Toshiro Mifune didn’t just star in movies—he devoured the screen, chewed it up, and spat out pure charisma. Case in point: Yojimbo (1961), Akira Kurosawa’s razor-sharp samurai masterpiece screening this week at UPAC (see below). Mifune (1920-1997) plays a ronin so cool and cunning, he makes Clint Eastwood look like a JV understudy. (Fun fact: A Fistful of Dollars, which Eastwood starred in, blatantly cribbed this plot).
Armed with a squint that could split an opponent in two faster than his katana, Mifune strolls into a dusty village caught between two warring factions and, naturally, decides to play both sides against the middle. The result? Wickedly funny chaos, perfectly staged swordplay, and a masterclass in what it means to be a total badass. Seeing Yojimbo on the big screen is a cultural imperative, because there’s only one Mifune—and this, dear reader, is him at his peak. Don’t miss it. Tonight at 7pm at UPAC in Kingston.
This article appears in January 2025.
