A pretty good film, well worth watching. There is a lot that is superlative here, Peter O'Toole's acting, the magnificent cinematography, Bertolucci's direction, etc. But I didn't find it to be great. Perhaps that's just from my perspective as an Occidental. I haven't researched what other films were nominated for Best Picture that year, but I would likely have voted for a different one. The film exposes the cruelty of the Japanese of those times, but completely glosses over the cruelty of the Chinese Communist Party. I suppose that was necessary in order to film in China.
Review of The Last Emperor
