Next week the Dallas International Film Festival returns with some amazing narrative and documentary features, plus an impressive list of short films. But one of my most-anticipated movies in the lineup is director Takashi Miike’s 13 ASSASSINS, which has already played to favorable reactions at the South by Southwest Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. In fact Miike was originally scheduled to appear at SXSW, but due to the tragic events in Japan had to cancel. One of the problems reviewing critics like myself sometimes face at film fests is not being able to catch all the films we want to see, even though some have multiple showings. So I was happy to hear I’d have another chance in my hometown, and now after seeing the official trailer, I’m even more excited than before. This looks to be one of those epic international films that has people talking. Check out the poster above, and the film synopsis and trailer below, and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Synopsis: Cult director Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan’s feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.
13 ASSASSINS opens April 29, 2011