WFG RATING: A-

ITN Distribution presents a Hollywood Storm/San Rafael Productions/Bishop Road/ETA Films production. Directed by Joe Cornet. Produced by Alexander Nevsky and Andrew Freund. Written by Craig Hamann; story by Alexander Nevsky and Andrew Freund. Cinematography by Sam Wilkerson. Edited by Cody Miller.

Stars Alexander Nevsky, Ichi, Hiroki Sumi, Kaz Kobayashi, Tatiana Neva, Nick Baillie, Kerry Goodwin, and Joe Cornet. 

Loosely based on the true events of a sumo delegation heading to meet President Roosevelt, this Western teams Alexander Nevsky with sumo champions Hiroki Sumi and Ichi.

In 1907, President Roosevelt meets with Japanese Ambassador Aoki, who thanks him for his help in ending the Russo-Japanese War. To thank him, the Emperor is sending a delegation of sumo wrestlers to Washington D.C. and it will be two months as they are in the West. In the small town of Goldwood, Russian-born gambler Max has arrived to score a payday in cards. The town has outlawed firearms as times are changing. 

Going to the local saloon, he meets Taka and sumo champions Ichiro and Daiki, who are the delegation to head to D.C. only to wait for the train tracks to be repaired. When three no-good men are caught with firearms, a fight ensues and Max defends himself against one while Daiki kills another in self-defense. Judge Ogburn, the new sheriff, reveals the man Daiki killed is Noah Kingrey, the brother of notorious outlaw Jarrett Kingrey. When Jarrett learns of his brother’s demise, he decides to send his crew to the town for revenge. Max, reluctant at first, decides to help protect the town and ensure the delegation makes it to D.C.

Based on the story of Hitachiyama, the sumo champion who in 1907 met with President Roosevelt and introduced sumo to the United States, this is a pretty good from the producers of the Rio Bravo saga that like whose films, introduce a sense of history that has been overlooked or is now well known. However, this is a fictional tale and once again, Alexander Nevsky takes center stage as a gambler who comes to town just to make some money and finds himself joining a war he didn’t want to be a part of, but the power of friendship becomes strong. 

Nevsky has great chemistry when it comes to co-stars Ichi and Hiroki Sumi, who are real-life sumo champions who play Ichiro and Daiki respectively. Add Kaz Kobayashi to the mix as their English-speaking colleague Taz, who gives the townsfolk a lesson in how the world of sumo works and follows another code when it comes to battle. Tatiana Neva is also great as Sybil, the owner of a local clothing store who befriends Max and seems to have a huge crush on him. Nick Baillie plays the new sheriff Judge Ogburn, who does his best to keep the town safe and learning he is the only lawman in town, he’s going to need all the help he can get.

In a rare turn as a villain, director Joe Cornet plays Jarrett Kingrey, a notorious outlaw who plots to come to the small town to avenge the death of his brother. It’s strange to see Cornet, who has played Western heroes for so long, go a different route. However, a nice little Mexican standoff shows that with the right scene, Cornet can pull it off and does so during the final battle, which lasts a good 15 to 20 minutes. It is also great to see Nevsky channel Arnold Schwarzenegger sporting a Wild West Terminator-style look with cigar in mouth while shooting bad guys. 

The Wide West is loads of fun for a Western film, with Alexander Nevsky, Ichi, Hiroki Sumi, and Kaz Kobayashi showing how the power of friendship as fishes out of water can totally overcome any form of adversity. Stay until the end credits begin to get a lesson in U.S. history that has been overlooked or not known. It’s another winner for Nevsky and Cornet. 

The film debuted today (June 1) on Xumo Play.