Jet Lag in Japan

Rating: 9/10 (4 February 2004)

One of the year's best! A restrained Bill Murray delivers his best performance since "Groundhog Day". I first noticed Scarlett Johansson in "The Horse Whisperer" and in this film she confirms her place as one of Hollywood's best young talents.
The story teeters back and forth between the sadness of two lost souls unhappy with their lives and the utterly foreign (and hilarious)culture of modern Japan.
Some of the scenes are priceless. One involving a hooker is insane! The encounter with a popular TV talk show host made me laugh out loud.
The supporting cast is very effective. Anna Faris' ditsy actress is a hoot. Catherine Lambert's over-the-top lounge singer and her back-up band "Sausalito" are played just for laughs.
I'm certainly looking forward to Sofia Coppolla's next outing.