Best ending
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
as Gennosuke Higaki / Teshin Higaki, Gennosuke's younger brother
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.