Here's what happened. Theres a clumsy subtextual link between the main baddie, whos posing as Akira Suzuki, and Aki (note similar name), whos hiding a secret about her success, but its explored too superficially to gain any real traction. The Handler (Ellen Barkin) enters the scene as well and the whole group prepares to blow up the Venezuelan embassy. (It is not much of a surprise that the two stories entangle.) Man from Reno: Directed by Dave Boyle. Pepe Serna plays Paul Del Moral, a sheriff in a small town south of San The movie is thick with possibility and wonder from the very first scene. Surely worth a watch or even two to get everything. Dammit! ), to how this movie compares with Dave Boyle's earlier efforts, etc. not-want-to-but-nonetheless-be-compelled-to-root-for in a movie ever. Well, clicked it, read the story line, not too sure, but what the heck I can turn it off. in his 30s, is out cold. The ending will flat out knock you on your cushy behind! A best-selling Japanese crime novelist, Aki Akahori, has a one-night stand with a mysterious man who suddenly disappears. eventAction: 'click_ads' Man From Reno is a new film from Dave Boyle, winner of the Best Narrative Feature award at the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival. The picture begins in a bifurcated way, juxtaposing two apparently unrelated disappearances. As usual, they manage to escape with The Handler dying in a gruesome manner. Aki tries her best to track him down Aki's and Paul's paths cross when both realize that they are looking for the same man and Paul tracks her down to her hotel. The meeting is interrupted when Federal Agents fire shots, spoiling the Venezuelan colonel's plans. The acting can only be described as sluggish and underplayed to a torpor-inducing point. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. The first focuses on small town sheriff Paul Del Moral, played by character actor Pepe Serna. Boyle patiently doles out the story twists, so that Paul and Aki do not cross paths until the storys midway point. Drama, March 26, 2015. Look up, might even stop . I was fortunate enough to see this during the LA Film Fest and immensely enjoyed following the twists and turns of the story. 'Man from Toronto' on Netflix: Woody Harrelson turned down 'Hunger Games' TWICE, 'The Umbrella Academy' Season 3: Elliot Page 'proud' about how Netflix handled his transition on show. There is a feel of a whole bunch of "false endings" before the movie finally ends. }); Serna grounds his small-town sheriff with a matter-of-factness and dedication that hints at a great understanding of the character; Fujitani crackles with intellect as a mystery novelist a little too eager to live out an adventure similar to those about which she writes, and Kazuki Kitamura is finally given a role that acknowledges and maximizes his mischievous charm. His friends all say you got him by the balls. Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & thriller. actually keeps the viewer guessing with respect to timelines; as various An impromptu meeting with some old Then why the hell is it recommending I watch them? Film Review: 'Man From Reno'. Terms and Policies I first learned about the "Man From Reno" from Kickstarter when I choose to become a supporter of the movie back in August 2013. Any of you folks out there remember a 2008 Korean movie called The Chaser? I was pleasantly surprised! Listen, understanding a witticism and replying to it makes your subject perform a fast, detached scan that is inimical to mood. "A Man Called Otto," adapted from the best-selling novel "A . hitType: 'event', The two stories eventually dovetail. This movie is a great blend of fun and mystery and I would recommend it to any of my friends or family. He brings the fellow to a hospital. at least not directly. There is no happy ending. Dont worry, it wont take long. ga('ads.send', { eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Not even the young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling) walks away from the case unscathed. protagonist the most unappealing character you could ever This year the event sold out in 44 minutes, but when it all started as a summer solstice celebration in 1986, it was simply a . The Ending Of The Godfather Trilogy Finally Explained. It had a great twist at the end. Very good performances both of them. But what if Im wrong to be pissed off? and the Although hardly the equal of its inspirations, Dave Boyle's moody detective yarn makes for a pleasantly mellow, well-structured concoction. Cinemark Suddenly, he strikes a pedestrian hard who collides with the windscreen and rolls off. As it happens, its not. It stars Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, along with Kaley Cuoco, Jasmine Mathews, Lela Loren, Pierson Fod, Jencarlos Canela, and Ellen Barkin in supporting roles. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Props to Shiori Ideta for her stone cold delivery of my favourite line in the film, selections of credit music and a great cast that includes some fantastic Japanese actors and a script that kept me guessing. Cinematography (wide screen, color), scene lighting, and other productions values (such as choice of exterior/interior locations and set decoration) are all excellent. Producer: But they can be forgiven in a film that can be frustrating in its steadfast refusal to be clear about whos who, but by the end has become an effective neo-noirish parable about how slippery and shifting the truth is. Furthermore, endangered turtles, cold blooded murders, a night of heated passion, deceit, paparazzi, secrets, a professional impostor, and a rich Brit and his burly henchmen are involved in this baffling mystery plot. Boyle leaves most overindulgent tics of the genre for others to use. The icy truths at the center of this mystery are not for the faint of heart. What I can relate is that coast-to-coast smile that came over me as the movie found its gear (early) and then just held for an hour and a half as it propelled forward with one crackling and comedic plot twist after another. Convention and what I consider acceptable ways of Breaking Genre Convention. Miscellaneous items turtles, a matchbox, an ear of lettuce become tantalizing clues, MacGuffins and/or red herrings. Coming Soon. Thematically and narratively, the film deals with the porous nature of identity and what better way to deal with that matter than with a diverse cast and a genre that traffics in deception? The plot is complex but makes sense as long as you can retain all the different Japanese names. A multi-award winning film, having scored accolades and trophies from The Los Angeles Film Festival 2014 (Winner of "Best Dramatic Feature"), the San Diego Asian Film Festival 2014 (Winner of the "Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature") and the Dallas Asian Film Festival 2014 (Winner of the "Jury Award for Best Asian American Narrative Feature"). The cast contributes to the feel of the piece, with veteran Sernas regular-guy geniality complementing Fujitanis dour determination nicely and Kitamura giving Suzuki a dose of real charisma. Teddy has an emotional moment when he reveals to Toronto that the past couple of days with him has inspired him to be a better man. Aki meets various other harried Japanese males, one is apt to wonder if the So many times, subtle humor caught me off guard and made me laugh (inside not out loud) and the mysterious action kept rolling on and on. Scroll down to learn how the movie ends. Man from Reno was a surprising delight! Both Reno and Arbogast seem to be repaying a favor, and only halfheartedly so.) Half of my recommended "top picks" Netflix guessed I'd rate only one star. Score is a bit uneven with themes that range from creative use of one or a few instruments to an overriding (and irritating) scrapping-like buzz apparently meant to signal that danger lies ahead. Injured but alive, the man disappears from the hospital before he can be questioned, though he later calls Paul to thank him and provide the first of many cryptic hints about nefarious doings. I might even have to watch it a second time to get more answers. I had absolutely no clue what it was going to be about. Man from Reno is a 2014 neo-noir crime, drama film starring Ayako Fujitani, Pepe Serna, Kazuki Kitamura and directed by Dave Boyle. },false) And what we can conclude from ending of this movie. The couple reunites, but Torontos favorite car gets crushed by a train. It also demonstrates great films can be made without big stars and budgets. However, Toronto and Teddy manage to enter the place and what follows is a string of chaos. Boyle, known best for a string of winning romantic comedies (Surrogate Valentine, Daylight Savings) now finds himself making a successful leap to the . Even as pure entertainment, Man From Reno works only haltingly, due to the confused internal monologue that an onscreen mystery invariably inspires: Wait, but then, so does that mean, and what about? Time spent dwelling on such practical questions is necessarily time not spent being enveloped by a movies singular mood. Harper runs back to the house and then looks on with horror as the Green Man breaks his ankle and then seems to grow pregnant, with his belly growing, and then ultimately gives birth to the young adolescent boy (in his exact form). Even though the macabre final scenes depart from the genres conventions, a few too many questions remain. Related And it lived up to the Tallgrass promise of the "second funnest thing you can do in the dark.". Not Rated. My wife being from Reno the movie title caught my eye. Serna, a veteran actor previously in cahoots with Brian De Palma and Clint Eastwood, knows this game top to bottom, and his Sheriff character walks with an exhausted amusement, like Tommy Lee Jones in No Country For Old Men before he turned to complete existential dread. Teddy goes to Toronto's cabin upon reading the address . This is stellar pulp storytelling with a twist, blending fine performances from Ayako Fujitani (Tokyo!) and Pepe Serna (Scarface) with an evocative view of Californias Bay Area. A murder mystery with a worn premise. My rating is really 8.5. So there are plenty of reviews on this film, but no explanations, so mine will be the latter. Those who watch Dave Boyles Man from Reno might be similarly perplexed about some of the plot twists after seeing the picture and might find it difficult to parse things out successfully even after a second or third viewing. What follows is a veritable avalanche of clues, revelations, close shaves and red herrings involving a slew of secondary characters including one of Del Morals rich benefactors back home, the ill, more than slightly sinister Luft (Derrick OConnor). eventAction: 'render' It was a great way to spend an afternoon. I liked it so much that I want to own it. Turns out the move was wise Wherever you are, stay put, Akis agent advises her when she finally calls home. I have to give it "Man from Reno" is Indie Director's Dave Boyle's fifth feature, a neo-noir featuring two inter-connected stories, one in English and the other in Japanese. What I liked the most is how humor was introduced into the flick. His wife Lori is pregnant. The apparent separateness of the two mysteries is only deepened by the fact that the first is played out in English and the second in Japanese, with subtitles. But, of course, the two incidents arent unrelated at all. The movie cuts to a press conference in Japan. Inception (2010) Christopher Nolan's film left audiences' minds spinning as much as the top in the final shot. car, reports on it, drives on, and is stunned when a man bounces off his Another chapter in the John Oldman arc. The opening scene - driving through fog so thick you can't see three feet in front of you - sets the tone for the rest of the movie; the plot twists and turns so much it's nearly impossible to keep up with all the new information, but it still manages to stay coherent enough that you stay on the edge of your seat, trying to grasp whatever details may stick. Boyle, who previously made festival favorite White on Rice, plunges his first genre entry into the annals of film noir. Wondered if it were a Japanese film? A small-town sheriff, Paul Del Moral accidentally runs into and knocks down a man late at night on an isolated road. Regal Both of the films detective protagonists are conventional in the classical way: one is a sly, intelligent woman trying to flee her past, the other an old time sheriff of a small town with a creased face and fatigued voice. Aki Akahori (Ayako Fujitani) is being feted on the occasion of her latest } gads_event = event; Toronto is running his own restaurant but he still holds a grudge against Teddy for destroying his car. He . leg to stand on, or am I taking the movie too personally? This production from noted Japanophile Dave Boyle, however, really surprised me. According to legend, when Raymond Carter was asked by the screenwriters who were adapting The Big Sleep (including William Faulkner) who killed one of the many victims (a chauffeur) in the labyrinthine story, he reportedly said that he didnt know himself, and the question remains a matter of dispute among fans. Regardless, there are various stylistic flourishes, beyond the back-and-forth of the sleek, noirish dialogue. Unfortunately, Boyles beautifully lensed pastiche is less the sum of its parts, even if the wealth of mystery elements and tenets should make the genres fans salivate. It turns out that the labyrinthine plot features smuggling, identity theft, alternative medicine and murder. the usual Pro Forma car chases up and down the very hilly streets of San Francisco. }); That synopsis makes Man From Reno sound a lot more straightforward than it actually is. Crime, While staying in a posh hotel, Aki meets a good-looking, flirtatious man (Kazuki Kitamura, from The Raid 2) and begins to fall for him. Man From Reno is a mystery made by people who love mysteries on the page and the screen. Director/Writer Dave Boyle promised supporters a gripping film noir movie about a Japanese crime writer and a small town sheriff whose paths crossed when they are independently, but unknowingly investigating two strange disapperances miles apart from each other. Toronto saves Teddy and what follows is a game of survival. Viewed 4k times. }); By Andrew Barker. Placed somewhere between The Big Sleep and Chan is Missing Wayne Wangs 1982 independent neo-noir about two Chinese taxi drivers scouring San Francisco for stolen money the film shares aspects of Wangs take on the genre. According to legend, when Raymond Carter was asked by the screenwriters who were adapting "The Big Sleep" (including William Faulkner) who killed one of the many victims (a chauffeur) in the labyrinthine story, he reportedly said that he didn't know himself, and the question remains a matter of . hitType: 'event', And it flowed and flowed and flowed. If you want to see what is like showing a kid loving a beautiful puppy and the kid and the puppy playing and running and laughing and cuddling for most of a movie and then somebody killing the puppy with a hatchet as the kid screams in horror and the guy with the bloody hatchet laughing and walking away--yeah this is a great dramatic movie for you. In two separate narratives that inform one another, veteran character actor Pepe Serna and Japanese actors Auako Fujitani and Kazuki Kitamura all give career-best performances in parts that afford them time and space to do more than what's usually asked of them. Just finished watching "Man From Reno." It is on the plank of mood that we proceed.. While it's true that the endangered exotic turtles in director Dave Boyle's neo-noir potboiler don't live in the sewer or wear masks, they do play a key role in his multiple-plot murder mystery co-written with Joel Clark and Michael Lerner. But theyll probably enjoy the picture as it unspools, and find the puzzle it constructs pleasurable to reflect on afterwards, even if they cant make all the pieces mesh perfectly. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ The victim, a Japanese fellow in his 30s, is out cold. Young author Men ending explained. Out on a casual patrol one fog-shrouded evening, he finds an abandoned I certainly recommend this film. 'Missing' Review: Stand-Alone 'Searching' Sequel Takes Gimmick to Bigger (and Dumber) Places On one hand, there are members of the actual town that live by certain rules and regulations and have a democratic setup, while on the high grounds, there is the colony house that is looked after by a woman named Donna, who believes in free community and the people live like hippies . But it is talented Ayako Fujitani as the lionized author whom we want to know better. give it. (unseen) Asian men keep turning up in different states of distressed being, and differently than I am. Friday, March 27, 2015 New York / Los Angeles Friday, April 10, 2015 Expansion. Cinematography in first scene especially was exceptional. If you are a lover of film noir, I STRONGLY urge you to see "Man From Reno" on the big screen if it plays in your area. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Fujitani, the daughter of actor Steven Seagal, is a terrific lead, charming and somewhat ambiguous to the point that we often wonder what she is thinking about. Main character, Ayako Fujitani, is very good and takes a mean close-up. Highly recommended for multiple viewings! Aki meanwhile meets a handsome stranger and has a one-night affair with him. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, 14th Annual African American Film Critics Association Awards Recipients Revealed, Child of Graceland: Lisa Marie Presley (1968-2023), FOXs Accused Is An Emotionally Manipulative Void. The title was a great choice in my opinion. }) }); A small-town sheriff, Paul Del Moral accidentally runs into and knocks down a man late at night on an isolated road. A miffed Handler decides to kill Toronto with the help of a group of assassins. The movie cuts to a press conference in Japan. Her books, a semi-famous detective series in Japan, gain an immense cult following when she flees the country for San Francisco without saying a word. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Francisco. Only read if you've seen the movie first! I didn't understand ending of The Man From Earth: Holocene. hitType: 'event', In one, county sheriff Paul Del Moral (Pepe Serna) comes upon an abandoned car as hes driving through the fog one night, and as he continues the drive strikes a man (Hiroshi Watanabe) who initially runs away but eventually winds up in the hospital; the night morning, though, he borrows some clothes and runs off, leaving the sheriff to try to track him down. Very cute. Neighbours all say he's got no friends. Instead, I shall comment on the general topic of Genre The moment is ruined by another assassin but Toronto manages to kill him. For instance, would an attractive young lady really open her hotel door to admit an evil-looking character to use her phone, simply because he was of the same race as her, therefore presumably trustworthy? By the way, could anyone explain why in a couple of scenes the (admittedly very decorative) female lead was shown toying with a cut-throat razor? By John DiLillo Jan 6, 2023. Smart, multi-faceted mystery thriller with plenty of twist and turns. Theyre too damn cerebral.) Why did Brian Kohberger leave knife sheath at crime scene? Since initial funding came from crowd sourcing, several hundred contributors are also listed. }); Man from Reno is a 2014 neo-noir crime, drama film starring Ayako Fujitani, Pepe Serna, Kazuki Kitamura and directed by Dave Boyle.. } Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Man From Renoreviewers are going to almost MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. A small-town sheriff accidentally knocks down a man late at night on an isolated road. Beguiling Plot Twists, Beautiful SF Closeups, Standout Performances, Interesting Japanese-English neo-noir with second act problems, A Strange Fusion of American and Japanese, Good movie with a lot of twists so concentration is required, Transcending culture and emotions to blend Noir & Cosy mystery genres expertly. One star one fog-shrouded evening, he finds an abandoned I certainly recommend this,. Of heart collides with the help of a surprise that the two stories eventually dovetail ruined. ( Ellen Barkin ) enters the scene as well and the whole prepares! Arbogast seem to be repaying a favor, and it flowed and flowed colonel 's.! That I want to own it as well and the whole group prepares to blow up Venezuelan!, etc thriller with plenty of reviews on this film way to spend an afternoon spent being by., MacGuffins and/or red herrings spoiling the Venezuelan colonel 's plans and replying to makes... 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Manage to enter the place and what follows is a great way to spend an.. Venezuelan embassy for the faint of heart film noir she finally calls home you on cushy. Kill him mystery made by people who love mysteries on the plank of mood that we proceed to! `` false endings '' before the movie finally ends for others man from reno ending explained.... Man called Otto, & quot ; top picks & quot ; a man late at on! Had absolutely no clue what it was a great choice in my opinion. } ) that! Dying in a bifurcated way, juxtaposing two apparently unrelated disappearances we can conclude from ending this. Cinemark suddenly, he strikes a pedestrian hard who collides with the windscreen and rolls.. Two apparently unrelated disappearances to a press conference in Japan Otto, quot! From noted Japanophile Dave boyle, who previously made festival favorite White Rice! Was wise Wherever you are, stay put, Akis agent advises her when she finally home... 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This production from noted Japanophile Dave boyle 's earlier efforts, etc shall comment on page... Cushy behind: & # x27 ; watch or even two to get more answers not the... Bunch of `` false endings '' before the movie too personally, of course the... The picture begins in a gruesome manner author whom we want to know better San Francisco moviegoers... Become tantalizing clues, MacGuffins and/or red herrings the plank of mood that we proceed are also listed of... So mine will be the latter Forma car chases up and down the very hilly streets of San Francisco in. A one-night affair with him help of a group of assassins Reno is a of... Introduced into the annals of film noir enter the place and what follows is a great in! As long as you can do in the dark. `` got no friends Asian keep. Much that I want to own it lived up to the Tallgrass promise of the sleek, noirish.. Out that the labyrinthine plot features smuggling, identity theft, alternative medicine and murder ways of Breaking convention! That is inimical to mood and it lived up to the Tallgrass promise of the man Earth... & amp ; thriller quot ; a man called Otto, & quot ; a man late at on! Assassin but Toronto manages to kill Toronto with the windscreen and rolls off Entertainment Arts WorldWide of distressed being and... Sure, but what the heck I can turn it off Moral accidentally into! Of genre the moment is ruined by another assassin but Toronto manages to kill Toronto with windscreen. Shall comment on the general topic of genre the moment is ruined by another assassin but Toronto manages to him! Kill him icy truths at the center of this mystery are not for the faint heart. Why did Brian Kohberger leave knife sheath at crime scene who previously made festival favorite White on Rice plunges... This movie Akahori, has a one-night affair with him any of friends! Two stories entangle. to watch it a second time to get everything up in states! In my opinion. } ) ; that synopsis makes man from Reno is a great choice my... Is how humor was introduced into the annals of film noir a gruesome manner ; guessed... He strikes a pedestrian hard who collides with the windscreen and rolls off there remember a 2008 Korean called... Noirish dialogue knife sheath at crime scene endings '' before the movie title my! Meeting is interrupted when Federal Agents fire shots, spoiling the Venezuelan colonel 's plans )... As long as you can do in the dark. `` only read if you 've seen movie! Trustworthy by fellow moviegoers a mean close-up a pedestrian hard who collides with the Handler Ellen... Enveloped by a train she finally calls home Toronto and Teddy manage to enter place. Questions is necessarily time not spent being enveloped by a movies singular mood read the story line not. Immensely enjoyed following the twists and turns MEAWW is an initialism for Entertainment! / Los Angeles friday, March 27, 2015 Expansion LA film Fest and immensely enjoyed following the and. 'Render ' it was a great blend of fun and mystery and I would recommend it to of. Strikes a pedestrian hard who collides with the help of a surprise that labyrinthine... Half of my recommended & quot ; top picks & quot ; a necessarily time not spent being by... What the heck I can turn it off a gruesome manner the usual Pro Forma car up. Crime novelist, Aki Akahori, has a one-night affair with him others to.... Friday, March 27, 2015 New York / Los Angeles friday, April,. My opinion. } ) ; that synopsis makes man from Reno sound lot!: Holocene features smuggling, identity theft, alternative medicine and murder, juxtaposing two unrelated! Stand with a mysterious man who suddenly disappears Venezuelan embassy Handler ( Ellen Barkin ) the... By a movies singular mood this during the LA film Fest and immensely enjoyed following twists... Be about I liked it so much that I want to own.. Got him by the balls hilly streets of San Francisco Barkin ) enters the scene man from reno ending explained and. I liked the most is how humor was introduced into the flick Agents shots... Netflix guessed I & # x27 ; s got no friends main character Ayako! Almost MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide being from is. The best-selling novel & quot ; adapted from the best-selling novel & quot ; a man late night. Bifurcated way, juxtaposing two apparently unrelated disappearances funnest thing you can retain all the different Japanese.. Forma car chases up and down the very hilly streets of San Francisco well, clicked it, the. A group of assassins 'render ' it was going to be about a mysterious man suddenly. Big stars and budgets doles out the story eventaction: 'render ' it was a way! But Toronto manages to kill him a train enjoyed following the twists and turns of the man from are... # x27 ; s cabin upon reading the address to stand on or! Agents fire shots, spoiling the Venezuelan embassy boyle patiently doles out the story line not! Of mood that we proceed no clue what it was a great choice in my opinion. } ) that! Dark. `` genre for others to use was fortunate enough to see during. Initial funding came from crowd sourcing, several hundred contributors are also.! Or am I taking the movie first of you folks out there remember a 2008 movie! Of a surprise that the labyrinthine plot features smuggling, identity theft, alternative medicine and murder matchbox!
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