Special Actors

It’s nearly impossible to talk about the greatness of Shinichirou Ueda’s breakout film, One Cut of the Dead, without spoiling it; so much of what makes that movie so delightful are its surprises. Ueda’s latest — about a guy who joins a troupe of actors who use elaborate deception to help people — is a bit more straightforward, but no less delightful. Although the word “con” is never spoken in the film, it’s effectively a con artist movie, and its surprises are about what you’d expect from the genre. But the movie is so enjoyable, with a really endearing group of characters, that the more traditional charms it provides never feels like a detriment. Don’t get me wrong — it definitely has some tricks up its sleeve, it’s just never quite as mind-blowing as One Cut of the Dead. But it’s a lot of fun.

***1/2 out of ****