The film was all right but has been dreadfully over hyped!

Rating: Null/10 (12 July 2004)

In my opinion this film just goes to prove how biased the Oscars are towards the American film industry. I have no idea how Murray's truly appalling one-dimensional performance came so close to wining an Oscar when there were innumerable better performances from superior actors all around the world.
I am glad that I had previously seen Scarlett Johansson in the superb `Girl With A Pearl Earring' where she gave an outstanding performance because again I didn't find her convincing or anything other than average in this film.
The film was all right but it too has been dreadfully over hyped, the study of loneliness is hardly a new one but is so much a part of our modern lives that it was certainly worth revisiting. I could not say that I laughed out loud once (I did smile a couple of time but that was about it) neither did any of my friends who were watching it with me. This may not be entirely the fault of the film or of Coppola though. British humor doesn't always export well to the states and I guess this proves that the reverse is also true.