Boring and prejudiced

Rating: Null/10 (26 July 2004)

My, am I glad that other people (writing their reviews here) also disliked this movie. I rented the tape with high expectations, what with all the hype about the movie, actors, Coppola, etc. About halfway through I realized nothing (else) was going to happen, and settled for the zen experience of watching Tokyo scenery while contemplating the real meaning of life. Then the movie was over and nothing changed, I mean, what's the buzz all about? Where is the plot? I was much more disturbed by the stereotyped, almost racist portrait of Japanese characters. They are all sketched superficially, none are sympathetic to the central couple, nor to each other. They don't understand foreigners, don't want to be understood, are either too shrill or act as dumb morons. Could you envision a doctor hammering away in Japanese at a patient who plainly can't follow, without trying to come up with an alternative to communicating better? All Japanese people in this movie are like stage props, not characters.We have a huge Nissei (people of Japanese ascent) community here in Brazil, and they certainly aren't remotely liked that!! I wonder how this movie was received in Japan?? I think that when the characters talk about "escaping" (and somehow the trailer conveys the suggestion that this is going to happen), they should have done it, and got some movement, meaningfulness and excitement into their lives. And into ours. And into the movie. They weren't brave enough to do so, and will remain stuck to themselves and their own mediocre routines (and spouses) they seem to despise. Serves them right. Perhaps that's the message Coppola intended to convey?
(By the way - I liked her acting in "Godfather III". Nothing personal, Sophia.)