Not really all that great

Rating: Null/10 (11 February 2004)

I saw this after much of the initial hype, and I have to say it really was disappointing. It's not without its charm - I'd have to disagree with those that comment about the heat of the sexual tension... I think what this movie does best is portray a flirty platonic friendship. That itself is kind of cute, but not really astounding. Too much of the film is spent pointing out/alluding to the quirkiness of the Japanese post-post-modern culture. Take the movie out of Japan, put it in an average US city (or even NYC), and you've got a VERY bland movie. Much of the hip, "oooh and aaahh" Sundance appeal of the movie are received, I think, from the location.

It tries, like many, many before it, to describe the midlife crisis of a man who "falls" for an old-soul younger woman dealing with ennui and a husband who (gasp) doesn't outwardly cheat, but doesn't pay attention to her. Not a novel idea for a script. No real unique insights to the situation given here. No real comments made. No real reason to see the movie. Throw in the trying-too-hard dramatic touches, and I would actually recommend against it. I think that much of the props this film received was payback for the lack of hype and acknowledgement given to The Virgin Suicides, which had the same quiet, underdramatic touch and skilled cinematography this movie had, but instead actually had a unique storyline.