Jonathan Ashun

Sanjuro feels like the adequate thematic precursor to 'Ran', and I for one, cannot complain. While not nearly as epic and sprawling as the aforementioned film, Sanjuro is a significant improvement on Yojimbo, imbuing the story with thematic heft,... Read the full review »

No Regrets For Our Youth might be Kurosawa's weakest film from a structural and narrative standpoint, but it's hard to ignore the obvious talent behind the camera when his direction is so innovative and poignant. Read the full review »

Yojimbo is Kurosawa's quintessential action/dramedy, and it effervesces with witty dialogue and heart palpitating tension. While being entertaining, as a Kurosawa fan I do often see this as one of his films that tends to lack in poignancy, with th... Read the full review »

Red Beard is definitely a change of pace for legendary director Kurosawa, trading in his patented affinity for movement and violence with a different kind of human suffering - that of poverty and sickness. Yasumoto's character arc from vanity to s... Read the full review »

A Fantastic Woman is a shockingly timely look at adversity, and how sometimes fighting against it does not yield any results if your environment is not receptive to your pain. The lead performance is stellar, and the bombardment of injustice will... Read the full review »