IF anyone needed convincing that Tom Cruise is more than just a pretty face, they should go and see The Last Samurai.

In this stirring historical epic, the Hollywood heart-throb gives a performance that is a tour de force, getting to the heart of a character who is both heroic and complicated.

The year is 1876 and Captain Nathan Algren (Cruise) has emerged from the Civil War and wars with the American Indians a scarred and bitter man.

A little too fond of the firewater and eking out a living helping to sell rifles, Algren is persuaded to travel to Japan at the request of the Emperor to train Tokyo troops in the art of modern warfare as they prepare for a rebellion by a small group of Samurai, the ancient order of warriors who shun firearms in favour of their traditional swords, brute strength and discipline.

The Emperor's soldiers are ill-prepared but are forced into an early confrontation that goes disastrously wrong. Algren is badly wounded but his skill in battle and tenacity impress Samurai leader Katsumoto (Watanabe), who orders that the American be taken back to his isolated village.

Badly injured, Algren's wounds are carefully tended and as he recovers he is allowed to walk around the village virtually at will.

At first resentful of his "imprisonment", the American soldier's natural inquisitiveness prompts him to investigate this strange culture. A grudging trust of the Samurai gradually becomes admiration for their way of life and he befriends his Japanese hosts, not least Katsumoto, whose own thirst for knowledge matches Algren's and the two men learn to respect each other, and each other's ways of life.

Eventually their friendship is put to the test when the conflict catches up with the Samurai, and Algren must decide where his loyalties lie.

It's fascinating, thrilling stuff. The clash of cultures in a changing world is perfectly captured by director Zwick, who evokes a strong sense of what is virtually a lost civilisation.

It is beautifully filmed, with many spectacular Japanese vistas. And the scene in which we first see the Samurai, charging on horseback through mist-shrouded woods towards a terrified pack of Imperial troops, is breathtaking and oddly elegant.

And battle scenes are clearly de rigueur at the movies The Lord Of The Rings trilogy may have set the benchmark in this respect, but the climactic confrontation between the sword-wielding Samurai and the firepower of the Emperor's troops is brilliantly executed and amazing to watch.

Cruise immerses himself totally in his role. He not only conveys a haunted man whose mental scars run deep he also throws himself wholeheartedly into the physical aspects of the film, proving himself to be a pretty nifty swordsman and not a bad horse rider.

But while Cruise is central to the film, equally important is Watanabe who is outstanding as Katsumoto, an enigmatic and attractive character who is also no slouch when it comes to the physical stuff.

Throw in a turn from the ever-reliable Spall and an all too brief appearance from Connolly, and the cast is as diverse as it is strong.

Comparisons can be made with Kevin Costner's Dances With Wolves same situation, different people but The Last Samurai, while covering similar themes and depicting much of the brutality involved when cultures clash, is a different, somehow strangely subtler film.

One quibble it's too long. There comes a point at the end of the major battle scene that would seem to be a natural and satisfactory conclusion. But Zwick includes a scene at the end which adds nothing other than padding.

Otherwise excellent stuff, and there will be few complaints if Mr Cruise is clutching a certain gold statuette at the end of next month.

OUT! rating: 8 out of 10

Film writer Steve Webb reviews

THE LAST SAMURAI

Starring: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada

Director: Edward Zwick

Certificate: 15 Running time: 154 minutes

Showing at: UGC and Cineworld from today