The Director's Series, Kurosawa No. 3


Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey.

High and Low (1963)
Starring: Toshiro Mifune and Yutaka Sada
Director: Akira Kurosawa
About: Kurosawa is a masterful filmmaker. A number of his films have translated to English-language audiences. This film is getting its own re-make from Spike Lee. That makes sense, because this is an engrossing and engaging film. I enjoy Mifune here, but it's the story and the storytelling that helps this film to stand out. I love the way its told, the stakes of the world, and the ultimate takeaway. It's a movie that captured my attention on a first viewing and really stuck with me. While I can't wait to see what Lee and Denzel Washington do with the material, it's got a lot of work to live up to this original film. This is a classic that's worth seeking out.

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