dsntxst
When cosmetic company employee Risako Kano contacts friend and TV news cameraman/reporter Yuji Akahoshi about the murder of her attractive co-worker Miki Noriko, he begins to investigate the case himself, documenting his progress both on camera and via his Twitter account. His investigation soon points towards another co-worker - the timid Miki Shirono, who has been missing since the night of the murder. As the story explodes via mass media and online, a trial-by-media ensues and those close to both Noriko and Shirono begin painting their own perspectives on who these women were/are - but is anybody telling the complete truth?'The Snow White Murder Case' is an interesting mish-mash of murder-mystery and commentary on the obsession with social and mass media. It takes enough from each side of the fence to tell an intriguing and entertaining story, and leave you thinking about the implications of speculation and rumour in a media-obsessed world. Strangely, the film also tails off into a story about the meaning of friendship - which I guess does tie in with the idea of not being swayed by rumour and innuendo.With numerous characters providing their perspective on the victim/suspect, a bunch of flashbacks (including repeating flashbacks) and a slew of Twitter comments invading the screen, 'The Snow White Murder Case' could have become a bit off a mess both technically and narratively. I admit on my initial screening to having stopped watching after 30 minutes as I was losing interest but I gave it another go and I am glad I did. As the story begins heading along different strands, director Yoshihiro Nakamura does an excellent job of progressing the story without confusing the audience. Several scenes are repeated with subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) changes depending on the character recalling the situation, keeping the audience in-step with the story whilst also providing small hints on where it may be going to keep you hooked. These scenes (and the entire film really) are backed up by solid performances by the cast - a couple of characters do complete 180 degree turns by film's end but it remains believable throughout. I also enjoyed the jazzy, anime-esque soundtrack - off-beat but appropriate.I was initially a bit underwhelmed with the conclusion of the film (it is kind of just handed to you) but I admit to having an ironic smile at Akahoshi's final scene. On second viewing, I think I appreciated it more: the murder-mystery has enough of a payoff (albeit slightly far-fetched) to be worth the wait and there is a small bite (perhaps a nip?) at the perils of the must-know-everything-now nature of our modern online society. Whilst the feel-good, "everything will be OK" ending is slightly odd, it is not a complete deal-breaker.In sum, an entertaining film for the most part which strikes a happy balance between murder-mystery and comment on our obsession with mass and social media. I am fast becoming a fan of director Nakamura's work and his ability to jump genres and still tell an entertaining story. If you enjoyed 'The Snow White Murder Case' I highly recommend Nakamura's comedy/drama/action/apocalyptic sci-fi mish-mash 'Fish Story' for a similarly twisty story told from several perspectives.
Derek Childs (totalovrdose)
When I undertook media studies in high-school, we learned how the internet has granted us unlimited access to knowledge, but besides this, the internet has not given us the ability to acquire the truth, and The Snow White Murder Case (based upon the text by Kanae Minato, which I am yet to read) is a marvelous example of this unfortunate fact.This highly watchable and influential drama, which efficaciously combines a riveting, intelligent storyline with on screen social media, provides a brutally honest depiction of bullying, peer pressure, and online harassment, encapsulating the feel of not only the media, but the contemporary social climate, complimenting, yet at the same time criticizing the depths of our technological age in a film that is as much a character drama, as it is a documentary.The feature is a real eye opener, revealing how easily the truth can be manipulated by not only those who produce the media, but those who respond to it, and how the opinion of a single individual can suddenly become the driving influence behind everyone's ideas, truly emphasizing the potency of what we dub viral media.To have Twitter updates and other social media news cycles appear on screen as the story emerges may seem like an ambitious undertaking that will inevitably distract, or counteract the original intentions of the feature, everything is brilliantly intertwined. The way the screen is occasionally divided, thanks to the incredible camera work and editing, is sublime.This particular story of jealousy, greed, friendship, family and hardship, begins with the violent murder of Noriko (Nanao), a beautiful employee at a cosmetics company. We are originally unsure of who the murderer is, but the brutality of the crime is a clear indication of the unquantifiable hate needed to enact such overkill.Risako (Misako Renbutsu), a colleague of the victim, contacts ex-boyfriend Yuji (Gou Ayano), after been interviewed by police. A food critic, Yuji is desperate to rise above his station, and despite Risako asking him for discretion in this matter, he cannot help broadcasting details about the case across the internet. This, coupled with his unhealthy obsession, immediately presents him as a character we can neither respect, nor feel sympathy towards.Risako mentions a possible suspect, Shirono (Mao Inoue), who inexplicably vanished the same night as the murder, and though it is nothing more than wild speculation, a witch hunt, instigated by Yuji, begins to consume social media as the public becomes enthralled with finding the suspect. In a world where people are meant to be innocent before proved guilty, Shirono is never granted this opportunity, regardless of whether or not she is responsible.The cast's portrayal of the characters is exceptional (and, as always, Ms. Renbutsu is so unbelievably adorable), though it is Ms. Inoue who is especially magnificent in her role, efficaciously presenting not only her character, but the depictions that colleagues and old acquaintances have of her.Over the course of the feature, the film exposes how every individual contains the beauty of Snow White, and yet can equally represent the hostility and antagonism of the wicked witch, and despite cultural differences often having a major role to play in society, when it comes down to it, everyone has an agenda, and some people, regardless of where they're from, will do anything to end up on top - even murder.The musical score that accompanies the scenes, especially the string instruments, brings further emotional quality to the feature, alongside the strong use of imagery. When Yuji traverses around the scene of the crime, the tense atmosphere is so cold and dark, it is utterly foreboding, while in another instance, when a woman admits another young lady was her partner, the image of her intertwined legs resembles those belonging to paramours after a night of passion. Moreover, the occasional use of animation to depict what people are thinking, alongside revealing their vivid imagination, adds an extra level of character depth that benefits the story.A powerful, dramatic and heartfelt film, The Snow White Murder Case is undoubtedly one of the best 2014 dramas I have had the privilege of viewing. Containing a series of powerful messages, with a plot that continuously keeps you guessing, this feature is one of those rare gems that people simply have to watch, for it not only entertains the audience, it critiques our society as a whole.
YJLcool
The film starts with Noriko, a tall, young and attractive office lady of a cosmetics company that specializes in making 'Snow White' soap who was brutally stabbed several times and then burned in a national park. When a temporary news director, Akahoshi, who works at a news company hears some insider information from a friend, who works the same company as the victim, he decided to seize the opportunity to find the suspected killer and reveal these details to the public before the police. Akahoshi reveals his investigation online and soon, news spreads across the social media like wildfire.Adapted from a best-selling Japanese novel by Kanae Minato, The Snow White Murder Case is a well-written, nicely executed and well-acted drama thriller that tells a gripping story with enough twists and turns to sustain viewer's interest along the way. First and foremost, the film pays not much attention to the actual police investigation for the crime, but choose to focus on the public and the people who are connected to the victim or prime suspect instead. It's a modern cautionary tale about the destructive power of social media, how it can twist the fabric of truth. It examines closely how misunderstandings or misinterpretation of a person's character can potentially ruin a person's life.The film also exposes the judgmental nature of the public in the wake of accessible information online. Throughout the film, you get to see different versions of the same events, as told from different points of view and perspectives from many people, as each person perceives and remembers things differently. However, there are also a few who chose to tell their own version of the events that happened just to get some media attention, effectively blinding the public from the truth. It's actually quite interesting to watch the details of events shift as the film progresses. The film tries to show the audience that things aren't always what they seem to be on the outside. There are so many intricacies of human actions, emotions and intentions that we always fail to perceive, no matter how smart, intelligent or clever we are. Moreover, the film also tries to show that first impressions can be misleading and appearances can be deceiving. Beautiful women are often invisible to the naked eye. We're always so bedazzled by the outside that we tend to fail to look on the inside. The film slowly takes us deeper into the goings-on in the workplace of the soap company and gives us a brief general look at the fierce competition between women in the workplace and in society. One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is that the viewer's perspective of a certain character changes as the film progresses and we start to empathize her once the truth is slowly revealed through flashbacks which provide an emotional backstory for the main lead. Mao Inoue and Nanao both provide convincing performances in their respective roles, successfully display the multiple facets of their characters well.The Snow White Murder Case impresses me a lot. It's actually quite rare for a crime drama thriller that has a carefully structured premise with so many ideas to convey. It's one of the most compelling, thought-provoking crime drama thrillers this year. Highly recommended.Rating: 8.5/10http://yjcool.blogspot.com/2014/10/movie-review-snow-white-murder- case.html
