A look at life from different angles..

Rating: 8/10 (18 May 2004)

On one hand you have the highly successful "Bob Harris" (Murray) hating his time in Tokyo because he sold out ($2 million) and is making an ad for a Whiskey (something he would never do in the US).
On the other hand you have "Charlotte" (Scarlett Johansson) who is married to a highly successful photographer.
Both are stuck in Japan and can't sleep. It seems like they can't sleep because of all the neon (at which they stare at through out the whole movie). The two are total opposites. Old/young, Male/female, "somebody"/"nobody", "married long time"/"married short time".
The movie works as we follow these two people and how unhappy they are with life and being in Japan. The tension lies in how well they get along and should not have a relationship. Both know it's a mistake as they grow closer. They seem to feel like if only they met a long time ago in a different situtation...
Anyway the movie was funny at times and fun to watch (if not just for watching all the neon like the characters).
Murray performance was good, but I don't see the Oscar nomination for it. He was much better in Groundhog's Day. He totally carried that movie. This one Scarlett Johansson carries with here soulful eyes and that feeling that she is REALLY unhappy.
8/10