Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2012

Monte Hellman, who achieved “legendary” status with 1971’s Two Lane Blacktop, comes out of retirement to make this enigmatic and haunting hall of mirrors. Summarizing the plot is futile, but it’s basically about a crew making a movie based on a true scandal involving a murder, a cover-up, a double-cross and a femme fatale (a stunning Shannyn Sossamon). The fuzzy reality keeps shifting, with “now” actors playing “then” characters in flashbacks, and parallels emerge. As do, inevitably, Rashomon comparisons. It’s frustratingly opaque, but individual scenes stand alone. Paced like a tai chi workout. Japanese title: Hatenaki Michi.