A Race with Boredom

Rating: Null/10 (2 November 2003)

This was an incredible race to see whether the two boring lead characters were going to be as bored as the audience, some of whom walked out. Unfortunately the person with me was of the type who hopes against reason that something will eventually come along to redeem the film and make it worthwhile. This virtually NEVER happens. I confess I am not a fan of Bill Murray. His atrocious acting in the awful remake of "The Razor's Edge" (*) was almost matched here, but he convinced me he was bored with his work as an actor (getting $2 million for the whiskey commercial he was to do in this movie might make some at least try to conceal their boredom), bored with his wife left behind in the USA, and bored with life altogether. Such people get no sympathy from me. With the vast richness life has to offer, anyone who cannot find some area of interest to get excited about or at least seriously interested in is pathetic. The female lead, ignored by her husband, is equally bored. They make a fine pair. At least they develop a little interest in each other, but I could not care less about either character or where this was going.
The film gets a 10 for photography. Delete the story and the actors and it would have been a beautiful travelogue of Tokyo.
I have appreciated "arty" films in the past but this one left me totally unimpressed. Save your money and save your time. Skip this movie.
(* The original "Razor's Edge" from the Somerset Maugham story starred Tyrone Power and was wonderful. As ever, beware remakes!)