I close this thread with Ran (1985), the first film I saw Tatsuya Nakadai as the lead. It changed my relationship to film and led me down the path of seeing so many of the above movies, for which I am extremely thankful. The world of cinema would have been far worse without Nakadai's contribution.

The psychedelic nightmare of Kagemusha (1980) is often considered mere preamble to the next movie, but I think it's underrated. Kurosawa's tragic story of a man implanted in society far above his station is carried on its back by Nakadai's touching and deeply sympathetic lead performance.

High and Low (1963) has Nakadai playing the detective in a masterpiece crime drama. Much of this role is devoted to his reaction shots and balancing out the more explosive Mifune. I need to watch this one again!

One of his truly great performances! Sword of Doom (1966) has Nakadai as a truly evil anti-hero, a complete sadist, whose madness is perfectly portrayed with Nakadai's signature wide-eyed stare. The character so evil that he breaks the narrative of the movie he's in!

Admittedly much more of a Mifune movie, Samurai Rebellion (1967) still has a great role for Nakadai as the fatally entwined friend to the protagonist, a man whose honor and role won't let him do the right thing. A tragic villain!

Shifting gears to my wife's favorite Nakadai performance, Kill! (1968) is a chanbara satire, a dark comedy that plays with all the tropes of the genre. Nakadai gets to show off his comedy chops, and it's genuinely very fun to watch!

The Human Condition trilogy is a monument of filmmaking, and Nakadai's performance as Kaji sells one of the great humanist dramas of the 60s. Kaji is just a man who wishes he could be a saint, but is condemned by his circumstances and his morals in equal measure.

In the sequel Sanjuro (1962), Nakadai plays a completely different character, an authority figure desperate to catch the rambunctious ronin. The blood geyser that flows from Nakadai at the end of the film is basically responsible for the entire aesthetic of anime violence + Kill Bill's whole deal.

His first big role playing opposite Toshiro Mifune (as he would often do), Yojimbo (1961) has Nakadai playing a gun-wielding maniac gangster, whose presence kicks the story into high gear, breaking a stalemate.

Technically, his first on-screen debut is about 10 frames in the Seven Samurai (1954), where he is uncredited. What an auspicious start to his illustrious career!

First, Harakiri (1962). I've talked about how this is a perfect film a number of times. Nakadai is a big part of that acclaim. He's actually quite a bit younger than the character he plays, but he conveys aged despair SO WELL. Go watch this movie right now!!

I'll literally die

Simultaneous conspicuous consumption and commodity fetishism propped up by speculative market value and FOMO. Does this Commander speak to you personally? Does this card make you feel like you were 10 years old again AND sell for $2k if you sold it (you'll never sell it)?

THAT'S RIGHT