One of the big story questions that The Last Samurai asks is:

When you face a high stakes rigged game, do you:
A) Quit and run (leaving others behind)?
B) Fight against the odds to save yourself within the terms of the game and to hell with collateral damage?
C) Ignore the rules and redefine the game to fight back?

It is a historical drama that is uncannily timely and relevant without being on the nose -- as the best stories often are.