A great must see movie!

Rating: Null/10 (7 July 2004)

This too was a hard movie to figure out. It's not quite a comedy but it's not quite dramatic either. It lies comfortably in between the two.
Though the plot, Bill Murray's career slump and Scarlet Johansson's marriage, are somewhat dramatic, there are some great hysterics. Whether it is Murray trying to master the treadmill or understand what the photographers are attempting at saying or Johansson's cynicism with listening to self help CDs or discovering cross-gender pseudonym and making sarcastic attempts at revitalizing her fresh and failing marriage to a photographer.
The movie starts with Scarlet Johansson laying on a sheet less bed with nearly see-through underwear.
The movie starts (some may say at a slow pace) when Bill Murray is shooting a commercial for Japanese liquor after establishing the fact that he is a now failing action actor.
Down the hall, Charlotte (played by Johansson) struggles with her marriage. After only graduating last spring from Yale for psychology, Charlotte seems to be looking forward to wait for her husband to return in the dark of night after numerous photo-shoots.
As luck, and irony, would have it the two meet while Murray drinks the alcohol he is promoting. They form an odd friendship when Charlotte takes Bob (played by Murray) to a hip Tokyo club-party.
After other adventures into strip clubs and bad karaoke parties the two have their first fight in a sushi restaurant. The character development is wonderful and their relationships shine with a country of extras and two shining stars.
Sophia Coppola, who also directed the 2000 instant indie hit The Virgin Suicides (based off of the best selling novel by Jeffery Eugenides), establishes herself not only as a great indie film writer/director but an all around great film maker. Coppola's writing is wonderful with a satirical plot and funny scenes. She has great character development and takes on writing an uncommon and simple friendship between the two characters that seems so right.
The movie is something to see and should not be missed. It is a movie for not only independent film goers but major film goers as well. The movie hits ultimate status and can dance on your heartstrings and in your inner most emotions. This movie also establishes Scarlet Johansson at a higher status than she was before and she is one of the most beautiful actresses of our time.
The final scene is nothing that you would expect from a romantic comedy/drama but that is because it isn't a romantic comedy/drama. It isn't a romance movie at all in the sort of accepts that we are used to. When we hear 'Romantic movie' we think of a sensual love between to people sexually attracted to one another. But in this movie the romance aspects is above that and is a link between two unlikely friends with a friendly love between one another.
Grade: A : This movie is a touching movie with the 'Long ways from home' feel. Of course, with Bill Murray as one of its stars, the movie has to have some mild, inner laughter comedy. The movie is a must see and should not be missed by anyone.