Cinematic Masterpiece

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2004)

I saw this at the cinema yesterday and had to review this film. As a fan of Bill Murray, I had to see this and due to the flow of awards, my expectations were high. They were met.
A fascinating tale of love and friendship....... in Japan! The acting is so superb that I could have believed I was in the same bar, witnessing their conversations. The plot is natural and real that the two hours flew by, yet the film leaves you with a great sense of fulfillment. Sofia Coppola may not be one of the best actresses but she has definitely proven she has a real flair for directing and writing.
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are perfect for their characters and no one could possibly have given a better performance. Bill Murray plays Bob Harris, a washed up movie star who has since been reduced to doing whisky commercials in Japan whilst his family are at home. Scarlett Johansson is Charlotte, a recent college graduate who is having doubts over her marriage. Their experiences are humorous to watch as they struggle to get to grips with Japanese culture and the way their relationship develops is joyous but tinted with sadness. Despite the age gap, the chemistry between Bob and Charlotte is fantastic, seeing them together made me smile so much. The only thing that made me smile more was Bill Murray singing, terrific!
The scenery is fantastic. A contrasting view of city life and Bob playing on a golf course which overlooks a mountain give a great impression of how Japan is and the dipiction of the Japanese themselves is hilarious yet so so true.
This movie deserves all the Oscars it can get and I can not wait to see it again.