The Third Murder requires a degree of patience and concentration from viewers, but the conclusion, even if it doesn't answer every question, is rewarding.
Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda takes an entirely different tack from his family dramas for a critical look at Japan's justice system. This is his first film with Koji Yakusho, outstanding as the mysterious murderer...
Compelling enough while you're watching it, frustrating then forgettable once it ends, this is a work that wouldn't command much attention if it came from any other director.
The back and forths between accused and lawyer are among the movie's most enthralling scenes, largely because the soft-featured Mr. Yakusho - lips lightly curling - can make a nice smile seem positively terrifying.
As Shigemori becomes obsessed with exploring alternate theories, The Third Murder finds a compelling, cerebral groove...It's an experimental impulse worth encouraging.