Hiroyuki Sanada’s 10 best movies ranking

Hiroyuki Sanada While he may not be that famous of a name, he has managed to carve his way in an impressive range of films while displaying his skills as an actor. Recently, he has been well received for his role as “Lord Toranaga”. general, Sanada is a veteran actor who has been active as an actor since his childhood in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Already winning numerous awards in the media landscape of his native Japan, Sanada is also becoming increasingly recognized in Western films.

Originally famed for his many roles in Japanese samurai films and Hong Kong action films, Sanada became a natural fit for all types of films that included explosive fight scenes. But the 63-year-old actor is also a star of contemplative prestige television, appearing in recurring roles in series such as: lost and westworld. Many of the best blockbusters produced in Hollywood today are likely to reach out to Sanada when casting older characters of Japanese descent.

12 Railwayman (2013)

Cast: Takashi Nagase

Although it’s not the loudest or most exciting film compared to Sanada’s other films, railroad worker It succinctly shows a quieter, more introspective side of the actor. This tale of daring revenge and ultimate reconciliation is truly heartwarming thanks to the on-screen chemistry between Sanada and Colin Firth, with both actors delivering solid performances.What is kept instead? railroad worker A big feather back in Sanada’s cap is uneven pace and lack of talent.

11 Army of the Dead (2021)

Cast: Bry Tanaka

One of Zack Snyder’s best movies. army of the dead is a blistering, action-packed adventure that combines the best elements of zombie movies with a heist thriller for an unforgettable experience. Hiroyuki Sanada plays Bri Tanaka, a shrewd casino owner with dubious ulterior motives regarding the undead outbreak, and he fits in well with the ensemble cast. Even if it’s a stupid action movie. army of the dead It successfully accomplishes what it sets out to do and surprises viewers with its gory, fast-paced fun.

Ten Shinkansen (2022)

Cast: Elder

bullet train

director

david leech

release date

July 29, 2022

cast

Logan Lerman, Karen Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Sanada, Joey King, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Masi Oka, Brad Pitt, Zazie Beetz, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock

Sales agent

Sony

Writer

Zach Olkiewicz

runtime

126 minutes

budget

87 million

Styling bloody action set in the homeland of Japan. bullet train It would have been a mistake not to include Sanada. As an “elder” Sanada gets one of his best matches in a one-on-one battle bullet train, proving that when it comes to samurai duels, he can still go toe-to-toe with the best of them. Even if the film doesn’t resonate with critics as much as it resonates with audiences, Sanada’s presence as a “final boss” of sorts helps keep the violent, colorful thriller zipping along the rails. It’s helpful.

9

8 The Last Samurai (2003)

Starring: Ujio

Since breaking into Hollywood, Sanada has become somewhat typecast as a samurai, thanks to a great performance in 2003. last samurai. Sanada, a master swordsman, experiences one of the greatest sword fights in martial arts movie history during a training session with Algren, played by Tom Cruise. While the film may have received criticism for its rosy perception of actual historical samurai, it is nonetheless a moving fish-out-of-water story with high production values ​​enhanced by Sanada’s presence. It is.

7 Minamata City (2020)

Cast: Mitsuo Yamazaki

A heartbreaking story based on a true story Minamata An autobiographical work depicting the experiences of real-life photojournalist W. Eugene Smith, played by Johnny Depp. Smith meets Mitsuo Yamazaki, played by Sanada, while documenting an outbreak of plague hitting a coastal town. The film may wander a bit between the identities of informative biopic and gripping environmental disaster movie, but the gentle acting and reviving drama keep it appealing. Minamata About the top tier of Sanada’s filmography.

6 Mr. Holmes (2015)

Cast: Tamiki Umezaki

Unlike most films about Sherlock Holmes, Mr. Holmes The famous British detective is described as a retired old man, but his legend has long since faded from him. Sanada stars as Tamiki Umezaki, one of the many skeletons in Holmes’ closet who blames the detective for his father’s disappearance.parable Mr. Holmes Far from being a traditional Sherlock mystery, Sherlock is an interesting character development that remains very unique even five years later, propelled by great performances from Ian McKellen and Sanada himself.

Five Sunshine (2007)

Cast: Kaneda

A claustrophobic sci-fi thriller from the always unpredictable Danny Boyle. sunlight Sanada is able to break free from typecasting and play a captain. Icarus II. In only his second English-speaking role, Sanada manages to play competitive in this fast-paced psychological drama’s ensemble cast, playing against big-name actors like Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy. The enormity of the crew’s mission is felt every second. sunlight‘s tick-tock running time, even if I was a little taken aback by its sudden change in genre to a simple slasher film towards the end.

related

Danny Boyle’s movies ranked from worst to best

Ranking all feature films directed by Danny Boyle, including 13 titles including Trainspotting, 127 Hours, The Beach and Yesterday.

Four

3 John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Cast: Koji Shimazu

One of the best action-packed films john wick The series sees Hiroyuki Sanada join Willem Dafoe as a rare ally to Keanu Reeves’ terrifyingly talented assassin. Even the most scrupulous critic John Wick: Chapter 4, manages to maintain tension and charm thanks to the heroic character work of supporting cast members like Sanada. serves as a shocking conclusion to the John Wick story, John Wick: Chapter 4 Definitely the best pure action movie Mr. Sanada played the lead role.

2 Ring (1998)

Cast: Ryuji Takayama

Oddly enough, one of Sanada’s earliest and most important breaks came in the form of a supernatural horror story, but he hasn’t revisited the genre much since then. Sanada will play Ryuji Takayama, who has eerie clairvoyance abilities, and will help bring the sadistic Reiko’s story to life in live-action for the first time. Sanada’s blend of paranormal horror and modern technology anxiety is rich enough to draw hordes, as his chilling and atmospheric roles have left a lasting impact on horror cinema. ring sequels and remakes.

1 Twilight Samurai (2002)

Performance: Seibei Iguchi

Although the name may make you imagine a dramatic sword fight, twilight samurai is a thoughtful, character-driven drama that is carried throughout by Sanada’s lead performance. This film depicting the turbulent life and times of Seibei Iguchi, a lowly samurai in 19th century Japan, is a quiet but brilliant masterpiece that dissects the eponymous warrior class through a vulnerable lens. The film does feature some sword fights, but they are far from the focus, with each fight building up and unsettling for days beforehand.

twilight samurai It also considers the economic hardships that real samurai would have faced, showing that members of the elite samurai class may have struggled just as much as the average Japanese serf of the time. ing. Sanada may have had a lot of world-class talent around him, especially the actors playing the Iguchi family, but it’s his concerted efforts that allowed the film to be so successful. In the year of its release, it won an unprecedented 12 Japan Academy Awards, twilight samurai This is Hiroyuki Sanada’s undeniable masterpiece..