A small-town sheriff accidentally knocks down a man late at night on an isolated road. A Japanese crime novelist has a one night stand with a mysterious man who suddenly disappears. The two stories seem to be connected.
Man from Reno is a San Francisco set neo-noir mystery. It is most distinctive for being an American/Japanese hybrid. This cross-cultural aspect probably contributes to this being a somewhat unpredictable film with genuinely unexpected moments. This, of course, is a very good thing in a mystery/detective movie. The story slowly reveals itself and contains several strange details which all eventually dovetail together. It is quite a complex plot though and its bilingual nature only adds to the complexity, so I feel this is a film in which a second viewing would add a lot and help capture details missed the first time around. Another strength is the very good acting performances. In particular, Auoko Fujitani and Pepe Serna, who play, respectively, the female crime writer and the sheriff. Both are fleshed out and convincing characters whom we believe in and care about.
This is a very good and unusual mystery. It also has a fairly dark and uncompromising ending which only adds to its overall unpredictability and boldness of approach. This is one well worth seeking out.
Man from Reno is a San Francisco set neo-noir mystery. It is most distinctive for being an American/Japanese hybrid. This cross-cultural aspect probably contributes to this being a somewhat unpredictable film with genuinely unexpected moments. This, of course, is a very good thing in a mystery/detective movie. The story slowly reveals itself and contains several strange details which all eventually dovetail together. It is quite a complex plot though and its bilingual nature only adds to the complexity, so I feel this is a film in which a second viewing would add a lot and help capture details missed the first time around. Another strength is the very good acting performances. In particular, Auoko Fujitani and Pepe Serna, who play, respectively, the female crime writer and the sheriff. Both are fleshed out and convincing characters whom we believe in and care about.
This is a very good and unusual mystery. It also has a fairly dark and uncompromising ending which only adds to its overall unpredictability and boldness of approach. This is one well worth seeking out.