A rare film for modern Hollywood.

Rating: 9/10 (7 May 2004)

I'll try to not repeat other comments. In a several words (a maybe more :) film summary: it's a simple and very realistic, believable history with superb casting. The main actors completely correspond to their characters. I love Bill Murray generally, especially in "Groundhog day". At this film he has a easy enough part but it was played great, ideal, with typical Murray's ironic style. Therefore I'm sure he might win Oscar as well as he wins Gold Globus. AFTER MAYBE SPOILERS. Scarlett very touching. It's really hard part and she gave very well & realistic performance of it. Beauty moviestar and her dialogue with Sharlotta's husband is acted in the parody on stupid_and_the_most_part_of_the_teenager's_comedy style. This girl is really empty inside. Unlike Sharlotta. It's a rare film in modern cinematograph 'cos Sofia Coppola (my great respect) had made a simple, realistic, gentle film that have no cliches and happy ends with a loving couple that slow goes forward towards sunset. Because happy end here couldn't be. In spite of this the movie gifts to you very "warm", light mood with sadness. It's an "atmospheric" film, i.e. it takes your mind after first 30 minutes, penetrate in U and still with U even after final titles. You can go from this movie for hour and after this watch remained part of film - but the feeling, sense of it are with U all that breaktime (it was only with me of course). U don't need any dialogues at the most time, especially when Sharlotta walks on the Kioto's garden, the first scene when Bob-Murray sits at the car watching for lights of a megapolis. Fantastic director's work: Sofia is a big talent.
9/10. it's the best film of 2003 on my opinion
PS I don't agree with people who says that Tokio is comic and it humiliates Asian world and culture or smth like this. The Japanese people are comic only for western ones like Bob, Sharlotta, me and most of you. It doesn't mean they (Asians) are stupid but means that for western human it's too hard and odd to grasp this huge boiler living on his own rules. But in the picture Coppola shows and Jap. cathedral and beautyful landscape of the plain near Fudzi.
Overall: very warm, gentle romantic-comedy-drama chemistry, that will seem boring for those who won't feel the film's atmosphere.