Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) - Paul Schrader 

Dismissed as self indulgent upon it's release in the years since Paul Schrader's unique biopic has gained a lot of critical momentum. Schrader's films and scripts have typically focused on an outsider and typically one with a completely wrong ideology. Mishima inhabits this role in limited quantities. He has his own followers but his notions of classic Japanese pride seem far outdated as his triumphant stand is met with scores of boos from the very people he's trying to impress. Mishima despite his celebrity status seemed to represent a complete reversal from the dominant political temperature of the time. The film's structure is told in four rather unique chapters that all contain re-enactments of actual plays and the one film Mishima made. These re-enactments are shot in color as are the contemporary scenes whereas the flashbacks of his early life are shown in black and white. From his evolution as a sickly child to a military minded body builder. His fictional characters all seem to embody parts of him and help to illustrate his own story. As with other Schrader films I'm not sure if the score helps or hurts it as Philip Glass' music wells up at seemingly inappropriate times, but by the end you've come to accept it. Certainly a challenge shooting in Japanese but the film is well worth watching thanks to its new Criterion DVD.