The film is hard to describe plot-wise. It has been compared (favorably and unfavorably) to David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, yet Hellman has decided to take us on a ride into the realistic realm as opposed to the surrealistic world that Lynch often favors. Also notable is the fact that wikipedia still has no plot summary for the film.
A filmmaker (Runyan) is preparing to make a film about a true crime story. Upon casting, he comes across a young woman who has never acted before (Sossamon), but who eerily looks like the real life femme fatale the movie within a movie is based off of. What follows is left up to us. Reality blends with fiction. Stories are left open for us to decipher. However, what starts out as possibly frustrating leads to an interesting dynamic in the film industry. The question of our own image, our own reflection, our own dreams start to play a larger part on this road.
All of the actors do very well in the roles provided, especially Ms. Sossamon. For when the shots seems to linger five to ten seconds too long, there's something about Ms. Sossamon's beauty that lets it slide. It's a pleasure to see Ms. Swain in more of a leading role as the sassy blog reporter Nathalie.
I grant most reviewers that the similarities between this film and Mulholland Drive are sometimes too blatant. Yet, Mr. Hellman's vision gives us something more. It, of course, requires, repeat viewing. Yet, it is all about the beauty. The images that come forth seem to display an earnest energy to engage us, as minute as they are.
Shot for under five million on the Canon 5D Mark II, Mr. Hellman made a beautiful choice to capture the reality of the people and environment around him.
While RTN may put some viewers to sleep with its slow pace and lack of story, there are some filmmakers out there, like Hellman, who understand that beauty defines cinema.
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