Ran (1985)

dir. Akira Kurosawa
writ. Akira Kurosaw, Hideo Oguni, and Masato Ide
feat. Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada, Yoshiko Miyazaki

Kurosawa melds stage and screen with stunning results in his epic rendition of King Lear, transposed to feudal Japan. With astonishing depth, blazing color, and carefully composed lighting, the imagery overflows the screen, alternately hypnotizing and assaulting the viewer, just as Tsurumaru's combination of flute notes and blazing fire bring Lord Hidetora to his knees. Kurosawa combines a gripping yet often simple approach to shooting with elements of Kabuki - blocking, movement, costume and makeup - deepening the drama and expanding the story. These seeming contradictions also appear in the legendary battle scene, possibly unrivaled in all of cinema, where an incredible balance of beauty and horror is struck, defiantly lulling and revolting at once.

While the theatrical formalism occasionally slows the pace of the picture and accentuates the predictability of certain outcomes, the sweeping scope and greater success of the film begs that Ran sit beside the dictionary definition of masterpiece.