An offbeat and strangely engaging motion picture, "Once Upon a Time, Cinema" is worth a look for those with an interest in the history of Iranian cinema.

An unconventional thriller that combines claustrophobic elements such as those found in submarine movies with the isolation aspects of productions like "Cast Away."

Light on backstory and details and strong on adrenaline and testosterone...not unlike the three films that came before it.

Although entertaining throughout and occasionally moving, the film is less an epic drama than an historically-based soap opera.

Retains the edge-of-the-seat and nihilistic qualities of its predecessor, but there are shifts to the overall tone, which is neither as stark nor as ominous.

Despite a committed performance from Mackenzie Davis, the film corkscrews into a death spiral of trite dialogue meant to obfuscate the lack of a meaningful narrative.