6. Nightmare Detective II (2008) by Shinya Tsukamoto
“Nightmare Detective II” is a much more intimate film than its predecessor, offering more insight into Ryuhei Matsuda's character as well as the concept of fear, as introduced in the first film. While the excessive use of handheld camera may also add to a viewer's frustration (unlike in the first film), it is again Matsuda's performance and the thematic depth which make the sequel to “Nightmare Detective” a worthwhile continuation. (Rouven Linnarz)
7. The Great Passage (2013) by Yuya Ishii
Ryuhei Matsuda as Majime is great as the eccentric bookworm, as he gives life to a character who seems to fit in novels rather than films. His laconic presence works wonders for the movie, with the story revolving around him. On of the greatest aspects of his performance is that he manages to present an unsocial man as utterly appealing, without ridiculing him or playing him as a social retard. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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8. My Uncle (2016) by Nobuhiro Yamashita
Matsuda plays the character of the titular Uncle, a lazy part-time philosophy professor, a layabout who works 90 minutes a week, living off his older brother, and he does it with his trademark deadpan attitude and spaced-out expression, to hilarious results. A perfect double act with the film's narrator, Yukio (Riku Onishi, seen on the 2012 Hirokazu Koreeda drama “Going My Home”), his primary school nephew, who is assigned to write an essay about a family member. Not quite Tora-san – in fact rather insufferable in his antics – but Matsuda manages to create a gentle and family-friendly comedy that oozes that lovely retro atmosphere. (Adriana Rosati)
9. The Mohican Comes Home (2016) by Shuichi Okita
Okita knows well how to ease the tension of a sad story and, as in his previous works, he indulges in the comic effect of contrasts to achieve this. Eichiki with his green quiff appears totally out of place on the island but, at the same time, the boy's silent and calm character makes him look at ease everywhere and his role evolves before our very eyes, from a degenerate son to a conscious son. Matsuda makes good use of his enigmatic stony face that never seems to be altered by emotions and amaze us in some touching and tender moments. (Adriana Rosati)
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on YesAsia
10. The Miracle of Crybaby Shottan (2018) by Toshiaki Toyoda
Ryuhei Matsuda is quite good as Segawa, particularly in the dramatic aspects of the film, with his performance anchoring the movie in the best fashion. From the rest of the ensemble cast, which also includes Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Takako Matsu and Hirofumi Arai, I would say that there are four that stand out. Issey Ogata as Kazuo, Kaoru Kobayashi as Mamoru and most of all, Jun Kunimura as Shoji's father give great performances as different kind of mentors. Shota Sometani as Murata, a colleague of Shoji who seems to be kind of obnoxious, at least on the outside, also stands out. (…) In the midst of all the controversy (not quite as it was eventually proven, just the Japanese authorities trying to make a power play), it is good to remember that Toshiaki Toyoda is still a great filmmaker. And what better way to do just that than a biopic about Shoji Segawa, a Japanese professional shogi player who changed the rules of the game (Toyoda was also a shogi player until he reached 17), starring the protagonist of Toyoda's biggest film achievements, Ryuhei Matsuda. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
