Man from Reno

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.

Man from Reno was my first foray into the films of Dave Boyle, and from what I hear, it is quite different from what he has previously made. But if any of his other films do resemble this one, I will definitely make the effort to seek them out. Man from Reno felt at once like a throwback to great 1940s noir mysteries like The Big Sleep, while also being remarkably relevant in 2015. 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. And through all this, a set of richly developed characters connect with you, keeping you invested in their story, even if you may not fully understand it. I left turning over the details of the movie in my head and will continue to do so for some time - hopefully a second viewing will reveal much of what I missed the first time around!

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.

Director Dave Boyle is largely known for two things: character-driven comedies and an interest in (and understanding of) Japanese culture. While work such as "Big Dreams Little Tokyo" and "White on Rice" used the former to good effect, his latest film "Man From Reno" capitalizes on the latter in the context of a modern-day noir. 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. 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. Set and shot in the Bay Area of California, "Man From Reno" is a clever, noirish mystery that plays as part procedural, part character drama. Director Dave Boyle takes a major step out of his comfort zone with the film and the payoff is immediate. If you're a fan of snappy, believable dialogue and plot twists, this one's for you.