Qhis evening – on the first tv at 21.20 on Rai 2 – will air The magnificent 72016 western directed by Anthony Fuqua e remake of the 1960 film by John Sturges. In turn an adaptation, albeit unofficial, of a Japanese masterpiece by Akira Kurosawa by title The seven samurai.
With protagonists Denzel Washington and Ethan HawkeFuqua’s film takes up the setting of the original but re-reads history through the lens of contemporaneity. Issues such as the racism and social injustices.
The magnificent 7: the plot of the movie
California, 1879. Rose Creek is one small town in the middle of a deserted valley which turns out to be an important mining basin and is tempting to many traffic traffic in the area. In particular to the wealthy businessman Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard): he proposes to the population who live in the village of leave as soon as possible in exchange for a few pennies. Penalty for death.
Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett), a brave woman who lost her husband, killed by one of Bogue’s men, she looks for someone outside the village who can help her. Find Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), one who captures e kills criminals.
(Courtesy Sam Emerson / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Shortly thereafter, to protect Rose Creek the man recruits seven mercenariesincluding gambler Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt) and succession war veteran Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke).
A balanced remake
For years, in Hollywood, attempts have been made to make a remake of the John Sturges film. Tom Cruise had been chosen as the protagonist, in the role that was of Yul Brinner, and to the screenplay he had been called Nic Pizzolattoauthor of the famous series True Detective. But the star of Top Gun: Maverick abandoned the project some time after.
After some resistance, the direction was entrusted to Antoine Fuqua who brought with him his reference actors: Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Former protagonists of Training Day, 2001, a film that won Washington an Oscar as Best Actor in a Leading Role.
(Courtesy Sam Emerson / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Fuqua changed the script a lot, proposing a version of the story that also speaks of diversity and inclusiveness. Themes for the truth already present in the original film, by Akira Kurosawa. The cast includes African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics alongside the main actors.
The director thus mixes elements of two previous versions: uses the post-civil war setting of Sturges and echoes the theme lines of Kurosawa’s characters. For a modern yet very spectacular reinterpretation.
The magnificent 7 alternates between great action and intimate moments, also thanks to the emotional nuances of Pizzolatto’s script. Until the final showdown, that remember The wild bunch by Sam Peckinpah.
Previous versions
Set in 1500, The seven samurai was shot by the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa in 1954 and is considered one of the masterpieces of world cinema. At the heart of the story, a small village of peasants who decides to hire samurai to defend against the attack of brigands.
It is a monumental work (available on Prime Video) which earned Kurosawa an Oscar nomination and the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. And that helped launch the great actor’s international career Toshiro Mifuneunsurpassed protagonist and animal-like charisma, which he also acted for Steven Spielberg and John Frankenheimer.
Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner in a scene from “The Magnificent Seven”. (Getty Images)
The success of the film was such that it attracted the attention of American producers. The magnificent seven 1960 is a film largely inspired by that of Kurosawa, an undeclared remake and almost as good as the original. Stellar cast, starting with protagonists Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner.
The western, also famous for the soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein, albeit set in 19th century America, proposes the same themes as the original. That is honor, manly friendship and rebellion in the face to injustice.
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