Emperor

Synopsis – In post war Japan, a decision must be made which could spell the end of a two thousand year old dynasty. There are few things more frustrating than a film that sets up an interesting premise and does not take it to its full potential. Emperor sets up an interesting premise, a part of history not well known in the west, post-war Japan and the search for guilt - yet fails to make the most of it. What makes this so frustrating is that it might have so easily turned out differently. The film opens strongly with the end of World War 2 and the arrival of protagonist General Fellers (Matthew Fox) in a ruined and broken Japan. We are told very early on of what is at stake, the Emperor is still a divine figure whose trial and execution could spark fresh bloodshed. Fellers is instructed by General Douglas Macarthur (Tommy Lee Jones) to judge the guilt or innocence in starting the war. Just as things are beginning to get rolling we suddenly, and unexpectedly, stall with a clichéd and totally unnecessary love plot that, not only adds nothing to the film, but does much to divest the audience of any interest. It’s not that the performance in this plot is lacking, on the contrary there are good performances. The plot simply does not, despite the writer’s best efforts, fit at all with the tense and edgy political thriller. It feels very much like two films have been squashed uncomfortably together and the superior one suffer much for it. Where the film gets it right it does it well, Tommy Lee Jones as General Douglas Macarthur is extremely enjoyable to watch, brilliantly capturing the force of the general’s personality and his not inconsiderable ego. Matthew Fox injects emotion into the dry and by the book love story and gives a sense of drive and desperation in the main detective story. Toshiyuki Nishida is another strong element as the dignified general Kajima, a living example of the blending of old and new in Japanese culture. Ultimately the film fails to make this story the exciting and gripping one which its real life source material deserves. FINAL VERDICT 5/10 had the useless sub plot been left out this might have been a much more effective film.