
Avengers: Infinity War
A good movie that buckles beneath the weight of its responsibilities to the franchise.
A good movie that buckles beneath the weight of its responsibilities to the franchise.
William Friedkin, the director of "The Exorcist," documents what might be a real-life exorcism.
Roger Ebert on James Ivory's "Howards End".
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
A closer look at the 13 reviews by Roger Ebert chosen for the front page today to mark the anniversary of Roger's passing and the…
A collection of memories from fans of Roger Ebert.
A new video essay explores the uncanny durability of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
Starring Dwayne Johnson and other giant creatures.
A Far Flung Correspondent takes a closer look at Kogonada's 'Columbus.'
Some directors are all about the visual symbolism, but Forman was more of a people-watcher.
A Far Flung Correspondent takes a closer look at Kogonada's 'Columbus.'
A review of the first six episodes of Hulu's second season of "The Handmaid's Tale."
Roger Ebert has attended international film festivals and events for almost half a century, from the Kolkata International Film Festival to the Academy Awards. In addition to his coverage, our contributors report the latest from Cannes, Telluride, Toronto, Sundance and other movie showcases world-wide.
When: Friday through March 9 Where: Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Tickets: $8.25-$9.25 Call: (773) 871-6604
Samurai movies are a genre like the Western, often used to take a deep look at the society that produces them. They're not to be confused with routine martial arts or action thrillers, and that will be obvious starting Friday, as the Music Box showcases nine of the greatest samurai movies ever made. Many of them will screen in newly restored prints.
Consider Masaki Kobayashi's "Samurai Rebellion," which plays Friday and Saturday on a double feature with Kihachi Okamoto's "Kill!" A movie named "Samurai Rebellion" might sound like the last place you'd look for a film about the emergence of feminism and individuality in medieval Japan, but look again. When the lord of the district forces a family to accept his mistress as a bride, and then decides he wants her back again, both the woman and the family refuse to be obedient.
Advertisement
On Sunday and Monday, the double feature will be Kobayashi's "Harakiri" and Kihachi Okamoto's "Sword of Doom." On Tuesday, Hideo Gosha's "Three Outlaw Samurai" and Horoshi Inagaki's "Samurai Saga."
On Wednesday, Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" and "Hidden Fortress." And next Thursday, the greatest of them all, Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai."
I wrote a "Great Movie" review of "Samurai Rebellion," describing it as "a film of grace, beauty and fierce ethical debate, the story of a decision in favor of romance and against the samurai code."
That review is on rogerebert.com, along with my "Great Movie" reviews of "The Seven Samurai" ("not only a great film in its own right, but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century") and "Yojimbo" ("Akira Kurosawa's most popular film in Japan ... a samurai aware that his time has passed and accepting with perfect equanimity whatever the new age has to offer").
Next Article: 'Crash'-ing a joyous Oscar party Previous Article: 2006 Floating Film Festival – “Shek It Out!”
A new video essay explores the uncanny durability of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
This message came to me from a reader named Peter Svensland. He and a fr...
A review of the second season of HBO's great Westworld.