Beautiful and believable. Don't think twice.

Rating: 10/10 (17 August 2006)

I saw this movie today for the first time. I don't like seeing films when they first come out as they usually come wrapped in hype and (in this occasion) public opinion that demands YOU SEE THIS FILM.
The whole impression of this film is that it is greater than the sum of its parts. I felt at times that I was watching different films from different time periods. Mainly the early to late 70s when Ms Coppolas father was at his zenith.
For instance some of the "slapstick" sequences featuring Murray could have come from a Woody Allen picture circa 1973.
French Cinema appears to be an influence. I would urge anyone who has seen this to watch the 1980s film Subway with Christophe Lambert.
The beautiful and almost claustrophobic detail of Tokyo is beautifully outlined by Coppolla with many different styles of shots including steadi-cam that keep the whole film fresh and moving.
You feel that you could almost read the minds of the people and the plot. Again a feature of French Cinema. The people are far more important than the slim plot.
It is entirely believable and this type of complicated and touching relationship is not dealt with too often in Cinema because it is complicated, deep and difficult to convey unless you have been there. I was able to work out exactly what would happen and when as if I had been there before.
Heck this is great film, great soundtrack, great location. They really don't make them like this anymore.
The best way to rate a film in my opinion is to watch it and see how quickly it goes. If it feels like five minutes as it did for this film you have a winner.