A delightful film, capturing the mood of loneliness perfectly

Rating: Null/10 (13 January 2004)

This is a delightful film which captures the mood and tone of loneliness. Two people, trapped in a huge crazy, alien city, lonely and seemingly abandoned, meet and connect. That's all there is to it but Sofia Coppola has captured first their despair, and then their relief at finding each other, absolutely perfectly. The performances are wonderful. Bill Murray plays the jaded movie star with just the right amount of ennui and irritation, while Scarlett Johannsen literally lights up the screen with her mix of boredom and enthusiasm. Despite what some critics on IMDb have said, this is not a rascist movie and I suspect that most of those who have made this criticism have not been to Tokyo. IT'S JUST LIKE THAT, GUYS! In my opinion this film is beautifully observed. If it was in Mandarin or French people would be hailing it as a masterpiece (think 'In the Mood for Love'). It's not that but it comes pretty close.