I'd never thought this would happen, but it did: This one's the first black-and-white Kurosawa pic I don't care about.
Yes, his direction is impeccable; yes, the photography is marvellous; yes, it's all in good taste and style.
But the overlong and predictable narrative never goes beyond superficial medical soap opera hokum - except, maybe, for the final part -, Mifune's beard-stroking performance is oddly boring, the social message is delivered with a heavy hand and the individual episodes featuring different cases of mental and physical illness lack insight.
Surely a must-see for fans of the great Japanese director, but just a mediocre swan song to the successful Kurosawa-Mifune-collaboration.
5 out of 10 butt-kickin' medicos
Yes, his direction is impeccable; yes, the photography is marvellous; yes, it's all in good taste and style.
But the overlong and predictable narrative never goes beyond superficial medical soap opera hokum - except, maybe, for the final part -, Mifune's beard-stroking performance is oddly boring, the social message is delivered with a heavy hand and the individual episodes featuring different cases of mental and physical illness lack insight.
Surely a must-see for fans of the great Japanese director, but just a mediocre swan song to the successful Kurosawa-Mifune-collaboration.
5 out of 10 butt-kickin' medicos