Shallow Film Full of Stereotypes about Japan and Japanese Culture

Rating: 1/10 (3 August 2005)

This film has been nominated for 4 important items of the Academy Award and referred very often, so I wanted to check out the hype. However, the film really disappointed me and eventually I was so released seeing the end. Sofia Coppola said the screenplay was based on her life. Then I have to say that her life and her way of viewing is really neither pointing nor poignant. The plot is neither exciting nor politically correct. Important western people working in the entertainment industry (and they're Americans) come to Far East and exploit all the pre-given stereotypes they learn, rather than going to explore the local culture and to know the differences between people. While showing that Japanese is a dominant language in Japan, the director forgets that Americans usually go around the world assuming everyone speaks American English. This film does not reflect most of feelings of travellers or lost people; instead, it is just about rich people (actors and actresses certainly fall into this category) going to big Asian cities looking for fun. Many stereotypes about Japan and Japanese culture have been represented in this film apart from one, which is the unbelievably expensive living cost there. And the actors seem spend money without hesitation, perhaps just like the director herself? Before seeing this film, I admire the Oscar having nominated a female director, but after seeing the film, I fear the Oscar nominated Sofia Coppola just because she's a woman and she's the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola.