’re operating on a bigger scale cinematically , and i think tramps involves a more emotional type of filmmaking , even impressionistic at times , both in its visuals and its edit . in general i wanted to be less rigid than i have been previously . there were a lot of “rules” on loot — it’s very literal in terms of the shooting and editing , which is right for that movie . with tramps , in part because we’re telling a more traditional story , i encouraged my collaborators to be less traditional in the telling of it . this idea played out in specific ways throughout the process , like incorporating non - linear sequences , an increased use of montage and close - ups , isolating elements in the sound editing , the use of original score at times instead of just songs , etc . there’s a sense of being less strictly observational , even though some observational elements like the use of long take street shooting remain , and allowing ourselves to get into the feelings of the characters in terms of the filmmaking itself .
by using ironically contrasting music / sound to accompany their imagery , documentary filmmakers such as davis and jarecki have ensured that their films became a more participatory , and thereby memorable , experience for their audiences . the film musicologist holly rogers has commented , “narrative in film ( with music that contradicts an image ) is constructed ( or rather completed ) by the audience . filling in the gaps and contradictions with referential knowledge of the sounds / music external to the filmic imagery , the viewer reconstructs the myths ( and events ) through an act of ( participatory ) self - narration . ” [ 12 ] we as audience members , when confronted by a gaping dissonance , whether in film sound / imagery , or actual news / political reports , have an instinct to seek resolution , often through the momentary realization of the absurd and ridiculously transient nature of life itself . documentary and other filmmakers who used attention - getting devices in their soundtracks such as ironic musical and sound quotes invite the audience to recognize the subversive nature of their commentary , and to hopefully participate further by taking action against society’s injustices .
the ironic , referential use of contrasting music / imagery in dr . strangelove was itself paralleling ( if not directly referencing ) another dramatic fictional cold war film from the same year , sidney lumet’s fail safe . the final scenes also used sound to evoke a nuclear holocaust , but instead of benign music with horrific images , the opposite juxtaposition is used : quick cuts of familiar , friendly street scenes in new york ( about to be bombed ) with a voice over of an imminent countdown to the bombing . ( i still remember experiencing a sleepless night as a twelve - year old after watching and hearing the final freeze - frame and silence of a rebroadcast of the film , which stopped immediately before the imagined nuclear blast . )
leon : loot is in some ways a “hang out” movie , which makes sense since it’s goal is to observe these two friends exploring the world around them . tramps is completely different in its approach to story . it’s taking a set , well known , pre - existing type of movie , the romance , but with a specific and hopefully new take on it . we’re telling a classic hollywood idea and embracing it , but trying to do so in a way you haven’t seen before and with characters who you haven’t seen it with .
it was an adjustment because i was the head of the llc on loot , which meant i was in charge of the whole operation . on tramps there’s a day where i signed a contract that says not only am i not in charge , i don’t own the project . it’s not mine anymore . that’s why having people that i trusted 100 % in both business and as human beings was so essential . and they’ve never let me down except that time josh took me to a bad pizza place and we sat by the bathroom .
in many ways , tramps is a circuitous road movie , its rhythms shaped by lovely use of music — including nicholas britell ' s spare score and an eclectic parcel of tunes , from traditional folk to trippy indie electronica to blues and rockabilly — and lots of transport sequences , involving cars , trains , buses , bicycles . there ' s also a nice walking - and - talking vibe to the key transitional scenes , given lively physicality by the pairing of ellie ' s brisk trot with danny ' s spindly gait , like a baby gazelle still finding his footing around her .
a british sake brewer , an american journalist and a young president of a century - old sake brewery in japan join together to explore the mysterious world of sake , or japanese rice wine . the film illustrates how these unique individuals who have been fascinated with this extraordinary beverage of japanese origin meet the challenges of the current sake industry , investigating the rich , complex and spectacular world of sake .
saw two movies yesterday . one of them , david lowery’s “a ghost story , ” which opens in july , is among the most exhilaratingly original films i’ve seen in a while . the other , adam leon’s “tramps , ” an amiable but insubstantial adolescent romantic adventure , opens today—sort of . some people might say that it doesn’t open at all , because it isn’t being released in movie theatres but , rather , online only , on netflix . both movies are freestanding , non - serial , complete , and integral dramas that run about an hour and a half each . “a ghost story” got
adam leon ' s 2012 debut , gimme the loot , showed a disarming lightness of touch in its observation of a pair of teenage bronx graffitists on a mission to pull off a street - art coup . his equally winsome follow - up , tramps , throws together two more seemingly mismatched youths on another somewhat delinquent quest , this time focusing on the delicate process by which an unplanned partnership blossoms from spiky banter into trust and incipient romance . there ' s never a false note in the performances of callum turner and grace van patten , who make ideal accomplices for the talented writer - director .
the festival market was slow - going in its initial days , but picked up steam as toronto came to a close . among the bigger deals , “jackie , ” a historical drama about jacqueline kennedy , sold to fox searchlight , and “their finest , ” a world war ii comedy , was picked up by europacorp . uta independent film group handled the deal . the hollywood reporter broke news of the sale .
what happened with tramps was i wanted to tell a story that would capture the feeling of falling in love at the movies . i was on a kick of watching classic romantic adventures like his girl friday and trouble in paradise . so that was a goal , and at the same time i had become very interested in a specific element in rohmer movies : his handling of transportation and how people move around a city . this was suggested to me by a critic after seeing loot , and i started studying that concept in his work . and how essential it is to his storytelling , in particular in winter’s tale .
rising british actor and former screen star of tomorrow callum turner ( bbc - twc’s war & peace ) stars in the rom - com , which is produced by joshua astrachan ( short term 12 ) and david kaplan ( it follows ) of new york indie maestros animal kingdom , alongside andrea roa ( drinking buddies ) and jamund washington ( gimme the loot ) . washington also shares a story by credit on the film .
prior to netflix picking up the film , it had been in the works and dropped by three studios , columbia pictures , paramount pictures and warner bros . . [ 2 ] [ 7 ] the latter dropped out soon after adam sandler and happy madison productions signed a four - picture deal with netflix , although an insider noted to the hollywood reporter that the deal had nothing to do with their decision . [ 7 ]
by january 2015 , netflix picked up the film with others joining the cast including taylor lautner , nick nolte , blake shelton , steve buscemi , rob schneider , will forte , vanilla ice , and luke wilson . [ 2 ] on february 16 , 2015 , jorge garcia joined the cast . [ 2 ] principal photography began on february 20 , 2015 , and ended on may 2 , 2015 . [ 3 ] [ 8 ]
johnny depp’s daughter lily rose - depp got her first acting role playing a minor part in kevin smith’s 2014 film “tusk” before landing a lead role in his next horror - comedy , this year’s “yoga hosers . ” rose - depp has quickly branched out into more dramatic roles , however , most recently playing a lead role alongside natalie portman in “planetarium , ” from french writer - director rebecca zlotowski ( “grand central , ” “dear prudence” ) . rose - depp plays kate , a supernatural medium in 1930s paris who performs séances with her sister ( portman ) for people seeking to communicate with the dead . the film represents the second french - language movie for rose - depp , who also starred in this year’s cannes entry “the dancer , ” a biographical drama about the american dancer loïe fuller and her protégé and rival isadora duncan ( rose - depp ) . - gw
similar to gimme the loot , the new film is a small - scale work that owes its charm to the freshness , relaxed intimacy and unforced humor of its character interplay , and to the warm feel for the environments through which they move , whether it ' s densely populated brooklyn and queens or the affluent green suburbs of westchester . those qualities should steer the indie production into a modest theatrical niche before it lands on smaller screens .
on the other hand , neither the rise of streaming platforms nor the reinvigoration of repertory houses is an unalloyed virtue ; no less than every artistic mode , every mode of distribution has its decadent forms . just as domestic distractions can sometimes make home viewing tend toward simpler and blander style and content , the excessive veneration of movies projected on film in theatres sometimes involves an excessive veneration of classical ( and classic - hollywood ) movie styles .
complementing its diverse and truly international program of independent cinema , siff offers a unique blend of world - class cuisine from local artisans and exceptional wine from sonoma vintners , making for an epicurean experience few film festivals in the world can match . renowned filmmakers , industry leaders and celebrities have enjoyed its intimate ambiance , while many filmmakers who have premiered at siff return with future projects . following are just a few special highlights the festival has to offer :
danny ( turner ) is a slackjawed teenager on the cusp of adulthood living with his mother , a polish immigrant , in astoria , queens . she runs a very diy off - track betting operation from her cramped living room . ( i happen to live in the very neighbourhood where tramps is set and can tell you that the the in - the - open illegal gambling scene here is quite prevalent . ) danny’s older brother calls from a jail in atlantic city . he’ll only be there for one night , but he needs danny to do him a favour : pick up a briefcase , leave it for someone on a train platform and make $ 3 , 000 .
one of netflix’s press releases offered some extraordinary news : two original netflix productions , noah baumbach’s “the meyerowitz stories” ( also starring sandler ) and bong joon - ho’s “okja , ” will both be premièring in competition at the cannes film festival next month . as ehrlich reports , france’s official movie - theatre trade group has criticized the selection , arguing that an online release would “call into question their nature as a cinematographic work . ” in other words , they’re not even movies .
still , the story of lion is pretty incredible , and it features a final reunion that , i think , would soften even the hardest of hearts . the film is shot beautifully by greig fraser , working in a kind of poetic realism . and it’s got a host of strong performances . young sunny pawar , who plays saroo as a boy , is adorable , which , yes , may be a strange thing to say about a performance in a movie with such heavy subject matter , but what can you do . he’s a cute little kid , and he instantly wins our sympathy and concern . adult saroo is played by dev patel , who works in a more somber tone than we’re used to seeing from him . saroo is torn between homes , between lives , and patel effectively communicates that tension . but , again , the same beats get played over and over again . eventually you just want the film to hurry up and get saroo back to india .
this year’s jury members are : david dinerstein ( producer ) , mike repsch ( breaking glass pictures ) , ariane rocchi ( magnolia pictures ) , steve chagollan ( variety ) for features ; james cromwell ( actor ) , sir nigel daly ( producer / director ) , michael howell ( e . d . devour festival / chef ) for documentaries ; leslie vanderpool ( e / d . bahamas international film festival ) and lucy walker ( academy award - nominated director ) for short films . .
leon’s a knowledgable cineaste who draws from the right stuff with the shrewd hand of a young new wave director : “tramps” has the setting of rossellini - esque neorealism and a classic hitchcockian twist ; the romantic centerpiece hails from the screwball comedy era . at its center , polish - american new yorker danny ( british actor callum turner , his accent well - modified for the part ) leads a hand - to - mouth existence with his mother and troublemaking older sibling darren ( michal vondel ) . when darren lands in jail for the night after another one of his random antics , he uses his one phone call to put his brother on the spot : danny’s tasked with handing off a briefcase full of cash at a random manhattan subway stop .
with april ( and hopefully , spring ) around the corner , netflix is gearing up for the hotly anticipated release of casting jonbenet , the latest documentary about the more than 20 - year - old unsolved murder of 6 - year - old jonbenet ramsey . as previously revealed , casting jonbenet , which first premiered at the sundance film festival earlier this year , will be a “hybrid” that looks at the murder and myths that have affected the “attitudes and behavior of successive generations of local parents and children . ”
• opening night reception – siff is thrilled and honored to begin the film festival libations at the backlot tent in the middle of the historic sonoma plaza . attending filmmakers , festival sponsors and pass holders will be treated to the epicurean delights of the girl & the fig , café la haye , the swiss hotel , della santina , harvest moon and touché mobile chefs , as well as bubbles by gloria ferrer , still wine from madrone , lake sonoma , clos du bois , buena vista winery , corner 103 and petroni winery .
like “gimme the loot , ” “tramps” concerns two young people in new york city , getting into an odyssey well over their heads and placing themselves into some mischief . this time it’s callum turner ’s danny and grace van patten ’s elle , as their meet - cute is a simple , profitable and possible crime . pick up a suitcase , make an exchange , get paid later . danny is doing it to help out his recently incarcerated brother , and we soon find out that elle is doing it to start her unsatisfactory life anew . as strangers to one another , neither know what is in the suitcase . still , the stakes of a payday causes enough nervous energy for the both of them , especially when danny leaves the bag at the wrong spot , and the wrong person takes it .
this is exactly the type of movie allen makes in between his good ones – a goodhearted but lower - class kid on the run with an enchanting girl . if only there were some crafty dialogue and a splash of wit , these fine two actors would have had what they needed to put the love story over the top . a craftsman such as allen can take a story that may seem a little creaky but still write specifics that result in something like café society or irrational man . tramps is one of the thinnest exercises i’ve seen in quite some time . and for every enjoyable moment there’s a cringeworthy “deep glance” , such as when danny suggests that children owning pets is good training for the horrors of life to come . not an unusual sentiment , but this is essentially blurted out with little provocation and lands with a thud .
after the film , leon , turner , van patten and birbiglia all came out for a q & a . ; leon said that as he and co - writer jamund washington were working on the story ,
we wanted to make a movie that captures the feeling of falling in love at the movies . so whatever the best of that is for you , it could be ' when harry met sally , ' it could be ' his girl friday , ' whatever that feeling is , but to do it in a way that maybe you hadn ' t seen it before .
the toronto international film festival kicks off this week , and with it , the rest of a very busy fall festival season . in preparation for the canadian festival , we’ll be rolling out a series of previews to point you in the direction of all the movies you have to see ( or at least , all the movies you have to start anticipating right now ) . first up , we’re looking at all the up - and - coming talents who just might break through at this year’s festival . keep your eyes peeled , this batch just might end up being the brightest one yet .