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Cruise plays Nathan Algren, a United States Civil War hero and fierce warrior. The thoughts of the war and some of the vile things he was instructed to do by his leader, Colonel Bagley (Tony Goldwyn), revisit his mind several times a day, such as following through with orders to kill an entire Native American village, including women and children. The only cure for these reoccurring nightmares is alcohol, and lots of it. Algren has been on the road promoting Winchester rifles since the end of the war and truly hating it. After an alcohol-fueled botched presentation, Algren is approached to teach a Japanese army to use the rifles and lead them to kill off Japan’s remaining old-world Samurais in an attempt to westernize Japan. The Samurais still hold a substantial amount of power and are against the westernization. Algren agrees and embarks on his mission.
Bagley is also in on the mission and, again, is Algren’s authority figure. Bagley and the Japanese leaders get antsy and want to get the mission over with. They force Algren to send his men to battle, though they are still premature in their shooting skills. This proves to be fatal, as the Samurais take the army down with ease and take Algren as a prisoner of war. While in their compound, Algren observes the ways of the Samurai and holds candid conversations with the Samurai leader, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe). Algren learns that he has much in common with the Samurais and comes to respect their ways and morals. The questions begin arise as to whether Algren will continue to do as he is told by the American military, or join the revolt on behalf of the Samurais.
I had low expectations going into this film because I really didn’t read much about it, nor did I investigate the plot. I was more than pleasantly surprised by the plot and the writing, and very surprised by the acting. Cruise’s character, Algren, is not just some guy who turns into a Samurai. He is already a very sound warrior and military hero, as tough as they come. His transformation into a Samurai is not even a transformation. It’s a methodical study. It’s a way of thinking. It’s mystical. You can’t just be a Samurai because you are already a tough badass, there’s so much more to it than that. Watching Algren progress is very realistic. You take into account what he already is and envision what he can become.
The acting is superb. I feel like I saw a different Cruise in this character. Normally, you get the smug Cruise, a man after Jack Nicholson’s heart. You get Jerry Maguire. You get Maverick. You get Daniel Kafee. This time, you get a clean slate. You get a tortured veteran who’s ashamed of what he has done and what he represents, wishing he were dead. A man who was sent out to destroy the country’s natives, only to turn around and do it to another country’s natives and can’t stand himself for it. A man that’s growing a conscience that he can’t control. This is not some cop movie where the guy accidentally shoots his partner and suddenly he’s the most miserable man on earth. While that’s dramatic and sad, this is a man who shot defenseless children in the backs and murdered their mothers and fathers, taking their lives and homes for the “good” of creating a new world. That’s torture, especially if doing the deeds goes against what you believe in and you end up being a pawn in someone’s demented game. Cruise does a tremendous job of selling this story and is more than believable in this man’s shoes. It’s this story that’s important, not the fact that he can wield a sword or that he can shoot a gun. It’s the fact that he needs some sort of soul cleansing. The way of the Samurai could be the antidote.
I can’t think of a single element of this film that I didn’t like. Zwick’s vision of the film, the battles, the landscape, the characters, the writing, the acting…everything was flawless. Just fantastic all the way around.
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