Bill Murray's Sweet Spot

Rating: 10/10 (13 September 2003)

The more I see Bill Murray in roles like this the more I see him playing his trump card. I thank him for picking such great scripts/directors (see his participation with Wes Anderson, "Rushmore" & "Royal Tenenbaums" for more of his "sweet spot" performances).
Sofia Coppola scores again with "Lost in Translation" (prior was Virgin Suicides). I actually felt "Lost" had a Wes Anderson feel to the film. If you did like this film/theme I would also recommend "Before Sunrise" with Ethan Hawke (sans the humor).
Scarlett Johansson was amazing. I last remember her in "Ghost World" (also an excellent film) where she made an impression on me... terrific performance.
This has been the best film I've seen in the last three years... great story (though some may not see some of the deeper meanings), great bunch of actors and a wonderful emerging director.
I may have had one gripe at the beginning of the film... basically fun at the expense of the Japanese culture... but then later in the film there would be beautiful scenes of the finer more complex points of Japanese culture that said "we are not just a micro-electronic based culture, but one of a majestic past and rich culture."
This is such a wonderful film, please take the chance and see it.