Cure
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Year Released: 1997
Rating: 2.0
Wasn't buying a single minute of it, even as a metaphor: 'identity-less' amnesiac wanders around streets of Japan, interrogating several people he meets, finding out 'about them,' only to hypnotize them and have them perform murderous acts they wouldn't otherwise perform. The idea's there - no one comes up with a solid answer as to 'who they are,' and raises the question of exactly what is consciousness - but the follow through is pretty laborious, and star Koji Yakusho's reaction to everything is violence (like Russell Crowe's character in L.A. Confidential, he smashes and throws things around). Ending is puzzling - I watched it three times - though at least Kurosawa doesn't get into elaborate explanations.
