Perfect Blue (1997 film; uncensored version watched for review)

I regarded “Perfect Blue” as a masterpiece after several viewings some twenty years ago, and I found myself enjoying it even more now. Satoshi Kon’s first directorial feature(!) saw him marry a serial killer stalker plot to ruminations about identity that, in its time, could have been argued as manipulative and nihilistic but read as downright prescient in an era dominated by social media. At eighty-one minutes, there’s a lot that happens in this film but it never feels overstuffed, thankfully choosing efficiency at all turns and making time for countless stunning tableaus. About as rewarding as it is challenging.

10