The Twilight Samurai (2004)

Perfectly acceptable samurai drama about a low-level retainer whose social stock improves, for better and worse, when he demonstrates some heretofore unknown fighting skills. Sometimes feels like a Japanese version of a Tradition-of-Quality film, especially in the closing minutes when the voiceover narration goes Road to Perdition on us, but pretty good anyway. Solid performances help, as does a grim finale featuring one of the most desperate swordfights I've seen since Rashomon.

Grade: B