Bunraku

I've done nothing but horror films on this blog so far so tonight I'm going to do an action-adventure movie.  Bunraku is about a gunslinger without a gun (Josh Hartnett) and a samurai without a sword (Gackt) who team up with a wise old bartender (Woody Harrelson) to defeat a notorious gang leader (Ron Perlman) in a lawless, post-apocalyptic world.  The general plot is very basic and the movie even acknowledges that, as it says in the opening monologue, "...and as many ways as there are of killing a man, there are equally as many ways of telling this old tale."  However, Bunraku separates itself from the crowd with an all-star cast of actors perfect for their roles, and an incredibly unique art style.

Everything in Bunraku is designed to look like a pop-up book, buildings are made out of folded paper, trees are paper-mache, and almost everything is a flat, solid color rather than something textured.  This visual flare makes the movie pop out from the screen in a way that has been lost by the modern "grim and gritty" action movie.  Every frame in Bunraku is absolutely beautiful and the well choreographed action is over-the-top and exciting.  Along with this fantastic choice of art direction, the movie also has a sense of humor, with some scenes playing out like a video game, and other scenes accompanied by a humorous chorus.  One early scene has members of the enemy gang called Red Suits walk in, as they step through the door the narrator says "Enter, Red Suits" followed shortly by a high-pitched chorus of "Red Suits."

The action scenes create a lot of variety as well with the villains consistently varied and unique, with their own interesting fighting styles, like one fight that happens on a giant bouncy net inside a circus tent.  Every fight scene is different as the contrasting fighting styles of the cowboy and the samurai match up with different types of enemies in the movie.  There is even a mirror-match (Mortal Kombat players will understand).

Beyond the action, all of the actors are perfectly cast for their roles, Gackt as the disgraced samurai, Hartnett as the mysterious stranger, Harrelson as the bartender with the tragic past, and Perlman as the dark and dangerous Nikola the Wood Cutter.  Each character feels archetypal but they go beyond that and bring a depth and humanity to what could have easily been as one-dimensional as the paper used to make the sets.  Ron Perlman is of particular note because his portrayal of the man who has everything yet finds enjoyment in nothing is absolutely stunning.

Bunraku is a perfect example of how to breathe life into an old story, and an excellent movie.

9.5/10