Man from Reno

My wife being from Reno the movie title caught my eye. I had absolutely no clue what it was going to be about. I didn't read any reviews before watching it, just saw it was a mystery/crime and that's the kind of movies I like so I gave it a shot. I didn't regret it. It's a good movie but you for sure have to stay alert every second because you might miss something because of the many twists. I might even have to watch it a second time to get more answers. The mix of Japanese and English worked very well. To me the two stars of the movie are Ayako Fujitani and Pepe Serna. Very good performances both of them. Surely worth a watch or even two to get everything.

An old sheriff of a small town is smart but not smart enough and gets continually outwitted by a murderous con man in the big city. Hmm where have we seen this story before?

This movie is interesting for its Japanese-American half and half formulation, including the reading of subtitles for much of the movie as the actors speak Japanese. That part was fun and the lead actress really does an excellent job.

Without spoiling, I found the ending to be as unsatisfying as I did NCFOM. Some call this 'film noir' but I call it 'film frustration'. Also what was the point of the Sheriff's daughter who starts out like she's going to be a main character and then slowly fades into obscurity?

Interesting enough to give it a 6 but couldn't do better given the final result.

Man from Reno was a surprising delight! I'm not usually a lover of mystery movies or film noir, but Man from Reno was both serious and whimsical. I know that I like a movie if I keep thinking about it afterward, and Man from Reno gave me lots to think about: the beautiful cinematography, the intricate plot itself, and the characters. I thought that one of the strongest points of the film was the character development, as well as the actors' portrayals. Man from Reno does a lot in one film by including English and Japanese dialogue, as well as an elaborate story; however, I was left fulfilled and didn't feel like the film tried to take on too much. This movie is a great blend of fun and mystery and I would recommend it to any of my friends or family.

A mystery outside of San Francisco brings together small-town sheriff Paul Del Moral (Pepe Serna), Japanese author Aki Akahori, and a traveler from Reno who soon disappears, leaving behind his suitcase and a trail of questions.

According to Pepe Serna, director Dave Boyle is a Mormon who spent his missionary time in Australia, immersed in Japanese culture. He has read numerous crime novels, both in English and Japanese, and already by his early 30s has had a string of Japanese-inspired films that get critical acclaim.

This a great one, blending small town sheriff and Japanese crime author. They make a great team, and one could imagine this being a series of films. It stands out as being the biggest starring role of Serna's career, as well as being a film where he was not just a "token Chicano". After decades in the film business, appearing in dozens of great films, it is nice to see him finally get a bit of respect and recognition.

I didn't expect much from this as I'd never heard of it before, but the photographs of the posters caught my eye so I thought I'd give it a go. This production from noted Japanophile Dave Boyle, however, really surprised me. I'm a huge fan of noir films, and I was curious how this American-Japanese bilingual film's take on the elusive genre would turn out. I was pleasantly surprised!

The characters seem quite sweet in their way. You've got the Japanese mystery author who is hiding from her fame and missing her dead sweetheart. Then you've got the friendly old sheriff, wise yet not grizzled, differing from the stereotype of a hardboiled detective in that for all his years of experience he's not jaded or glaringly cynical. He's just good at his job. Not to mention he's got his perky young daughter on his force, working smartly in this cute kind of partnership for the meantime until she overpasses him and joins the FBI.

Yet despite the cosy vibes, there's this ever-real threat. Our writer-sleuth is essentially playing Nancy Drew, yet she's facing serious danger and menace from some dodgy people. People go missing, thugs stalk her in the shadows, and you're never sure what to make of all this. Is this a cosy mystery or a Hammett-esque thriller?

This uncertainty really gets played with as the fil twists and turns in the darkness, and honestly the way it turned out bumped this film at least a star higher than I would've rated it otherwise.

There's mystery upon mystery as the crime at the heart of the story broadens in scope and becomes something larger than you thought. It's classic noir but with some cosy sweetness between characters that few noirs have, without compromising the thrill of the seedy, dark moments. I was really impressed with how it all came together, and I've found that I haven't stopped thinking about it since.