Emperor
At the conclusion of World War II, the political climate of Japan was incredibly tense and tenuous. General MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) was tasked with investigating the remaining political players of Japan, and finding who specifically was guilty of war crimes; of particular interest was Emperor Hirohito (Takataro Kataoka). Turning to his top advisors MacArthur set General Bonner Fellers (Matthew Fox) on the difficult task of getting to Hirohito and the even more difficult task getting him to talk. All the while Fellers has a quiet agenda of his own, lost love.
Saving a country and finding love, not light topics, yet inspired by true events. Director Peter Webber carefully captures Japan’s darkest hours in what appears to be historically accurate detail. While not the flashiest tale ever told, the historical lessons depicted are still just as valid today as they were then. Not exactly a stretch for any of the principle actors involved, the casting seems to fit nicely, although a wooden appearance from Fox sometimes feels a bit off point. Worthy of your time. Perhaps a matinee if you’re looking for a WWII historical docudrama that won’t challenge you, but rather amaze you as to how easily Japan’s history could have been written otherwise. Emperor is rated PG-13.