Headshot (reviewed)

While the latest film from Thai genre auteur Pen-Ek Ratanaruang is by no means original, it’s how the story is told that makes it special. The director presents the story like a compulsive liar taking a polygraph test. The quick jolts of gunplay and action raise the excitement level, and then things calm down to a more contemplative approach. The film’s striking visual style is perfectly in step with the narrative structure, balancing Thailand’s serene forests and rivers with cold cityscapes. “Headshot,” a cool hitman flick steeped in Buddhist philosophy, proves the genre still has a strong pulse. (105 mins.) 3 1/2 out of 4 stars. Erik McClanahan