It's a matter of people

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2004)

So it has been said, that this here production is the best of the year 2003. The only real adversary it had was Finding Nemo, not counting Mystic River and Kill Bill which I haven't seen. The ring guy was as predicted by me, and for me, just another movie in the series, which I consider purely...ok. Many things are at stake, once you dare to say that a movie is brilliant. Like the attitude which you, as an "all-knowing" movie goer, will have to it, especially if your preferences and hopes lie on another movie. I loved Finding Nemo, but this is something different.
Spoilers
It's a movie about the most strangest of places in the world, which has had a tremendous ascension in nowadays life as we know it: Japan. Never would I have imagined such a vertical place. The verticality is obviously exploited by director Coppola and amazing sights are assured. The story itself might be somewhat disappointing. I totally understand why. If you were to tell someone what happens in this movie, you would say: Well, it's these two people, who spend a while in an astonishing place...and they just talk and talk and then they leave. I think the film lacks an actual story and it is more of a portrayal of characters. As a logic consequence, the actors carry a heavy burden upon their shoulders. And they carry it surprisingly well.
Billy Murray has always been a charming actor, ideal for the guy who takes life more as a big game. He's in a "mid life crisis" and "thinking" of buying a Porsche. The first meeting. Scarlett Johanssen certainly surprised me with her beauty, despite some "misfeatures", and her natural talent. Both, Bob and Charlotte, as the characters are named, go through a rather disappointing period of life. They are actually very different people, but a beautiful friendship blossoms between them. You will learn more about them as the "action" develops and will learn to love them. Their relationship never seems to go past a certain mark and it all seems so very simple. And simple means pure. Beautiful script and directing.
You will be amazed by a certain beauty of life and through wonderful music, the movie will conquer you if you are prepared to let yourself conquered. It's not the average movie you see every day, actually it is a great movie. It has higher aims than just the sentimental bond between Bob and Charlotte, as it asks essential questions about life, marriage and pleasure. Well, life includes all...
There are many beautiful things to see and so I recommend you see them. Better sooner than later and better later than never. 9/10