Lively, fun, stylish movie about the wandering Sukeroku and what happens when he returns to his hometown after 7 years, arriving just as a big showdown is about to happen. Sanada's Sukeroku is a pleasure to watch: athletic, a bit hyper, a bit goofy -- you can't help but like him. He's living life to the fullest. Nakadai is a class act as an aging samurai facing his destiny. His performance is an unexpected bit of calm gravity. The action scenes are fast and fun, not realistic. The cinematography was very well done, making the most of limited sets. I found the jazzy score a minor distraction initially, but it fits the movie's mood.

This tense and amusing samurai drama stars Hiruyuki Sanada as a spirited entrepreneur who makes a living brokering negotiations between rival swordsmen. When a famous fighter (Tatsuya Nakadai) rolls into town, the broker discovers some clues to his past, and tries to flummox the designs of a corrupt official out to deflower his longtime love. Vengeance for Hire is a wonderful, low-budget throwback to those memorably offbeat samurai films of the mid-sixties, albeit with superb set design, photography, and acting. The plot unfolds at its own pace, then kicks in with a series of delicious set pieces guaranteed to keep an audience delighted and surprised.A real treat.