A surprising performance by Bill Murray

Rating: Null/10 (3 February 2004)

I am not the biggest Bill Murray fan. I somehow find it hard to take him seriously. When I see him I see 'Groundhog Day', 'Ghostbusters' and I have a mental picture of that vomit inducing 'It's Christmas, let's all be good to each other!' speach at the end of 'Scrooged'.
I could not believe this was the same Bill Murray, his performance in this film has changed my opinion on him, and it will never be changed back.
I could not think of another actor in the shoes of Bob Harris, a lonely semi-washed up actor on his was towards an inevitable retirement. During a stay in Tokyo, Bob meets Charlotte, a young woman who is in the city whilst her somewhat self-absorbed husband is working. Murray is sharp and charming. This, combined with the simple, yet elegant script, left me feeling warm throughout. At times the script is very witty, and aids you to see through the age gap, and believe that a young beautiful woman like Charlotte could be charmed by an aging man like Bob Harris.
The camera work by Coppola is, unsurprisingly, similar to that of her father. There are many shots of the city of Tokyo, providing a juxta-position between the hustle and bustle of life in the most modern city of all, and the solitude felt by both Bob and Charlotte. Her towards her work obsessed, self absorbed husband, and him towards his emotionally estranged wife. The fuzzy camera focus allows the warmth of this picture to pour through the screen and almost nestle itself onto your lap. The shots are simple, but always smooth and comforting.
There are some bad points to the film, but I do not wish to labour them, as they do not really taint the film. I am sure I saw a boom mic in shot during the first few minutes of the film!
I was unbelievably and pleasantly surprised by this film. If you like a love story, this is a refreshing alternative to tacky 'mushy' love films, they only leave me feeling sick. This film was the opposite, it made me feel warm, and restored my faith in the human condition.
Tremendous 9/10