Film Review: The Third Murder (2017)
The Third Murderย has one of those kinds of stories that I love. Weโre shown a murderย and the murderer, so thereโs no doubt in our minds who’s guilty. But, as the film plays out, holes are slowly poked in the accepted narrative until a completely new and plausible scenario is before us. Why the murder was committed becomes as important as who did the deed, and just like that, the killer (or killers?) are seen in a different light. What starts as an attempt to save the defendant from the death penalty, ends in a moral quandary about the nature of justice.
Itโs is a pretty darn good little movie. The Third Murderย falls short of being great, but itโs still well worth your time. Itโs a bit of a departure for director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who is a master at capturing contemporary family life. This might be part of whatโs throwing me a bit off, as Iโve come to expect top-notch delivery in the emotional impact and relatability departments from him. Kore-eda is one of the best directors working today, and that this isnโt his best effort, yet still comes highly recommended is saying something.
Navigating theย web of lies, cover-ups, and half-truths is attorney Tomoaki Shigemori (Masaharu Fukuyama). Heโs tasked with defending Misumi (Kลji Yakusho), a man accused of killing his former boss and then burning the body. Misumi has confessed to the crime so thereโs no question about guilt. That is until Shigemori starts digging. What plays out is some thrilling drama that masterfully never gets completely resolved. In most cases, this kind of non-resolution would find itself with the negative box checked, but Kore-eda strings it along until it seems nearly heroic.
The direction is a textbook on minimalism, as is Kore-edaโs style, but the story (written by the director) is dense. This is a full-on Grisham-esque legal drama (only better) with plenty of layers and swerves. Kore-eda gets a lot from his actors as well, with Kลji Yakushoโs Misumi taking on a Hannibal Lecter caught in the headlights vibe. Masaharu Fukuyama also delivers as the lawyer, Shigemori. Watching him slowly discover the truth – or more accurately,ย many truths – is a thrilling experience. He handles the twists and turns with a detached coolness, but itโs easy to see him become more and more involved as each new clue is revealed.
My sole issue with the film is simply that Iโve come to expect more emotion from Kore-eda.ย The Third Murderย packs a punch, donโt get me wrong, but it doesnโt quite convey the deep human connections his other films do. This is a very minor complaint, I admit, and one thatโs likely to go unnoticed by anyone who isnโt familiar with the directorโs body of work. In its place, perhaps, weโre offered an inside look into Japanโs legal system and inner workings. This alone is worth the price of admission. Itโs a pretty fascinating glimpse into a world Iโve never even considered before. Well done.
All told,ย The Third Murderย is an exceptional addition to the legal thriller and procedural genres. It may fall a bit short of great, but thatโs hardly a reason to skip it over. Itโs a stylish little film, with an engaging mystery and an interesting sense of justice. Kore-eda has some tricks up his sleeve.
