tremendous achievement in cinematography, acting, and direction

Rating: Null/10 (23 December 2003)

Rarely do films like this receive high marks from me. To paraphrase one Entertainment Weekly reviewer, oftentimes, movies like this portray themselves as what greatness is "supposed" to look like, without having soul under their deep shell (this comment was based on "The Hours". though i have not seen it i agree with the comment about certain movies in general). however, this film breaks the mold in one big way; it doesn't try to be great. It doesn't even embellish itself; it simply tells a story.
(spoilers ahead)
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are each brilliant as their respected characters. Murray's Bob is out of place, an American B-movie actor in Japan to endorse a whiskey. Murray plays the role with poise, discipline, and quiet dignity, which perfectly matches the setting of the fantastic Japanese hotel he's staying at late at night. Like Murray, Johansson's Charlotte feels out of place as well. Her husband virtually ignoring her on his business trip, she turns to Bob as a sort of father-figure, asking him advice on having kids, etc. Both can't sleep at night, which is a perfect metaphor for how both can't get comfortable in Japan. However, it is the breathtaking cinematography that makes the film a classic in my eyes- as you can see, I'm big on cinematography. At the start of the film, Bob enters Japan and sees cluttered lights, street signs, and shop windows at night; everything looks big and bright and overwhelming. But he leaves Japan during a gray day, passing through much more spacious and comfortable locations. In addition, the scene where Bob goes on the crazy Japanese talk show perfectly demonstrates how he feels complacently out of place in "the absurdist landscape of modern cosmopolitan Tokyo", to quote jvollmer, another IMDb reviewer. To further reinforce the concept of "one", check the scene where Bob is golfing alone with a giant volcano in the background; Bob is one small man in a large city. Also, the film manages to splendidly combine quiet poise with relieving comedy; the scene at the hospital perfectly demonstrates the out-of-place motif. Bob tries to communicate with a much shorter, elderly Japanese man, to no avail. Finally, the end of the film leaves us wanting more, yet at the same time gives us hope that the two friends- yes, friends- will meet again. Overall: **** out of ****