Matisse van Rossum’s review published on Letterboxd:
Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is a study of the subjectivity of truth and man's selfish nature to lie. While the plot of this film is relatively simple (the account of a murder from 4 different perspectives), the way it's told is rather complex, but manages to be ambiguous rather than confusing. Much like Citizen Kane, it tells its story through a series of flashbacks (or in this case, a series of flashbacks within a flashback), which was unorthodox at the time, though now it has become a trope of films of really any genre. While some films do this better than others, Rashomon does it perfectly. The key to effective use of flashbacks is using them to reveal a crucial part of the story, rather than just as a lazy device to explain information without finding a more creative way to do so.
Kurosawa uses a marvelously executed sequence of flashbacks to explore the difficulty of determining truth because of man's innate desire to lie in order to preserve self interest. The acting is excellent, if a little over the top, but this doesn't feel out of place in Rashomon, but rather makes it seem more like a stage drama. The scene in which the spiritual medium channels the soul of the murdered samurai is so well performed and executed, and topped off with a surprisingly convincing use of overdubbing. I was also particularly impressed with the shot composition throughout this film. Kurosawa shows a very strong sense of framing and focus, as well as an excellent use of natural environments as setting.
Rashomon is a magnificently crafted film, which has had such an influence on cinema that a technique of storytelling was named after it. It has withstood the test of time, and if anything has gained appreciation over the decades. It's praise is well-earned and deserved and it will always be a masterpiece of cinema.