Notable Cast: Takayuki Yamada, Taiga Nakano, Ukon Onoe,
Riho Sayashi, Takara Sakumoto, Seiji Chihara, Amane Okayama, Yuya Matsuura,
Hayate Ichinose, Ryota Oyanagi, Chikara Motoyama, Shuhei Nomura, Shunsuke
Tanaka, Satoru Matsuo, Fuga Shibazaki
It’s a cinematic samurai tradition by now. The story of a
rogue’s gallery of anti-heroes, overcoming their differences, their pasts, and
their fears to stand together for one last good thing. Although Seven
Samurai has been remade and/or influenced thousands upon thousands of films
in all genres, there is certainly a case to be made that this kind of samurai
story still stands as one of the best kinds of stories to watch, even in 2025.
In the vein of classics such as the previously mentioned
Akira Kurosawa picture, 47 Ronin, or 13 Assassins, the latest
film from director Kazuya Shiraishi, 11 Rebels, will easily become a
modern favorite of the genre. It’s brash in some of its narrative choices,
particularly in its third act, and it features some incredible performances and
action set pieces that set it apart from other action flicks this year. 11
Rebels is brutal in more ways than one, but hits its mark with remarkable
efficiency even when it's treading on well-worn paths.
Truthfully, despite a dynamic intro that has our “lead” of
the ensemble film, Masa, taking revenge on a samurai, 11 Rebels tends to
run its introduction of the characters in a speedy manner that somewhat feels
like it's going through the motions of a standard “men on a mission” flick.
There are some incredible performances throughout the film, but Shiraishi feels
like he’s rushing a bit to establish his characters and plot pieces in this
first act, in an attempt to keep the film under the 2-hour mark.
However, as 11 Rebels progresses, the film only picks
up momentum in both its narrative and its execution of its technical aspects.
Sure, the film is ultimately a standard men-on-a-mission story, but instead of
feeling trite, it adopts the tone of a classic, making a world of difference.
As the rest of the crew are identified, a group of anti-hero misfits, it’s more
Seven Samurai than Suicide Squad, even in how the characters grow
and interact. The single location, where our group of ragtag fighters is sent
to prevent a small army from crossing a bridge and reaching a city, set during
the Boshin War, helps in creating a more intimate and claustrophobic setting.
These are convicts chosen for a possible suicide mission, promised pardons if
they succeed, and they are thrown into a corner and threatened by a larger
army. It’s a classic recipe for awesomeness.
Which is what 11 Rebels then proceeds to reach - new
heights of awesomeness. Each subsequent action sequence, brutally violent and
oftentimes surprising in its body count, ramps up the tension and style.
Fog-laden battles, midnight sieges lit by fire, or classic chanbara sword
duels, this film is powered by its intense action sequences. The incredible
ensemble cast lends each sequence more gravitas, both from the heroes' and
villains' perspectives, and their personal plights become the heart and soul of
how the film unfolds. Each win is an impossible task fought through sheer
willpower with the skills they bring to the table, and each loss is a tragedy.
Everyone will have their favorite character, and it becomes a testament to the
film’s execution that one wonders if they will make it through to the
end.
And just like its action set pieces, 11 Rebels pulls
no punches when it comes to showcasing the awful nature of the war that the
convicts are being forced to participate in. Its most effective aspect is how
it manages to balance the hopefulness of its characters in such a nihilistic
narrative. This is not a film where the delineation between “good guys” and
“bad guys” is so clear, as noted by the use of convicts for its lead characters
and there’s a great line in the film where the crew make a vow to show everyone
what it means to have a “bandit’s heart.” I’d be lying if the film didn’t make
me incredibly emotional through its final showdowns, showcasing the sacrifices
made for the sake of this war, and Shiraishi threads that need with finesse.
11 Rebels is destined to be a modern classic. It’s
balance of tones - brutality and softness, friendship and rivalry, heart and
the void - is damn near impeccable in this film. The execution of its themes
through character build and action is also impressive as hell, and action fans
are going to want to add this one to their watch list as soon as possible. It
might fly under the radar a bit, but it deserves to be considered as one of the
best of the year.
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